Repentance: What it Means to Repent and Why We Must Do So

by J.C. Ryle

Repentance is one of the foundation stones of Christianity.

Repentance is a thorough change of a person’s natural heart regarding the subject of sin.

when this heart of ours is changed by the Holy Spirit, when this natural love of sin is cast out, then that change takes place that the Word of God calls “repentance.”

True repentance begins with knowledge of sin. The eyes of the repentant person are opened. He sees the length and breadth of God’s holy law with distress and confusion. He sees the extent, the enormous extent, of his own transgressions. To his surprise, he discovers that he has been under a huge delusion by thinking of himself as a good person with a good heart. He learns that in reality he is wicked, guilty, corrupt, and evil in God’s sight. His pride breaks down. His high thoughts melt away. He sees that he is a great sinner. This is the first step in true repentance.

True repentance shows itself by producing in the heart an established habit of deep hatred of all sin.

Wherever faith is, there is repentance. Wherever repentance is, there is always faith.

Without repentance, there is no real happiness in the life that now is.

As long as conscience feels that sin has not been repented of and forsaken, it will not be quiet and will not let a person feel comfortable within.

That is no gospel in which repentance is not a primary thing. A gospel! It is the gospel of man, but not of God. A gospel! It comes from earth, but not from heaven. A gospel! It is not the gospel at all; it is contrary to the gospel! As long as you cling to your sins and want to keep your sins, you can talk as you want to about the gospel, but your sins are not forgiven.