5. Repent of your sin that has offended God, put you at odds with God and separated you from Him. To repent means that you are willing to quit your sin, as well as change your direction. Repentance is a change of mind concerning sin, self and salvation, and leads to a change of conduct, or, as the Websters 1828 puts it, an amendment of life. False repentance is simply a change of mind about Christ, with no turning from sin. Another aspect of false repentance is being sorry and remorseful over sin simply because one got "caught" in their sin. This is similar to a child who gets caught taking cookies from the cookie jar and therefore is regretful, but his regret is more due to his getting caught in his sin. Godly sorrow for sin leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:9) because it stems from the proper motive of recognizing our offense to God and His holy character. Neither of the false forms of repentance leads to a genuine conversion. True repentance is when one sees themselves as personally offending God by their sinful thoughts, actions and deeds, and they decide and commit to quit that sin, and all sin, as much as lieth in them. Repentance is not a religous work, but a work of the heart and it will lead to a change of conduct (1 Thess. 1:9, 2 Cor. 5:17, Matt. 3:8). An example of biblical repentance would be a fornicator who lives in sexual immorality with his girlfriend, and as the Holy Ghost of God deals with him concerning his wicked and sinful state, the individual changes his mind and determines to either marry the girl or leave the relationship. True repentance would result in either of these 2 actions. If there was no repentance involved, there was no conversion. Just the same, if the man never changes his conduct and continues in his lifestyle of fornication, then regardless of any "profession" of repentance, it was not genuine repentance. Repentance can also be in regard to false religion. Because of the Biblical truth that salvation is by grace through faith alone, if one previously believed and was part of a religous system (Catholic, Mormon, Muslim, etc.) that works, sacraments, etc. were required for salvation, then they must repent of this false belief and system (1 Thess. 1:9). Biblical repentance is mandatory before or simultaneously with belief of the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Without Biblical repentance, a sorrow for sin leading to a commitment and decision to leave that offending sin, there is no genuine conversion (Prov. 28:13). To claim salvation or forgiveness of sin or conversion without Biblical repentance is to dishonour God's Holy character (Amos 3:3). This movement popularized today that supposedly converts wihtout a repentant heart is wicked, not of God, and is damning to the soul. Any professed conversion that leaves the sinner in his lifestyle of sin and for the most part unchanged and undesirous of a holy life is false, and not a genuine conversion. True conversion does not result in the individual being absolutely sinless in this present life, but does result in deliverance frm a sinful lifestyle (1 Cor. 6:9-11), and having new desires to please God nad obey Him (2 Cor. 5:17, Acts 9:6, Matt. 7:21-23, etc.). Jesus preached repentance (Luke 13:3) as did John the Baptist (Matt. 3:2, Luke 3:3), Peter (Acts 2:38), Paul (Acts 20:20-21, etc). You must be willing to quit and leave your sin. You must make a choice between sin and the Saviour.
6. With a surrendered spirit, you must obey the Gospel (1 Pet. 4:17) and come to Christ by faith, apart from any works or trust in religious or good works, deeds, sacraments, baptism, etc. (Rom. 4:5, 5:1, Eph. 2:8-9). Any trust in these things or any good deeds or works nullifies the conversion, because it implies that Christ's work on Calvary was not enough (Gal. 2:21b). Grace and works are in total opposition (Rom. 11:6). Good works are a result of genuine conversion (Eph. 2:10, James 2), but have nothing to do with being converted. Christ took care of the sin problem by His work on Calvary, dying for your sins that have offended God. He was your substitute, though you were guilty. Your job, upon having a repentant heart concerning your sin, is to Believe and Trust in Christ alone. You are putting your faith in the person and work of Christ and the Word of God that pronounces that you are justified buy trustung in Christ for salvation (John 3:16-18, John 3:36, John 5:24, Acts 4:12, Acts 16:31, 1 John 5:10-13). Praise God! Accompanying the receiving of Christ, must be a surrendering to Christ as Lord, and not just Saviour. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. The heart's desire at the time of a genuine conversion to Christ from sin will be to follow and serve Christ (Acts 9:6, 1 Thess. 1:9, John 8:31), out of a motive of love for Him and obedience to Him (John 8:42, John 14:21). Millions are the testimonies of those that after the time of conversion indicated a new outlook, a new viewpoint with a new and fresh desire to read and study the Bible, attend a Bible believing church, give to God's work and witness to those that are lost! This is a result of genuine conversion and the Holy Ghost indwelling the new believer (Eph. 4:30, John 14:16-17).