Yes, believing in the gospel (the head knowledge about the gospel) must precede repentance. The process begins with the essential understanding of the gospel. Head knowledge about the gospel isn't enough alone - to save anyone - though it is an essential part necessary in the process. Following learning about the gospel, a person is capable of making the choice to either accept, or reject the gospel. And the person who sincerely accepts the gospel - acts upon it and prayerfully applies it to his daily life, has become a true child of God.
Those are all good verses you showed me on the subject! Yes, Jesus is our example to follow in our daily lives. No one is capable of being sufficiently righteous just by themselves. Since no one is capable of that level of righteousness. But if one is sincere in following Jesus, he will prayerfully choose to do his best to always be to as obedient to God as is possible. And he repents sincerely and daily of all daily sins. And so as a result, God always forgives him, and counts him as though he had a "clean slate" - or as though he has no sin. He is counted "righteous" in that case, due to the pardon of sins all sincere children of God receive.
The full sense of the words, "faith" or "believe" - I believe - mean mental understanding of the gospel - paired with willingness to live according to the gospel in daily life. This is what I believe James was pointing out in this passage:
James 2:20-21
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
KJV
So as you see - verse 20 shows that hypocrisy isn't tolerated by God. A person needs to be willing to put the gospel to action in one's life or else he had a dead, nonexistent relationship with God. Abraham demonstrated His willingness to obey God, by bringing his son up on the mountain to offer him up on the altar. I'm sure it was no easy task, as he loved his son. But he was consecrated enough to God, that he was willing to comply with God's request, regardless of his feelings. He is a good example to us. As you know, it turned out he didn't have to offer up his son after all. But at least, he'd shown his willingness to obey God.
while I do agree I would say things very differently to the same conclusions . Because there is much agreement Believing the gospel is what teaches us the things we need to perceive repentance is of Gods will for us . It’s a fruit that comes from faith built upon a foundation which was laid out by Jesus not Moses. I think it benefits a lot of believers to separate the teachings of Jesus in the gospel from the law of
Moses found in the Books of Moses. They are contrary.
our judgement is sure. The ot makes things like this clear
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For
God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV
But that is to look through a dingy veil at the matter the New Testament is all of the revelation like this
“For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 KJV
That’s a real truth of the gospel which they were commanded to also preach
“And
he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”
Acts 10:42
it’s evident in Paul’s writings also . My point is Jesus said the gospel he was preaching and teaching was the judgement we will be judged by , not Moses law but by his word.
the sins under Moses law were atoned for by him , and we have the gospel to learn believe and follow as he shapes us.
So when we are looking at right and wrong to look at the laws definition of sin doesn’t help concerning the day we all Must appear before Jesus his judgement seat is going to be according to the gospel he spoke . It will look more like this than a list of bad things we’ve done and how many days we felt righteous or anything but in this spirit
“But I say unto
you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the
one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And
as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
...But
love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
...And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not
the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and
then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
For a
good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For
every tree is known by his own fruit.
For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not
the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth
my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and
laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for
it was founded upon a rock.
But
he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:27-31, 35-49
my point is that it’s about the things Jesus taught and he wasn’t only saying repent repent but was saying believe believe . His doctrine isn’t something that’s a rule list it is a spirit of brotherly Godly pure love that he offers .
pure hearts , solid unshakeable relationship with him , forgiveness, strength to overcome , God loves us so
Much and it is evident in the gospel
anyways good discussion you make a lot of good sense God bless hope to discuss another time again