"Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord.  Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow..."  Isaiah 1:18

So often God is just reasonable!  All He asks is that we come to Him and ask forgiveness because He in His wisdom is very aware that we are imperfect and full of humanity and shame!  (Thus the need for a Savior!)  

The way to be free of sin is to come to Him and allow His forgiveness to wash the sin and guilt away. (Of course our part then is to turn around and walk away from those sins that tend to capture us.) It is like a cleansing rain when we invite Him to deal with our sin!  Suddenly, we realize how freeing it is to let Him take the weight from our shoulders!  Repentance is necessary, and for the most part we have to do it often!  But the good news is - we have a Redeemer!  He paid the price for our "scarlet" and makes us white as snow!!