The first thing to understand is that we all begin, as sinners before God:
Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Our sins can one day pay off in our death:
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus Christ, as sinless, had no such "pay off" but nonetheless died, thus not for His sins but for all our sins:
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us; in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
In His Resurrection He also demonstrated that He could resurrect those who repent of sins and believe in Him:
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave, that He gave His One-of-a-Kind Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”
1 John 2:2 – “For He is the propitiation [payment-sacrifice] not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world.”
On the Cross Jesus mercifully covered and paid for sins, as offences against God, so as to turn away His wrath and to allow for, but not to include, forgiveness and then reconciliation, with repentance and faith bringing salvation [in Acts 20:21].”
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”
Repent is simply a willing to confess our sins and make a u-turn in faith from those sins to Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior...our Boss.
Eph. 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, but the gift of God, not of works, in order that no one might boast.”
Romans 10:9-10 and 13 – “That, if you would confess with your mouth, “Lord Jesus,” and would believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes for righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses for salvation…. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”
As result of this, Salvation by Faith comes Faithfulness.
You can talk to God and tell Him what you believe in a prayer such as this:
“Thank you, God, that Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid for my sins and then was raised from the dead. I admit that I have sins in my life and ask that You would forgive me of _____ (fill in the blank).
I am willing to repent, to change and turn from these sins and be changed.
I am trusting in Jesus Christ, as my Savior, and entrusting to Him my life, as my Lord, my Boss.
Help me to be the kind of person that you want me to be.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”