Now, when such sorrow is exercised toward God for wrong done to Him, when that wrong is deeply deplored, is honestly confessed, and is followed by a permanent reformation, that is repentance toward God.  Such repentance God requires; nor can one become a Christian who does not exercise it.  This is one unalterable condition of salvation.  I do not mean that the penitent sinner will never afterwards, in no instance, sin again.  He may sometimes, again, do wrong, for so long as he is in the world imperfection will pertain to him; but the ruling power of sin will be broken in his heart.  He may sometimes sin; but whenever he does he will lament it.  He will retire to his closet, and while there alone with God his tears will flow.  Oh! how will he pray and wrestle that he may be forgiven; and what solemn resolutions will he make to sin no more!  This he will continue to do month after month, and year after year, as long as he lives, as long as he ever does any wrong.  To forsake sin becomes a principle of his life; to confess and forsake it, a habit of his soul.  Repentance, then, is the first step.

But the Bible adds, “Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”  Belief, or faith, as it is called, is another exercise required in order to be saved.  What now is faith?  Let me illustrate this.

Suppose a person is standing on the branch of a tree.  It appears to be sufficiently firm to bear him, and he feels secure.  But presently he perceives that it is beginning to break, and if it break he may be dashed on the rocks below.  What shall he do?  He looks abroad for help.  At this critical moment a person presents himself at the foot of the tree, and says, “Let go, let go, and I will catch you.”  But he is afraid.  He fears that the person may not be able, or may be unwilling to save him.  But the branch continues to break, and destruction is before him.  Meanwhile the kind-hearted person below renews his assurance, “Let go, let go, confide in me and I’ll catch you.”  At last the person on the branch becomes satisfied that no other hope remains for him, so he says, “I’ll do as this friend bids me; I’ll trust him.”  He lets go, falls, and the other catches him.  This is faith, or in other words it is confidence.

Now the sinner is liable to fall under the wrath of God for the wrong he has done, and there to perish.  He may repent of that wrong, and repentance is most reasonable, and is, we have seen, required; but repentance of itself never repairs a wrong.  One may repent that he has killed another, but that does not restore life.  One may be sorry that he has broken God’s commands, but that does not repair the dishonor done to the Divine government.  That government must be upheld.  How can it be done?  I will tell you how it has been done.  Christ consented to take the sinner’s place.  On the cross he suffered for and instead of the sinner; and God has decided that whosoever, being penitent for sin, will confide in his Son, or trust him, shall be saved.