Repentance

[bravado]

What exactly is "repentance"?

Does it mean that I must stop what I'm doing and never do it again to be forgiven? or... Doe's it mean that I confess of my sins to God and try my best?

Is it required of us to confess our sins to the church (in front of others) to be forgiven?

Is baptism mandatory for salvation (admittance into heaven)?

[Father Rick]

What exactly is "repentance"?Repentance means a change of heart.

Does it mean that I must stop what I'm doing and never do it again to be forgiven? or... Doe's it mean that I confess of my sins to God and try my best? It means you need to stop what you are doing and do your best not to do it again. You should honestly intend to not sin.

Is it required of us to confess our sins to the church (in front of others) to be forgiven? If you confess your sins in front of the whole church it will cause you problems. That doesn't mean you may not want to confess your sins to your minister, but not everyone in the whole church can handle it.
Is baptism mandatory for salvation (admittance into heaven)? Jesus said to be baptized. Scripture also says if you know what is right and don't do it, then that is sin for you. To know you should do something, baptism or whatever, and choose to not do it would be rebellion.

[bravado]

Thanks :)

[Svt4Him]

I'd like to add that repentance also means a change of direction. If I enjoyed doing something sinful, once I repent, I go a different way when the sin is presented.

As for baptism, if it was needed to be saved, the man on the cross beside Jesus wouldn't be saved. It is an outward sign of an inward change, and no you don't need to do it to be saved. It is done after salvation, and it is a baptism unto repentance, or to show that you have repented, it doesn't make you repent.