Why is repentance necessary before comfort?

Repentance is a necessary condition before one can experience the comfort of God's forgiveness. The initial realization of sin, often characterized by mourning, compels the sinner to seek redemption. As articulated in the text, there is a Divine order in spiritual matters — there must be a stripping away of pride and self-righteousness before one can be clothed in the grace of Christ. This order follows a biblical pattern where sorrow for sin leads to repentance, which, in turn, reflects the heart prepared to receive the comfort found in the Gospel. Genuine sorrow over sin creates a void that only Christ can fill with His peace and assurance of salvation.