Welcome! I think that many really don't know they are faking belief; they believe a false gospel. Thoughts?
I would say; MANY do not comprehend the difference of their Belief...
Meaning man's mind is designed to hear, see, learn things; then formulate a conclusion, based on what he learns.
Via weighing, this information and that information, and making a logical conclusion;
And tomorrow gain more information and repeat the process of weighing and logically concluding WHAT to believe.
IOW- the "changing of the MIND', is constantly occurring.
One day a man CAN "mindfully" conclude he believes in God. And the next day, receive additional information, and "doubt, wonder, or then decide he "doesn't believe in God"
We can FIND in Scriptures, even Jesus' chosen disciples...went through this same process concerning "new to them" information Jesus was "feeding" them.
Scripture is very clear. The natural MIND is against God.
Scripture is very clear: God is NOT interested in the mans natural MINDS thoughts, it's logic, it's wavering back and forth.
Scripture is very clear; God IS interested IN
The "thoughts" of a man "heart".
A natural mans MIND, can deceive, trick, lie, cheat, plot revenges, etc......all the while knowing the "truth" in his thoughts of his own
Heart.
IOW- the natural spirit (truth) of man, the man can "hide" in his "natural spirit, (ie his truth), in his heart......while his minds thoughts can provoke what is actually AGAINST what his "spirit in his heart KNOWS to be True.
When a man begins HEARING the Word of God; He can do one of two things;
1) One TRUST to believe all he hears IS TRUE
2) Two simply hear, and cipher with his MINDS logic, IF he shall believe it is true.
When a man is learning the Word of God;
Believing it or not; the man IS being "enlightened".
When a man is learning the Word of God;
And Believing what he hears; he begins receiving a "gift" from God; "from Gods Spirit to the mans "natrual spirit" (in his heart);
That Gift is called "faith".
If a man CONTINUES learning, hearing, believing, he CONTINUES receiving faith.
If a man STOPS learning, hearing, believing.
He DISCONTINUES receiving faith. (Ie he falls from faith).
If the man CONTINUES; his faith in his heart INCREASES. As it increases; the man begins to "listen" to his heart; have a urge, by the faith being increased.....TO....call on the Lord;
Call on the Lords Name to CONFESS to the Lord, "the mans Belief in the Lord".
Scripture teaches to become enlightened, hear, read, learn about God, receive faith, AND then BE SURE, you WANT to call on the Lord and Confess belief in Him...
PRECISELY; because IT IS PERMANENT.
(Unlike a wishy washy ever changing MIND)..
A confession of a man from the belief in his Hearts thoughts; Are Precisely what God SHALL hear from an UNSAVED man; And are Precisely unrevokeable.
Because the moment a man gives a TRUE "heart-felt" Confession; the Lord First forgives the man FOR NOT BELIEVING....then makes supernatural changes within the man...that can not be undone. They can not become "undone" because they are secured and maintained; by the Power of God...not the man.
Minds of men can believe all kinds of things;
the True gospel, parts of it, lies, philosophies, be convinced wrong is right if the mans mind reasons certain circumstances leaves one no choice, and right is wrong if one can be convinced by another eloquently twisting the truth; etc.
However the Lord searches the thoughts of a mans natural spirit, (while he is still in sin), for a true confession of the mans belief in God. And God immediately changes the man; and KEEPS him changed; and thus the man becomes accounted as belonging to God; and justified to be redeemed by God.
So inanutshell...HOW a man confesses belief is paramount.
God only accepts belief from a mans heart.
Men however routinely accept belief from a mans mind.
And many men do not know the difference.
Routinely you can find men saying...
I used to believe, but now I don't..<--MIND
Or, I was baptized, but now I don't believe <-
Perhaps baptized with "water", but not with the everlasting Holy Spirit.
They were "baptized" by another, as a baby, or at the "urging" of another, like a parent or girlfriend, dunked in water, and everyone appears happy...
But until one HIMSELF is in heartfelt belief;
He shall not be Baptized with the Holy Spirit.
And When one IS Baptized with the Holy Spirit it is Forever; and his gift of Faith, is become FULL-faith-FULLNESS in God, that that person, can NEVER again NOT believe in God.
God Bless,
Taken