So does a person need to repent of their sins to be saved, or not?
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Of course not. That is a “work “.
/sarc
What do you really mean when you say "a person needs to repent of their sins to be saved"? Do you mean they must "turn from" their sins and stop sinning in order to be saved? Have YOU stopped sinning? Do you mean they should feel sorry for their sins? I don't think that is something you can just force yourself to do - it comes when your heart has been softened to God and you realize that Christ suffered and died so that all your sins were paid for in full. I feel shame and sorrow for past sins and I get convicted when I slip up and commit sin which draws me to confess to God and tell Him I am sorry and to thank Him for His forgiveness. But that is all part of being a new creature in Christ - it can't really happen before the new birth. It is the Holy Spirit within that convicts us of our sin and brings us to Christ for forgiveness. That is the amazingness of God's grace, that while we were YET sinners, Christ died for us.