God said that all we have to do is believe but I think it is more than that, it includes the desire to be changed into a new creation by Christ. He will not dwell in anyone who doesn't want to be changed by Him.
Luke 9:23
"If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me".
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it".
If there is a desire to have Christ to save ourselves but no desire to be changed by Him into a new creation then the expectation that God will protect us without us wanting Him does not bring salvation.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
Nowhere do we see that just believing in one's head saves anyone; faith is deeply rooted in admitting sinfulness and wanting to be changed by Christ.
As we see in Matthew 7, these were lost people who believed in Christ, they just wanted Him to serve them instead of them serving Him.
When we want someone or something badly enough we will follow them or it.
James 1:22
"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves."
Luke 6:46
"Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?"
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.”
1 John 2:4
"If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
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