How do we know God-given repentance and faith are true?

The truth of God-given repentance and faith is evidenced in the transformative effects they have on our hearts and lives. In Hosea 2, we are reminded that God pursues us out of our idolatrous ways and graciously gives us a spirit of repentance. This gifting changes our understanding of God, our identity, and our union with Christ. Paul, in Acts 20:21, sums up his ministry by emphasizing the necessity of both repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, indicating that both are essential experiences in the believer's walk. Genuine repentance results in a heartfelt acknowledgment of the falsehood of our previous beliefs, while faith leads to active trust in God’s promises. The certainty that God does not take back these gifts assures us that true believers will not revert to their former idolatries.