REPENTANCE is a GIFT

“It will delight all such people to know that repentance is as much a part of God’s grace as anything else in the gospel. Repentance, in its simplest biblical application, means ‘to turn around.’ It is typically understood in terms of turning away from sin. I fear that most Christians’ understanding of repentance stops right there. But the focal point of biblical repentance is the Lord himself. We turn from sin to the Lord. Second Chronicles 7:14 provides a good example of what I’m saying:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Turning from our wicked ways is certainly an important part of biblical repentance, but not the focus, “Seek my face,” God says. Turning from sin cannot save us from sin. Only turning from sin to the Lord, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” can save us from sin (John 1:29). Therefore, total repentance is a total change in orientation from sin to trusting Christ. Our focus cannot remain sin-centered. That would not be true repentance.”

- - Jeff Harkin, Grace Plus Nothing, p. 85.