Repentance is an about-face from sin and dead works to the living God. It is an entire change of mind resulting in a total change of life. 

 Repentance is a command from God to all.

“. . . God … now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). 

Repentance is not optional; it is the first response we make to Christ’s Lordship. He is commanding us to turn around. Not until we have begun to turn have we acknowledged His right to rule over us. 

 Repentance is a gift from God; He enables us to repent.

“… Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18). 

“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (IITim. 2:25). 

When God gives us repentance, we suddenly realize that our actions and even our attitudes are not a private matter. We do not simply hurt ourselves and other people with our sin; we offend God. As this truth dawns upon us, as it did David, we begin to turn away from ourselves and to become concerned about our relationship to God. We begin to see sin as He sees it, a direct personal insult to His holiness and love.