A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part III: Questions about Salvation

78. Q. What is it to repent?
   A. Repentance involves sorrow for sin, leading one to hate and forsake it because it is displeasing to God.

(Click through to read scriptural proof.)

• Luke 19:8-10
  

  [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

• Romans 6:1-2

  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

• 2 Corinthians 7:9-11
  

  As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
  

  For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version.

Taken from A Catechism for Girls and Boys found here.

Previously posted questions and answers.