In order that the grace of God may bring salvation, it is required that there shall be (a) Repentance.  In Scripture repentance is set forth as necessarily preceding pardon:  “Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent."[203] “Peter said unto them, Repent."[204] “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."[205] Repentance begins in contrition.  “Godly sorrow for sin worketh repentance to salvation."[206] (b) Before the good gift of God can be received, it is necessary that we confess our sin.  It is when we confess our sins that we obtain forgiveness and cleansing.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."[207] To produce conviction and confession is the work of the Holy Ghost.  He reveals to the sinner the sinfulness of his life, and so works in him repentance. (c) Another requirement is unfeigned faith.  “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  “Without faith it is impossible to please him."[208] “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."[209] “Let him ask in faith, nothing doubting:  for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."[210] (d) There must be also humble, earnest resolution to be obedient to the will of God.  The forgiveness secured by the death of Jesus is more than mere deliverance from the penalty of sin or the acquittal of the sinner.  It is the remission of sins, the putting away of the sin.  With pardon there is a renewal of the inner man.  Return to holiness is secured, and the lost image of God is restored to man, so that he dies to sin and lives unto holiness.  Nothing less than this will satisfy the true penitent, who asks for more than pardon, whose cry is, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."[211] It is not sufficient to be set free from punishment, there must be the abiding desire to have the life conformed to the Divine will.  “The grace of God that bringeth salvation” teaches and enables all who receive it “to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world."[212]

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ARTICLE 11

The Resurrection of the Body

ANIMISM—­the doctrine of the continuous existence, after death, of the disembodied human spirit—­has a place in the majority of religious systems; but belief in the resurrection of the body is almost peculiar to the Christian faith.  In Old Testament times the hope of immortality for body and soul seldom found expression.  Job seems to have had at least a glimpse of the doctrine, although his words in the