Truly, after a long study of human nature during years and years of ministry, it is repentance that prepares a sinner to appreciate and accept the Gospel by faith.
Repentance is the heart implementing a No-Sin At All policy. It is this pulsating and throbbing desire to be right with God in every area of one's life. It is this heart-attitude that is willing to be inconvenienced and disrupted in whatever way possible in order to attain its goal of being right with God.
* It is marked by diligence. Every effort is made to attain the goal.
* It is characterized by indignation. It is indignant at sin.
* It exhibits fear --- the fear of displeasing God and committing a sin, even a single sin in the mind.
* It palpitates with desire --- the desire to have a right standing with God.
* It is passionate with zeal --- it is intense in obtaining its goal.
* It will eventually realize it bankruptcy, powerlessness, and helplessness in obtaining its goal. It is the humbling realization of one's sinner-hood. Try as he might, he just could not attain the very thing it desires.
Desperate, helpless, powerless, yet longing and yearning. You can just imagine what this type of sinner will do when it hears the Gospel offering a right standing with God as a gift through faith in Christ!
