John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Let me tell you a secret.

I was saved before I knew how it worked or why it worked.

Acts 7:25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ezekiel 37:23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

When God makes a promise He keeps it.

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. (Luke 18)

Jesus introduces us to yet another important concept; justification.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

It would seem from this verse that the source of grief is more important than the repentance itself. 

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Repentance:

re-pen’-tans:

I. OLD TESTAMENT TERMS

1. To Repent-“to Pant,” “to Sigh”

2. To Repent-“to Turn” or “Return”

II. NEW TESTAMENT TERMS

1. Repent-“to Care,” “Be Concerned”

2. Repent-“to Change the Mind”

3. Repent-“to Turn Over,” “to Turn Upon,” “to Turn Unto”

III. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS

1. The Intellectual Element

2. The Emotional Element

3. The Volitional Element

How can we simplify something that our educators have made so complicated?

How can we believe we have grieved God if we do not believe there is a God that cares about each of us as individuals?

Can someone who does not believe there is a God repent?

Perhaps but the purpose behind repentance is salvation and without God there is no salvation.