Soteriology - Conversion 3. The Means of Repentance.

From God’s Side Repentance is a Gift He gives.

Act 11:18  When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."

Act 5:31  God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Jesus Gives Repentance and Forgiveness

2Ti 2:24  And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

2Ti 2:25  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

From the Human side repentance is brought about by the following:

1) By the Word of God.

Luk 16:30  "'No, father Abraham,' he pleaded; 'but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

Luk 16:31  "'If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, 'they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'"

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

2) The Preaching of the Gospel.

Mat 12:41  There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and mark! there is One greater than Jonah here.

Jonah Proclaiming : Forty Days and Nineveh will be destroyed

Luk 24:47  and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Act 2:37  Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

Act 2:38  "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter Preaching on the day of Pentecost.

3) The Goodness of God towards His Creatures.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, in the sense in which some men speak of slowness. But He bears patiently with you, His desire being that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance.

GOD DESIRES ALL TO COME TO REPENTANCE

Rom 2:4  Or is it that you think slightingly of His infinite goodness, forbearance and patience, unaware that the goodness of God is gently drawing you to repentance?

4) The Chastening of the Lord.

Heb 12:10  It is true that they disciplined us for a few years according as they thought fit; but He does it for our certain good, in order that we may become sharers in His own holy character.

Heb 12:11  Now, at the time, discipline seems to be a matter not for joy, but for grief; yet it afterwards yields to those who have passed through its training a result full of peace--namely, righteousness.

5) Belief in the truth.

Jon 3:5  And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6). a New Vision of God.

Job 42:5  I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee:

Job 42:6  Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.

Job

"Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6