There's nothing any of us can do to merit salvation. That's impossible. Sin was judged at the Cross by Christ sheeding His Blood (Hebrews 9:22) and we are justified by His grace (Romans 3:24). The only question remaining is man's faith.
No one said anything about salvation, although chances are you don't understand that either.
Proper confession is, of course, impossible without faith in Christ. A sin, once confessed and repented for, is absolved. That sinner will sin again. There is, however, only one judgement. At that time his salvation will depend, under the sovereign will of Christ, on the sum total of his unconfessed sin. Indeed, even assuming the unknowable, -- that all sin is confessed and absolved at the time of death, -- the salvation is not merited by the act of confession, but granted by the sovereign Christ.
Oh my ,you say there NOTHING we can do????? How much are you willing to learn HOW?
Amen rdb3!
(thanks for the ping)