Repentance is NOT turning away from sinful behavior, not reformation, not a desire to clean up one's life of sin, not forsaking the world, not turning over a new leaf, not a willingness to turn away from sin, not a change of heart toward sinful bad habits, not a change of life, et cetera. As we have already learned from examining the Greek word, metanoia, repentance is simply a change of mind. Acts 20:21, speaks of “repentance toward God.” Repentance is toward God by faith in the Gospel, evidenced by the hundreds of New Testament Scriptures that simply tell us to BELIEVE to be saved. For example: 1st Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE.”

Also, please notice that the entire purpose for which the Epistle of 1st John was written, is so that “ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1st John 5:13). Yet, carefully notice that the apostle John doesn't mention the word “repent” even once in all of 1st John. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES!!! If turning away from sinful behavior was required to be saved, then no doubt John would have made a big deal of it in his Epistle.