Just as the prodigal’s father received him, our Father in Heaven eagerly desires to forgive all those who repent. In other words, repentance must be rooted in a high value on God, not a high value on oneself. "Not only does Christ come to announce the soon-coming Kingdom of God, in particular to those whom God calls (), but also to prepare the elect for their spiritual responsibilities now and in the Kingdom. Repentance was the point of the Old Testament illustration our Lord gave Nicodemus (John 3:14-15).
By President Spencer W. Kimball. In the account of Nicodemus, for example, repentance was clearly suggested in Jesus' command to be "born again" (John 3:3-7). Jesus' words in Mark 1:15 come in the form of an urgent command: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repentance, Belief, and the Gospel. Repentance is woven into the very fabric of the Gospel of John, though the word itself is never employed. Repentance is a turning from sin, and is best seen as co-terminus with faith, which is a turning to God trust. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Then, one must be grieved by how offensive and grieving sin is to God, not simply afraid of God’s retribution for your sin. Repentance must be first rooted in the realization of how sinful an action, emotion, belief, or way of life is. The answer would surely be the message of the gospel—including the reality of judgment against sin, the call for repentance itself, and the promise of forgiveness for those who believe. It …
The Gospel of Repentance. We are so grateful that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with the gospel of repentance.