Scripture is clear that God’s grace of salvation depends upon men coming to repentance and faith (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 16:31; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5.) So also in Malachi 3:7, God’s promise of returning to his people depends upon their returning to him (Zechariah 1:3). However, Scripture is also clear that it is God who gives repentance (Acts 5:31; Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25) and faith (Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 1:29; 2 Peter 1:1; Hebrews 12:2) as a gift to those whom he chooses. It is God who calls the dead to life (Ephesians 2:5). It is God who exchanges the heart of stone for a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 33:26). God brings his people to repentance through the proclamation of the command to repent, and through the proclamation of the promise of grace.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’