Many of you folks do not understand biblical repentance. Repentance does not mean to stop sinning, or else none of us has ever repented, for none of us has completely quit sinning.
Repentance is a change of view about one's self. It is abandoning the thought that we can merit salvation, and realizing that we must trust in God's mercy and forgiveness for salvation alone.
If a person looks carefully, they can see this is what John the Baptist was teaching.
Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
First, we see that people confessed their sins. This is repentance, it is giving up on the idea that we are righteous in ourselves and can merit salvation.
Notice what John told the Pharisees and Sadducees. He told them to give up on the idea that they could inherit salvation simply because the were the physical descendants of Abraham. This is what they needed to repent of, the false belief that they were the "elect" simply because they were born Jews. Salvation cannot be merited through good works, neither can it be inherited from your parents, even if they are believers. No, man must recognize his lost condition and trust in God alone for salvation.
Jesus also showed what repentance is.
Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Notice what Jesus told these Jews they needed to repent of. Because Pilate had killed some men, these persons presumed that these persons were terrible sinners and that God allowed them to be killed as a punishment.
Jesus said, "Suppose ye" that they were worse sinners than others? No. Jesus tells them that they need to repent of this false view. Simply because no misfortune had happened to them did not prove they were righteous and in right-standing with God. They needed to realize they were sinners in danger of perishing as well.
He repeated this with those whom the tower fell upon. This in no way proved these unfortunate people were worse sinners than others, and because no such mishap had happened to them does not prove they were righteous with God. They need to repent or turn from this false view and realize they also are sinners in danger of perishing.
You cannot be saved until you first realize you are lost. This is biblical repentance.
