Question:
What are the fruits of repentance?

Answer:

John the Baptist told those who came to him for baptism, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8).  In Luke’s Gospel, we read that the people responded to John by asking, “What shall we do then?  He answered and said unto them, He who has two coats, let him impart to him who has none, and he who has meat, let him do likewise.”  To the tax collectors, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”  To the soldiers, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:10-14).

Repentance means making a 180 degree change or acknowledging the need for making a change.  John the Baptist could not preach the whole gospel since Christ had not died and risen as yet, but he was preparing the hearts of the people for Christ.  The Lord Jesus confirmed the preaching of John by saying, “Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5).  The apostle Paul preached that “God … now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30), and testified “both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

We should see a definite change (that is, fruits of repentance) in the life of a person who claims to trust in Christ.