{287} "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (_Rom. x._, 17). "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" (_Heb. xi._, 6). "For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto then.: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with _faith_ in them that heard it" (_Heb. iv._, 2). REPENTANCE. Repentance we believe to be sorrow for and turning from sin, not moaning and groaning over the past and continuing the same way of living; but to quit lying, drinking, swearing, stealing, and to be honest, virtuous, charitable, forgiving, and to serve God in spirit and truth--_this_ is repentance. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (_Luke xiii._, 3). "Repent ye, and believe the Gospel" (_Mark i._, 15). "Repent * * * * every one of you" (_Acts ii._, 38). God "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (_Acts xvii._, 30). "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbors * * * neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: * * * Let no corrupt communication proceed out Of your mouth, * * grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. * * * Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (_Eph. iv._, 25-31). "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which * * they which do such things shall _not_ inherit the kingdom of God" (_Gal. v._, 21). BAPTISM. The necessity for baptism was plainly taught by our Saviour and the Apostles. Comparatively speaking, it stood in the same light to the kingdom or church of God that the oath of allegiance does to any temporal government. Jesus stated to Nicodemus that a man could not enter the kingdom of God without having first obeyed this ordinance. To become a citizen of an earthly government where a person is not born so, a man is required to subscribed to a certain prescribed oath. To become a citizen of the government of God requires that a person must be baptized in water, in obedience to the command of the Great Head of the government, and the laws of the kingdom as they are found in the Bible, the book of commandments for the Church of Christ. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is _baptized_, shall be saved:" (_Mark xvi._, 15, 16). "Verily, I say unto thee, except a man be _born of water_ and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (_John, iii._, 5). "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, _baptizing_ them in the name {288} of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" (_Matt. xxviii._, 19). "Repent, and be _baptized, every one_ of you" (_Acts ii._, 38).