Answer:
Very good question.
Remorse is defined as: a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt for past.
Repentance (or to repent) literally means to turn away from and go a different direction (Exodus 32:12 …Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil).
Judas was remorseful (having a gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt for past) and went and hung himself. Peter, when he denied Christ 3 times repented (took a different direction from his previous actions) and came back to Christ.
Interesting, Matthew 4:17 says “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He didn’t say be remorseful and feel bad, He said turn away from these things and follow me!
Excellent question! Knowing the difference is literally the difference between Heaven and Hell.
Thanks,
Pastor Brad