How do we know repentance is a gift from God?

The Bible teaches that repentance is a divine gift bestowed by God, as illustrated in 2 Timothy 2:25, where Paul mentions God granting repentance to those who oppose themselves. This aligns with the broader Reformed understanding that saving faith and repentance are both gifts of grace, reflecting the believer's total dependence on God's work. Repentance leads to a recognition of sin's weight and the need for divine mercy, enabling the individual to turn to God in faith. Thus, it is not merely a human effort but a supernatural act of God in the heart of a sinner.