I believe that Faith and Repentance are granted by the mercy and longsuffering of God, and are solemn obligations and requirements for salvation. Without faith, it is impossible to understand the truth of the word of God, or to come to God in any meaningful manner. By the instrument of faith one understands their position before the LORD God as a sinner under condemnation. Through faith, one also comes to the understanding of who the Lord Jesus Christ is, and the atonement for sin and gift of eternal life He offers. Through faith one understands that there exists no salvation outside of the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. By the mercy and forbearance of God the sinner is granted repentance to be exercised unto salvation by turning away from their rebellion against God, and unbelief in His word; and turning to Christ with a desire to be reconciled to God, no longer in rebellion against His word. True faith and repentance are accompanied by the sure knowledge of one's guilt before God, danger of eternal judgement, and powerlessness to change their destiny without the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereupon one turns to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy, totally trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross at Calvary.
(Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:1-3; Isaiah 1:18; John 4:10; Hebrews 4:1-2; Romans 4:13-17; II Peter 3:9; Acts 17:29-31; Luke 13:2-5; Matthew 3:7-10; Matthew 9:12-13; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 20:18-21; Mark 1:14-15; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 11:16-18; Hebrews 6:1-2; II Timothy 2:24-26; II Corinthians 7:9-10).
But without faith it is impossible
to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God. (Romans 10:17)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the
word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of
things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your
sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they
be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah
1:18)
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of
God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou
wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living
water. (John 4:10)
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of
entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of
it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:
but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews
4:1-2)
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world,
was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the
law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made
of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law
is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is
of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the
promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is
of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham;
who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee
a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed,
even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those
things which be not as though they were. (Romans
4:13-17)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II
Peter 3:9)
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to
think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone,
graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance
God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the
world in righteousness by that man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all
men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts
17:29-31)
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these
Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they
suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower
in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners
above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke
13:2-5)
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his
baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore
fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say
unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children
unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the
trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit
is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew
3:7-10)
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that
be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye
and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance. (Matthew 9:12-13)
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand
the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus
it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke
24:45-47)
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from
the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have
been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility
of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by
the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back
nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed
you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts
20:18-21)
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time
is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men
and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-38)
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John
indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as
he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;
what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these
things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then
hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
(Acts 11:16-18)
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let
us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Hebrews
6:1-2)
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto
all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing
those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who
are taken captive by him at his will. (II Timothy
2:24-26)
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed
to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that
ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the
sorrow of the world worketh death. (II Corinthians
7:9-10)