I’m actually mixed on ‘once saved, always saved’. As proponents discuss it, those who persevere to the end are the ones who were truly saved in the first place, which seems to make it a distinction without a difference.
As for repentance, the only formality is to go to God, confess and repent. Ask His forgiveness and for His strength to live differently. The only unforgivable sin that I know of is to reject Him thru to death.
A good Calvinist would say God needs to work the will to repent, but there again I tend to find it a distinction without a difference - for if I wish to repent, then God has already done so. If I do not, then I claim I do not wish to repent.
I think the predestination/free will debate is something that no human truly understands, because God hasn’t fully revealed it. But that is just my opinion.
But if someone needs to repent, they can do so. If they go to God and repent, God can lead them on the next step.
How does the confession and repentance look? Is there some duty to make restitution or is it simply between you and God?
I am curious because I've met plenty of unrepentant repentants, if you follow my drift.
Well stated.