John 3:18 - He who believes in Him is not condemned; but who who (has not repented? - NO) does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (repented? - NO) because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Here is where your logic about repentance in regards to John 3:18 fails. Repentance actually "precedes" saving belief in Christ and water baptism "follows." Your church reverses the scriptural order of repentance and belief/faith. To the contrary we find:
Matthew 21:32 - For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you
did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not
repent and believe him. *Notice the order.
Mark 1:15 -
Repent and believe the gospel. *Notice the order.
Acts 20:21 - testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of
repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. *Notice the order.
Repent "change of mind" - new direction of this change of mind - "believe him/believe the gospel/faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. You place repentance "after" believe/faith in your 5 step church of Christ plan of salvation and cannot grape a
deeper faith which
trusts exclusively in Christ for salvation, which also explains why you have so much faith in "water and works."
Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, "Each one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (No need to add)
No matter how many verses you present showing belief as necessary, it does not negate the verses that clearly state the need for repentance and baptism. Scriptures harmonize scripture not negate them.
If you believe that there is a tacit connection between the act of repentance and belief, why not the acts of confession and baptism? If faith alone (which is not stated in scripture) incorporates the act of repentance why not baptism and confession? Why do you draw your tacit line to not include what is so clearly commanded, confession and baptism.
Did those cut to the heart not believe? Why tell believers to repent if repentance is tacit to believing?
We must repent "change our mind" before we can believe the gospel and become saved. Repent and believe/faith are two sides to the same coin. In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.
*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received
the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 -
the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).
In Acts 10:43 we read
..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received
the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45 -
when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 -
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as
repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.
*So the only logical conclusion
when properly harmonizing Scripture with Scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*
In regards to confession, confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are
not two separate steps to salvation but chronologically together. Romans 10:8 - But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU,
in your mouth and in your heart" (together) that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, (notice the reverse order from verse 9-10) - that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confess/believe; believe/confess.
1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and
no one can say that Jesus is Lord except BY the Holy Spirit. There is divine influence or direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person when confessing Jesus as Lord. This confession is not just a simple acknowledgment that Jesus is the Lord (even the demons believe that), but is a deep personal conviction, without reservation, that Jesus is that person's Lord and Savior.
So simply believing in our head (and not in our heart) that God raised Him from the dead does not result in righteousness and simply reciting the words "Jesus is Lord" not by the Holy Spirit from a check list of steps in an effort to receive salvation by works is not unto salvation.
We must properly harmonize Scripture with Scripture in order to reach the proper conclusion on doctrine and not distort and pervert passages of Scripture in an effort to "patch together" an erroneous plan of salvation by works.