Do we need to "repent" to be saved?

The Galatians added something to the process of salvation and Paul wrote very earnestly to warn them of the danger of doing so.

Since we do not have a single word in English for the phrase "change of mind" which is closer to the Greek, translators have usually relied on the single word "repent". As a result, many people have become handicapped in their Christian walk.

People often want to know if they have "really" repented, did they repent of "all" their sin, did they feel sorry enough, or should they repent again to be sure. Others start to think that since they have repented, there is nothing left to do in the Christian life. A degree of smugness settles in as someone feels confident in what they have done. For these reasons it can be helpful to examine this word and understand how it is used.

The English word "repent" is derived from the French word "repentir" The "re-" is an intensified form of "pentir".  This in turn is derived from the Latin "poena".

In Roman mythology, Poena (also Poine) is the spirit of punishment and the attendant of punishment to Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution. The Latin word poena, "pain, punishment, penalty", gave rise to English words such as subpoena and pain. The original word is the Ancient Greek poin (ποινή), also meaning “penalty.”

The use of the word "repent" in the Bible as a translation of the Greek word "metanoia" is not correct. It stems from the Catholic teaching of penance or punuishment. While there can be regret and sorrow associated with metanoia, the main meaning is a change of mind that results from a new awareness.

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD... -  2 Samuel 12:13a 

David was led by Nathan to see his own sin and as a result had a changed mind.

The Greek word translated repent is metanoeō. It comes from two Greek words meta and noeō. Meta can mean  after or beyond.  Noeō means “to perceive.” From the word noeō we get the English word notion, which refers to an idea emanating from the mind.

Metanoia is simply a change in thinking resulting from a new awareness.

Now, having heard this, they were stung to the heart with poignant sorrow. And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, What shall we do, men, brothers? And Peter said to them, Have a change of mind, that change of mind being accompanied by abhorrence of and sorrow for your deed, and let each one of you be baptized upon the ground of your confession of belief in the sum total of all that Jesus Christ is in His glorious Person, this baptismal testimony being in relation to the fact that your sins have been put away, and you shall receive the gratuitous gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:37-38 (Wuest)

These people had just come to understand that they had put to death the Messiah. 

If we start to use the "repent" concept, we can begin to think that we need to feel bad so that we are motivated to make a change. The problem here is that we begin to think that change cannot happen unless we make it happen. 

The basis for the change of mind should have been the result of understanding that they had as a nation been called to serve God and follow His laws and that they had drifted away. 

Paul told the gentiles that God has declared that everyone should metanoia. The basis for this change was to be the result of hearing the truth of the Gospel. Some mocked Paul, some said they would hear more later, and some believed. The command of God that we metanoia cannot be obeyed until God gives us the ability. 

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness... - 1 Corinthians 1:18a

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) -  Ephesians 2:5

It is God that gives us faith, new life, and makes us a new creation. The change of mind we have is only a reflection of the work God has already done in us. In a way it is evidence of salvation rather than the cause of it