Repentance is a change of mind; a feeling of regret or remorse; a turning away from sin and back to God. The last of these meanings, which is practically equivalent to conversion, is the most characteristic in the Bible. It is also the most characteristic in Protestant thought, for which repentance is virtually an aspect of faith, or at least inseparable from faith.

Since faith is directed to the God who justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5), that is, pardons and accepts sinners, clearly it presupposes an acknowledgment that one is a sinner and in need of pardon and acceptance (more on Justification when we take Step 9). This is much more than a feeling of regret or remorse, although it is commonly accompanied and indeed occasioned by such a feeling. But a feeling of regret or remorse does not necessarily lead to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10), nor is the intensity of the feeling a measure of the reality of the repentance.

To repent is to accept God’s judgment upon us and to confess that in his sight we are sinners, whatever our own feelings in the matter may be. And the genuineness of our own repentance is to be measured more by our actions than our professions of penitence. If we truly turn from sin to God, we shall seek to do no harm but a evil and team to do well; we shall seek to do no harm but all possible good to others, and we shall not neglect but take every opportunity of using the means of grace which God has provided so that we may seek him where he may be found.

We strongly recommend that you review our in-depth study of Psalms 51 to gain a greater appreciation for Step 7.  Follow this link to study Psalms 51 (David's Repentence)