Repentance is produced by the ____ and ____ of God.

• A. Word
• B. Spirit
• C. Word and Spirit
• D. Grace and Mercy

Answer: (C)

Repentance is produced through the combined work of God’s Word and God’s Spirit. The Word of God makes sin known and reveals His righteous standards, showing us what needs to change and what we are turning toward. At the same time, the Holy Spirit applies that truth to the heart—convicting us of guilt, revealing our need for forgiveness, and giving the grace and desire to turn away from sin. Faith and repentance come through hearing and responding to the gospel, and that response is enabled by the Spirit working in concert with the Word. Without the Word, there’s no clear understanding of what to turn from; without the Spirit, the truth may remain acknowledged but not applied to the heart. Together, they produce genuine repentance that leads to life.