I believe that these are both essential functions of salvation, but that repentance can come without the realization of the sacrifice of Christ. That repentance won't save, but it's an essential part of the process of salvation. Repentance should lead to belief that Christ's sacrifice paid the sin for our penalty which should lead to the gift of the holy spirit. Acts 19 chronicles the sequence. Acts 2:38 sums it up:
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
But I suspect we're saying the same thing in different ways so I thank you for your insight.
A true and accurate conviction regarding one’s own station before God as a sickling cannot come about without God’s own work through the Holy Spirit, Who together with Christ and God the Father desires to draw all people from all walks of life (including those who enter the vineyard at the eleventh hour) to Himself forever through the innocent suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Satan hates that. He’s jealous and would desire a total divorce between God and man (who is flesh of God’s good creation).
When Satan takes the Word of God and the commandments on his lips it is to deceive and lead us to despair. The righteousnes of Christ Jesus on our behalf trumps any and every accusation against us, even the true accusation that we do not fear and love God above all things or love our neighbor as ourselves. That righteouss belongs to all who believe in His saving merits, no matter how frail and misguided we at times behave by nature.
So, true repentance (and you are right in noting there such thing as a repentance without faith such as that of those who change their ways not out of the fear of God but out of a desire to succeed on their own merits) is a work of God that begins with the commandments showing His righteousness which is perfect and never changes.