“I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
(Job 42:5-6)

Repentance is a work of God’s grace in the heart of every believer. Apsrt from the grace of God no man will repent. Repentance toward God is an evidence of spiritual life. One great example of what repentance is, is found in 1st Thessalonians 1:9. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”

Hearing with the physical ear and giving mental assent to the truth doea not bring about true repentance. This can only change man’s ways for a while and to some degree, which only tends to self-righteousness. Only when Christ is revealed in the heart by God’s efficacious Spirit in the preaching of the gospel, will a sinful man, who is an idolater by nature, repent toward and believe on Christ. Faith in Christ alone – “now mine eye seeth thee” – which is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9), will cause a sinner to hate himself and love God. Repentance is a heart work perpetually carried on by the indwelling Spirit and grace of God. True repentance changes a person from the inside out.

Repentance and faith are twins. They always come together. The object of both is the same – CHRIST. The cause is the same – CHRIST. Repentance is not a work of the flesh that we do which God will accept. It is produced and directed by the faith that He gives.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

T. Robbins