Well, at least he brought something written down. Lot's of hypothesis going on, very little truth due to very little scripture. I wonder if The MESSage got it even worse though? For the record the NLT is a translation not a paraphrase, or, so they say.
YLT puts renders it properly, as do most other versions:
Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that ye may believe in him whom He did send.'
It is apparent that believing is the work of God in the believer, not the work, decisive ability, free willing of, choosing or ability of man. 2 Peter 2:1; Ephesians 1:19; Romans 10:17; John 1:13; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:5-8; John 6:63 also affirm these things.