"Believing" is more than just knowing in our heads, the devil knows and he is going to hell. Believing means to desire what God wants for you, to desire His cleansing, and trusting in His provision and wisdom from His Word.
If someone says they "believe" in God it is not evidence that they are saved.
James 2:18-26 "18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting what He did on the cross in paying our debt for sin, the response to the belief will be good works. We are not saved by good works, they are evidence that we have been changed into a new creation by Christ.
The faith comes first and because of the faith, there are works.
There are many people in the church who think their works are evidence they are born again. Sadly these some of these same people have no interest in searching the Bible to obey the Word of God.
Those who are working their way to heaven will not make it. God if we are seeking Christ for His truth and wisdom, for His direction that is the evidence that we have been changed and are submitted to Him.
John 14:21
"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."
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