At this point I’m not sure if this fits but will try. Belief is child like faith. Hearing and taking it as truth.
Agreed. But I would add 2 more to the definition
Knowledge – an intellectual content to believe. This includes knowledge of God, Christ, sin and faith as found in the Bible.
Faith is limited by knowledge for one cannot believe what one does not know.
The source of knowledge is: Romans 10:17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself). Some believe the message must come from men; others would say the message, though coming from man is actuated by the Spirit for otherwise it falls on death ears.
Agreement/Assent to the Truth – the wholehearted, emotional assent that the truth applies to the person himself. (
Assent is conviction produced by evidence. Faith without evidence is irrational or impossible)
Trust – Faith has a volitional aspect. In the trust aspect, knowledge has passed to assent, acceptance or approval, and from acceptance/approval it goes to volitional trust, surrender and reliance. All of this is actuated by the
testimony of the Spirit for it is spiritually discerned. 2 Timothy 1:12b Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard
and keep that which has been entrusted to me
and which I have committed [to Him] until that day. Of special and indisputable significance of the volitional trust, surrender and submission of the person who exercises faith in God is the expression “to obey,” a synonym for saving faith
If God knows the end from the beginning, then would He not know who are His? It’s just then a matter of His intervention in our life.
Is this Calvinistic?
Doesn't matter is something is Calvinistic. Is it truth is the important thing.
Calvinism believes: God ordains every things that happens down to each molecule. He does this by causing something to occur or permitting it to occur. (I agree with this, but I opinion doesn't make it correct though)
Hmmm ... that are a lot of other theories ... some think God created the universe and sits back and watches to see what will happen
some think God intervenes at times
In regards to salvation a majority think God looks into the future to see what happens. ( I believe this to be false as it makes God knowledge dependent upon people and God sovereignty subservient to peoples will, that it breaks the law of causality, that is contradicts scripture, on and on.... but people smarter than I disagree)
Aside: Read a couple Systematic Theology books and you will probably double your knowledge