What are the Fruits of Repentance?

Q & A with Fr Job:

Question: What are the fruits of true repentance and penitence for one’s sins?

Answer: The goal of repentance is to be freed from the burden of sin and to receive mercy from God. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). The one bearing repentance must not stop on this path, but continue following the spiritual life. Everything that we do should bear fruit: “But not being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end of everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22). In another epistle the Holy Apostle Paul speaks more systematically about the goals of the spiritual life, which are unthinkable without regular repentance: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:22-23). Without this our Christianity becomes external. Spiritual fruits on earth prepare us for the blessed life in the Heavenly Kingdom.