What is repentance?

How often do we come to God expecting Him to forgive and so we don't recognize our sin and take the great gift of forgiveness for granted?
How do you ask for forgiveness?
What is repentance? remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin
J. I. Packer "Repentance is a fruit of faith, which is itself a fruit of regeneration... it is inseparable from faith... having at its heart a serious purpose of sinning no more but living henceforth a life that will show one's repentance to be full and real. Repenting of any vice means going in the opposite direction, to practice the virtues most directly opposed to it."
Repentance is a command of God. (Acts 3:19-21, Luke 13:5, Mark 1:15) It is not just to have a change of mind.
What is the difference between repentance and asking for forgiveness?
Can you ask for forgiveness and not be sorry?
Can you repent and not be sorry?
How do we repent?
Spurgeon- There must be a sorrow for sin and a hatred of it in true repentance. A discovery of iniquity and a hatred of it, without which there can be no repentance. Thinking more about the consequences of the sin instead of the sin itself is not true repentance. False repentance could lead to your heart being hardened more.
Do you confuse repentance with emotion?
Emotional grief does not guarantee real repentance. Repentance is an act, not an emotion.
It is not about how you feel but what your actions show. 2 Corinthians 7:9 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.
How often do you go to God and just say- forgive me for my sin?
Is that honoring to God?
Are you looking at you sin, being full of sorrow- hating it, and asking God to change your heart?
If we are all honest, that is not the way we come before a Holy God. Why???
Why do we think that being repentant is not that important?
Are you taking the blood of Christ for granted?
Do you think that because your sins are forgiven that you do not need to hate your sin and be repentant?

Repentance and faith are inseparable. We cannot manufacture repentance; it comes from God's enablement. 2 Timothy 2:25 Sin is so rooted in us and we cannot turn from it on our own. Repentance is turning from our sin and turning to Christ. This is the same as when we come to a saving faith in God. We should have a repentant spirit as believers. Ephesians 4:22-24
When we confess our sin, God forgives and restores us. 1 John 1:9

Let's look at David's plea for repentance and forgiveness.

Psalm 51:1-17

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.