That is interesting. Thanks!
How is our belief determined?? Is that a sliding scale that only God can define or is there anything tangible that he will use to determine our belief?
What if I have doubts but continue in walking in his ways? How do I know if I believe or not?
Thanks!
It is my understanding that belief is determined worthy of reward of eternal life when we take God at His word. For Abraham it was enough to believe that he will have many descendants. For Naaman it was sufficient to acknowledge there is no other God except God of Israel, even though he continued to bowing down to false god as part of his obligation before pagan king (2 Kings 5:1-19). All will be responsible to respond with faith to whatever revelation God has made known. Some may be saved in heaven because they responded favorably to revelation that there is creator who created everything despite now knowing His name, but many may not,
For what may be known about God is clear to them since God has shown it to them. ;The invisible things about Him—His eternal power and deity—have been clearly seen since the creation of the world and are understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse. But all who will be saved from Abraham, to a person in remote island never knowing the name of God as revealed in Scripture, to any believer in Christ today, will be there because Jesus Christ made it possible. And all who will end up being there will be there because they have responded with faith to revelation presented to them.
If there is a person who believes that they are not a sinner made God a liar, because God said that we are sinners, that person has not believed revelation of God. A person believing that it is not finished, when Christ has said it is finished is also making God a liar.
For if we willfully continue to sin (it is my contention that this is not referring just to any sin, but specifically to sin of disbelief, context necessitates this)
after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who despised Moses’ law died without mercy in the presence of two or three witnesses. How much more severe a punishment do you suppose he deserves, who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded the blood of the covenant that sanctified him to be a common thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine,” says the Lord, “I will repay. And again He says, “The Lord will judge His people.”It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Regarding doubting, it happens, John the Baptist doubted. Even though John the Baptist doubted, Christ still spoke about him,
I say to you, among those who are born of women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. We all should be willing to say to God, "“
Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24) Belief is ongoing process, not a one time declaration, it is ongoing dependance on God.
I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.
I believe act of belief is each person's choice. And stopping to believe is a choice as well.
For this reason we are reminded:
Now the just shall live by faith;
but if anyone draws back,
My soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who draw back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
What if I have doubts but continue in walking in his ways?
I am not sure what you mean by walking in his ways. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29). Which was an answer to the question, "What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” (v28).
To believe is the only thing that matters for salvation. why?
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
Regarding loving God to keep his commandments, to believe is the most important directive for salvation. I am open to possibility that a person can be mad at God and still believe and be counted among righteous. (2 Samuel 6:8).
