Only a tear of repentance transforms the prostitute into a saint (Luke 7:47-48), places the thief in paradise (Luke 23:43). And the way we can reach repentance is also given within the Scriptures. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works" (Revelation 2:5).

Infinite truth is His philanthropy and compassion, while He could have re-educated the human race with similar pedagogies to Sodom and Gomorrah or the Flood, He chose to be Crucified, so that we have a way of repentance. This alone makes repentance, in and of itself, an imperative necessity.
Let us not forget that there is no sin greater than God's mercy, as He Himself declared: "Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven to men."