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"REPENTANCE" - A CHANGE OF MIND AND ACTION Probably the shortest definition of "repentance" is to simply say that repentance is a change of mind and action. Anything less would not be true repentance. A change of mind without a change of action would be a fake change of mind, and a change of action without a change of mind would amount to a fake and insincere action that doesn't truly reflect ones heart (hypocrisy). So, true repentance is a change of mind and action. And it was none other than God Himself who established the definition with the Bible's very first mention of "repentance" in Genesis chapter 6. Please note: "And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." (vs. 6) There's the change of mind. "And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (vs. 7) There's the change of action. In fact, God said that He would destroy man "for it repenteth me." That is, His change of heart necessitated the change of action. Destroying man from the earth was the fruit, or evidence, of God's repentance. So, according to its very first mention in God's word, repentance is defined as A CHANGE OF MIND AND ACTION, and this definition holds true throughout the scriptures.