For a true, saving faith has no existence in a proud, haughty, and self-assured heart. Instead, true, saving faith only exists in a humble, crushed, and repentant heart. Whoever does not yet confess the sickness of his sin—how can he, through true faith, bear a longing for Christ, the eternal Physician for sin (Mat. 9:12)? Anyone who does not yet realize his unworthiness and corruption—how shall he have a longing for the grace of God in Christ? Anyone who does not yet from the Law realize the heavy burden of sin and the divine wrath over sin—how is he to become hungry and thirsty for the righteousness which is proffered to him in the Gospel (Mat. 5:6)? From this, it consequently follows that true, humble contrition—which includes realizing one’s sinfulness and genuine regret or sorrow over it—and faith in Christ are part and parcel of true godliness. From such repentance grow good works as fruits thereof (Mat. 3:8). Indeed, before the fall into sin and during the state of innocence, repentance was not even necessary for godliness, nor was it an essential part of it. Also, in the practice of godliness, it was in no way even required that repentance had to be initiated in the beginning. For since in that blessed state there existed no sin, what would be the necessity for acknowledging sin? At that time, the Law did not serve mankind for the knowledge of sin and the wrath of God (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 7:7). Instead, it only served to give directions for good works, in order that they could recognize in what manner and with what works they were to serve God the Lord. (Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 17-18)

Consequently, anyone who wants to bring forth fruits of good works, Christ has to live in his heart through faith. From all this it is sufficiently apparent, and it follows unequivocally, that genuine faith in Christ is part and parcel for godliness. Indeed, this same faith, so to speak, is the soul, the foundation, and the root for godliness. Just as the human body is dead without its soul, so also godliness and good works are a dead image if there is no faith in Christ alongside. The righteous person shall live his faith (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11). What I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, Paul says about himself and all true Christians (Gal. 2:20). Accordingly, wherever there is no faith in Christ, there is also no spiritual life, there are also no upright good works as fruits of the spiritual life. In the same way that a building which has no foundation, but instead is built upon quicksand, is not stable (Mat. 7:26), so also where the foundation of faith is not placed upon Christ, there also the building of godliness and good works have no stability. Just as a tree grows up out from the root, so also godliness [from] true faith. If this root is taken away, then it also will soon lose its genuine godliness. Furthermore, just as godliness and good works cannot exist without true faith, so also true faith cannot exist without an honest confession of sin and genuine contrition over it. (Schola Pietatus-Volume 1 by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p. 16-17)