Before baptism God must see real repentance—deep, genuine change—not just being sorry. To be sorry over sin is not enough. Many people are sorry, but never really change. That is worldly sorrow. Many people are sorry about the penalties that they have to pay for sinning, but they are not sorry that they have crucified Jesus Christ through their sinning!
We are instructed in Matthew 3:8 to "bear fruits worthy of repentance." And, Matthew 7:20 says, "By their fruits you will know them." So, bearing fruit is a very important indication that a person is repentant of his sins. Bearing fruit is changing, and it is overcoming.
A repentant attitude is not just an emotion. God is looking for fruits, not emotions.
We should be seeing these things in our lives in the way of fruit. They are foundational items of fruit to be produced by the converted person, but they are just the foundation. Everything else should be built on those fruits, especially on love.
