Does believing the gospel save us?

I don’t think that believing the gospel saves us. Let me s’plain as Ricky Ricardo would have said.

Belief can be understood epistemologically (head) or volitionally (heart).

• Belief (1): Epistemologically, belief is not sufficient for salvation   (e.g., the demons believe in God in this sense. James 2:19).   A person can believe that the gospel is true, and yet reject it.   I have known many people who believe that the gospel is true, but do not want to yield to Holy Spirit. 

• Belief (2): Volitionally, belief means to confide or to put one’s trust in the object of one’s belief (e.g., the demons do not believe IN God in this sense James 2:19).

I think that a person must first believe (1) the gospel, so that the Holy Spirit convicts that person of their sin and of their need for salvation. Then they must believe (1) that God has the ability to save them.  Then, they must cryout to be saved and then believe (2) in Him for their salvation.

In other words, all those who believe (2) in God are those who have believed (1) the gospel.

However, not everyone who has believed (1) the gospel believes (2) in God; hence, God does not save them, for God only saves those who believe (2) in Him.

So properly speaking believing (1) the gospel does not save you.  Rather, God save you through the believing (1) of the gospel, which can lead to belief (2) in God.

The Crew »« Q & A: Is faith the efficient cause of salvation? Part Deux