Super interesting how the Greek was used in the NT. Research all the verses with repent. Look up the Greek equivalent. It will be an eye opener. Repent is a very bad translation, IMHO. I regarded it as probably the worst translated word in all the Bible - at least in the top 5.
The real word should have been metanoia - and Rom 12 gives the best description. It is having one's mind changed - not saying forgive me all my little missteps and come into my heart - but truly and deeply acknowledging the evil in one's heart and mind and allowing YHWH to change the very definition of one's mind. It is literally a character change.
I was shocked to realise that the word repent was used for Judas Iscariot. That is even a worse translation.
It should have been translated with word that conveys the meaning of being sorry for oneself to have taken a wrong decision. There was NO sign of bitter regret that we found in Peter's reaction when the cock crowed.
Both did a serious disservice to their King, albeit that Judas' crime was of infinite deeper, more aggressive and violent and hateful voluntary nature. Peter's was for fear and self-preservation, forced on him. But he was immediately convicted and carried that scar of shame for the rest of his life, being careful to avoid that option as the deadliest plague.
One of the things that did a great disservice to the Christian community if the sinners prayer. It does not carry anything of the weight and importance of the event where someone turns from his rebellion and missing his mark set out by God for him and turn to God in fear and submission and worship.
Below is a suggested prayer.
Job 42, Ps 51, Isa 1, Ef 5, Heb12, Heb 9, Ro 8,12, Rev 5
YHWH I confess You are the creator of heaven and earth - not the heliocentric mess that we were forced-fed with.
You are righteous, holy and a consuming fire, it is fearsome to fall into your hands - having force of your wrath at full blast against one's soul.
You are also longsuffering, loving, merciful. This is what I am leaning on. Based on the work of Your Son, His blood that He took into the Holiest of all in heaven, proving His full payment of our guilt, and Your acceptance of His offer, I bow before You and plead You to forgive my rebellion, stiff-neckedness, stubbornness, evil, hatred and obnoxiousness.
I abhor myself and turnaround to You in dust and ashes. Purely based on Your mercy I request your forgiveness.
I confess my mind is a mess, full of evil, my heart is filthy, stained by loads of iniquity.
Wash me so that this crimson heart can be white, renew my mind to that it is cleaner than an innocent child. Renew a right spirit in me.
I submit to Your will. Empower me with Your Spirit to worship You, fear You, respect You, serve You, to treat every hint from You as a command from the God of Heaven and earth.
Train me in order to have my mind changed into one that is totally tuned in to Your transmissions, having clear, precise accurate reception.
Teach me to identity and irradiate the virulent and highly deceptive voices of the enemy. If he has any occupation of any one or more areas in my body or spirit, identify and notify me, for confession of whatever the cause of the stronghold. Free me from any voluntary or involuntary sympathetic response to their whispers and temptations in whatever form.
Teach me to put on the armour that will assist me to fight into death, and if it is your will, to stand - never giving in to any thrust, suggestion, attack. Make me super watchful and wary for his devious and seductive devices.
Teach me Master, how my mind should undergo a metamorphosis - having its definition from the core elements right to my actions and words changed to be in line with the One that came to serve.
Who has now a name above all and before whom all will bow - the Lamb that was slain.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Ps 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies (racham = womb) blot out my transgressions.
Ps 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Ps 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Ps 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Ps 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Ps 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Ps 51:7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Ps 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Ps 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. (YHWH cannot forget, BUT He says He will NEVER remind Himself about what we confess and turn from)
Ps 51:10 Create (same as create in the beginning) in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right (ie, steadfast, strong, committed, loyal) spirit within me.
Ps 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Ps 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Ps 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Ps 51:14 ¶ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Ps 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Ps 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Ps 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Ps 51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Isa 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isa 1:16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isa 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.