Having to exercise our own will in response to God does not change the fact that salvation is by grace, originating purely in the love of God. Salvation from our inexcusable personal sin and the wrath we deserve for our real guilt is an unmerited gift. (So also is our very own existence, mental capability, and environment etc..) God mercifully allows for the opportunity of a clean start, he makes the necessary provision for the undeserved pardon of past deeds, he graciously puts forth the motive to effect change in people, he freely grants time to change, he gives spiritual aid for growth and perseverance, and he then rewards the renewed with unmerited eternal life.
The three main passages in which God is said to give (or grant) repentance is in Acts 5, Acts 11, and 2 Timothy 2.
In Acts 5, God is said to have exalted Jesus to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. He gives repentance by giving the motives that lead to it. As man's saviour, Jesus' ministry, death, resurrection and exaltation is the greatest motive ever given by God for repentance.
In Acts 11, it mentions that God gives repentance to life to the Gentiles also (in addition to the Jews). This means God is also accepting the Gentiles into life eternal and is also drawing and influencing them to change their minds concerning their idolatrous way of life.
In 2 Timothy 2, the 'repentance' mentioned is a change of mind of those 'in opposition' to the word of truth, 'so that they may know the truth' and 'may come to their senses'. The word, 'perhaps', is also used with God giving repentance into an acknowledgement of truth. This is because they may voluntarily reject the word of God, thus it is uncertain that God's influence will result in the change of their mind.
So repentance can be said to be given to us, without implying that people's own choice and action is no part of the process. And the response of our choice and action has no reasonable effect on the nature of salvation as being a free unmerited gift.
Sadly there do exist teachings by professing Christians that claim that all men and women have been brought into existence 'spiritually' dead without ever having ability in and of themselves to 'choose' other than evil (yet somehow incomprehensibly guilty and worthy of everlasting destruction). And therefore they have no ability to change their ultimate purpose of heart without an irresistible enabling force from God, which is limited and without regard for anything people could choose or do. I happen to find this not only very offensive to God and his character of pure love and justice, but also harmful to the Gospel message in producing true repentance.
If their teachings were true, we should be baffled by the report of Jesus rebuking the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. And also Jesus' statement that the men of Nineveh will 'rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here'. Also Peter's claim that the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Also Paul's claim that God now commands all men everywhere to repent. Also in obedience to the heavenly vision, Paul says he declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. The above certainly presupposes man's free will, responsibility and ability to choose the good instead of the evil. The same can be said for the Old Testament.
For example, Moses said “God's work is perfect; for all his ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is he. They have corrupted themselves; they are not his children, because of their blemish: a perverse and crooked generation.” Solomon said “God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” God said “They have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so will I choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before my eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.” Joshua said “Fear the LORD, serve him in sincerity and in truth.. choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
God said “If [a man] begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise.. but has executed my judgments and walked in my statutes—He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live!... I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,.. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,.. Therefore turn and live!”
God said “If you will return, O Israel, return to me; and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight, then you shall not be moved.” and “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?” In Isaiah we read “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him.” God said “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good.. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”
Let the Scriptures speak for themselves on this matter.
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