It is not natural for the unregenerate man to pursue that which is spiritual for the Bible states that the natural man does not seek after God. However, it is encouraging to know that God reaches toward mankind with the Truth that He is and that man has a spiritual need that only God can fulfill. Thus it is necessary for man to know of God and God does see to that as revealed in Romans the first chapter. Then, mankind must act on that knowledge and effect a change of thinking from what the physical, natural flesh possesses, to that which will result in obtaining a new nature, one that is spiritual. That change of thinking is called repentance. The Greek word is “metanoeo” and it means to have a change of mind concerning someone, or something. The most necessary change in our thinking is that we need a Savior and who is that Savior. Repentance is the positive change of thinking that recognizes that need. However, repentance is not salvation. An act of faith is required from our will to believe in Christ as our personal Savior. An example of feeling sorry for sin but not exercising faith toward Christ is seen in the life of Judas Iscariot. He had betrayed innocent blood; for that, he was sorry for his actions and expressed remorse – “metamelomai.” Though the King James Version translates this word repent, it better rendered to feel remorse or sorrow. He did not have a change in his thinking concerning his need of a Savior. Therefore he failed to repent (have a change in his thinking concerning his need of Christ) and thus remained in a state of condemnation because he did not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18)