I have a similar question for you. If someone has faith and is not saved by it (as in the case of
Luke 8:13 in your estimation), how do we know that we are saved? Because obviously we might not be saved even though we have faith.
There was a friend of mine who liked to ask people this question . . . Have you been a Christian long enough to know you are one?
I like that!
The demons believe, but are not reborn. I believe that I am reborn because God said that if I trusted in Jesus I would be. I hate sin and love God. And God has tipped His hand, if you will, for me personally, and I believe I know my Creator, and that I'm reconciled to Him.
I may believe that unless I diet, I'll be sick. So what? Believing that doesn't affect my health.
But if I diet, relying on that to improve my health, that's believing.
If you believe that to be reborn, you will never again sin, then your confidence in your rebirth will be as strong as your confidence in your own sinlessness.
And unless you truly believe that you don't sin - and not just that, but you're right, you don't sin - then you are left in the condition of believing, but that could end, and you be lost.
How can God talk so much about our having a certainty of eternal life, but then make it uncertain?
Only if we are keeping ourselves saved do we have that uncertainty. Because God has said what He's doing, we're been predestined to become like Jesus.
Much love!