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REPENTANCE. "For sadness in a Godly way makes for repentance (1) to salvation that is not to be regretted; but the sadness of the world produces death. For, look! this very thing, your being saddened in a Godly way, what a great earnestness it produced in you... yes, fear, yes, longing, yes, zeal, yes, righting of the wrong!" (From 2 Cor 7:10,11). "To hate reproof is to go the way of sinners, but whoever fears the Lord will repent whole-heartedly." (Eccus 21:6 NEB). "Do you think lightly of His wealth of kindness, of tolerance, and of patience, without recognizing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to a change of heart?" (1) (Rom 2:4 NEB. See NWT (1)). "Before Judgement comes, examine yourself, and you will find pardon in the hour of scrutiny. Before you fall ill, humble yourself; show your penitence (2) as soon as you sin." (Eccus 18:20,21 NEB). "How good it is to respond to reproof with repentance, (1) and so escape deliberate sin!" (Eccus 20:3 NEB). "If your brother commits a sin give him a rebuke, and if he repents forgive him. Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." (From Luke 17:3,4). "Do not rebuke a man who is already penitent; remember that we are all guilty." (Eccus 8:5 NEB).
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REPENTANCE: Sadness and regret over past sins. |