Well, dear friend, faith does come before understanding that goes with saying~yet, life comes before one could even have the power to believe. Let me break this verse down even more.
Jone 5:1a Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: .....
Whosoever believeth~With much emphasis in this chapter on the identity of Jesus, our faith is a gift from God. See also Philippians 1:28,29
The universe exists for this great drama, but most men reject it, neglect it, or miss it. God chose to display Himself to the universe through His Son to save all His elect. Most men do not know why they exist, what to do with life, or how to worship God. Without faith, God’s gift to His sons, we would believe the world’s destructive lies. All men should believe, but only those born of God will believe, condemning all men. The condemnation is great, for the wrath of God will remain upon them (John 3:18,36). The Jews adored their scriptures, missing the clear testimony of Christ (John 5:39-40). We must thank God always for choosing us to believe truth unlike others (2nd Thessalonians 2:13). Jesus the Son of God will come to destroy all enemies (2nd Thessalonians 1:7-10; Acts 17:30-31).
That Jesus is the Christ~We met with this fact about Jesus Christ the Son of God in the first verses (Ist John 1:1-3). We met with this fact about Jesus the Christ earlier against many antichrists (Ist John 2:22). Jesus is the personal name of the Son of God given by angelic direction to both parents. The Christ is the anointed Messiah of God promised throughout the Old Testament. The rejection of this fact was primarily a Jewish error denying their own scriptures.
Jesus is the Christ = Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Mary, is God’s chosen Messiah and Son. The record given in the Bible is what we know and believe by faith (Matt 1:16-25). English Christ is from the Greek Christos, from Hebrew Messiah (John 1:41; 4:25). The Messiah, or Christ, was known as Son of David and Son of God (Matt 16:16). Thus, if you believe Jesus of Nazareth is God’s anointed Son, you have proof by faith. Most do not believe, and there is little value trying to tell them of it (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-2). Repentance to accept truth – or the creation of faith – is God’s gift (2nd Timothy 2:24-26). It is God’s elective choice that any have faith to believe (Ist Corinthains 1:18-31; James 2:5).
Is born of God~Born of God = regeneration = quickened = a new nature (new man) by the Spirit to be sons vitally. This same apostle made it very clear the sovereign power involved (John 1:12-13; 3:1-8).
Faith to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is proof a man is already born again. Consider:
He that believeth [present tense; active voice] is born of God [perfect tense; passive]. Perfect tense is action completed [perfected] in the past and still true in the present.
We prove this priority of action by John’s previous points (Ist John 4:7 cp Ist John 3:14). Consider John’s other examples proving regeneration is before faith (Ist John 4:15).
Unless a man is born again, he cannot see God’s kingdom, let alone its King (John 3:3)~which we trust we proved above.
Being born again is God’s work, without human efforts, for us to believe (John 1:12). God’s work of grace in causing the new birth is like the sovereign wind (John 3:8).
He that is of God – already born of God – can hear and understand (John 8:43-45,47). The sheep of Christ will believe – they do not believe to become sheep (John 10:26). Only those already saved are able and willing to believe on Jesus (Ist Corinthians 1:18,24). The gospel is hid from others, for they are lost and blinded by Satan (2nd Corinthians 4:3-4). So, faith is the evidence of eternal life and God’s gift (1st Corinthians 2:14-17; 2nd Thessalonians 3:1-2).