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Salvation, as it comes out from the Bible, is about being saved (delivered) from sin (Mt.1:21). We have all sinned, and we need, first of all, to be saved from the guilt and the consequent punishment for our sins. But to be really saved from sin must also include God helping us to stop sinning (1Jn.2:1). God has provided for our forgiveness by His Son bearing the punishment in our place (v.2). His Holy Spirit works inside us to give us the desire to stop sinning and to start doing the will of God, and also by empowering us to overcome sin when we are tempted (Php.2:12,13).

We receive this salvation when we turn to Jesus and trust Him as our Saviour. But to turn to Him, in the first place we must realise that we are sinners in God's eyes and that we stand under His wrath (Ro.5:9). It is when we realise we are unable to save ourselves no matter what we do that we turn to Jesus by faith. At this point, this faith in Jesus and the salvation He has come with causes us to repent. Without this repentance, our faith is not complete. John the Baptiser, Jesus Himself and the apostles afterwards tell us to repent (Mt.3:12;4:17;Lk.24:46,47).

The most common word used in the New Testament for repentance is metanoia which means 'changing one’s mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge'. When a man knows that he stands under the judgment of God for all his sins, he changes his mind and attitude about sin. He feels a deep sorrow about the sins he has already committed, along with a strong desire not to sin again. He also wants to set things right with people whom he has wronged, as far as possible. This change of mind shows everyone around him that his faith in Jesus has begun to change his whole attitude towards life. If this repentance is missing, his faith itself becomes questionable (Mt.3:7,8).

This repentance leads him to seek God for help to stop sinning. That is a lifelong process where he begins to receive victory over sins in a progressive manner. There are some sins he can give up immediately, and others that take longer. In some cases of sin, it may even take a very long time for victory to come. As such, repentance is not about ceasing from sin immediately, but wanting to stop sinning for which he constantly seeks God. As we continue to go this way in life, God shows us more details of where we have been sinning without knowing it, and leads us increasingly towards victory.

Some teach that repentance is 'works' that we try to earn salvation with. Of course, not. Repentance is our sorrow over our sins and a strong desire to stop sinning. "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong!" (2Co.7:10,11).

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