Lets consider what else Jesus said we must do...

Matthew 4:16-17 The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen." From then on, Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!"

Luke 13:3, 5 I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

The "people living in darkness" are the unsaved sinners of the world. Jesus said that they had seen the light, which is Jesus. Jesus then preached that they should "repent".

Jesus made a clear statement that if we do not "repent" we shall likewise perish.

Jesus said it and we should not doubt what Jesus says... we must "believeth in Him".

Now... how could you possibly believe that all you have to do is "believe He exist"... that all you have to do is have "faith"? Especially since Jesus Himself tells us that we must "repent" or we will "perish".

Repentance is also part of what Jesus commanded the apostles to preach...

Luke 24:46-47 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.

God also commands everyone, everywhere, to "repent"...

Acts 17:30 Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, for he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man he has appointed, and he has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

God commands and wants "everyone to come to repentance"... and He is patient with us...

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance.

So what exactly is "repentance"?

Repentance is turning away from a habitual life of ungodliness and sin, turning to God, and living a life for God... it is acknowledging that you are a sinner and making a decision to seek what God desires for you... and then putting it into practice...

Acts 26:20 Instead, I first told the people in Damascus and Jerusalem, then the whole countryside of Judea, and then the gentiles to repent, turn to God, and practice works that are consistent with such repentance.

Let's consider the Greek word for "repent", which is "metanoia"

Strong's Definition for "metanoia":
(subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation);
by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision): - repentance.

Thayer's Definition for "metanoia":
1) a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done

Okay... so you repent and turn to God... does this mean we will never sin again? Not according to God's Word...

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

The blood of Christ keeps us cleansed of sin provided we continue to repent of our sins and confess them to God... notice John wrote to Christians that we should "make it our habit to confess our sins,"...

1 John 1:6-9 If we claim that we have fellowship with him but keep living in the darkness, we are lying and the truth is not in us. But if we keep living in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we do not have any sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we make it our habit to confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us those sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Repentance brings forth conversion... Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Clearly we must "repent" to be saved, and we must continue to repent of sin after we are saved.

We have "learned" thus far that we must "hear the gospel of Christ" and we must "believe in Him" and we must "repent of our old ways of sin and turn to God."

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'