How do we know true repentance is a result of salvation?

True repentance is not merely ceasing from sin or adopting a new lifestyle; it is the result of a radical change of mind that God works in a person's heart. The Old Covenant understanding of repentance often revolved around external behaviors and rituals, while the New Covenant calls for an inward transformation. This is illustrated in Jesus’ rebuke of the people’s assumptions in Luke 13:1-5, where he indicates that the calamities faced by others are not markers of greater sin. Rather, He is calling for all to recognize their own need for repentance. Thus, when someone is truly converted, they experience a godly sorrow that leads them to abandon self-righteousness and embrace dependence upon Christ for forgiveness.