Repentance means a reformation of life. It further means to “cease to do evil; learn to do well” (Isaiah 1:16, 17). Jesus makes repentance imperative, and what he once said, regarding those who were killed by the falling of the tower of Siloam, applies to all: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5). Furthermore, when the Master sent his apostles into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, he said unto them that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached among all nations” (Luke 24:47). In his famous address on Solomon’s porch, Peter told the people that they should “repent. ..and be converted” (Acts 3: 19). He would have them understand that repentance was one of the necessary steps in the process of conversion. Paul looked upon repentance as an essential part of the Gospel and of universal application, for in his address on Mars’ Hill he said, God “commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
This doctrine, as one of the divinely-appointed conditions of pardon, was urged by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. To those inquiring after the way of salvation he said: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). If, what Peter says, be true-and it is, for he spake as he was guided by the Spirit-it follows that without repentance there can be no salvation from sin. The man who would be saved must not only believe in the Lord Jesus, but he must repent. There must be a godly sorrow for sin, a turning away from a life of sin, to be followed by a life of faithfulness. It is not sufficient to cease doing evil. There must be fruits meet for repentance, and this means obedience, or going forward in the line of duty.
–J. H. Moore,
The New Testament Doctrines,
Brethren Publishing House,
Elgin, Illinois. 1914