Justified/Saved by Faith & Faith Alone

Romans 8:35 asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" where the Greek "tis" (Strongs 5101) is translated as "who" here even though the complete meaning includes, "who, which, what, why."
and continues with rhetorical a question of examples that answerable with a "Nope, none of that can separate us from the love of Christ." within the context of a state of being "more than conquerors." Curious state that, being 'more than conquerors' considering we've done none of the conquering ourselves.
I mean, who is able to stop sinning this side of living in an incorruptible body? How can we more than conquer if we can't even at the least conquer them (all of them, do you even realize how many there are to keep track of!!!?)?

And there's that ageless reality that asserts our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2)! Right?
Well, Romans 8:37-39 gives us the key that there is a case where the answer to this is a resounding "NO!"

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Not even sin can separate God from those in Christ Jesus our Lord!
If that isn't the good news Bonafide Gospel of Jesus, then I don't know what is!

I don't know about that. Perhaps the only difference between faith and unbelief is an openness to the possibility of any certain thing, i.e. dunatos (possible) and adunatos (impossible). Therefore, it is impossible to please God without faith.

So regeneration precedes the exercise of faith?

I know there is debate to the order of salvation.
To my mind, Scripture teaches faith preceding Regeneration.

If the heart and mind and will were corrupted due to sin, wouldn't the way to fix the problem be the reverse?
If you read the response in Acts 2 after Peter's sermon that appears to be what happens: when they heard this --understood...the mind, they were pricked in their hearts--heart,and said...what shall we do--the will. They aren’t saved yet. Peter hasn't yet told them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

All I can say is read James 2.

Look at v. 12 and 13 before Peter stood up to address the crowd...

12Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”

I see the first group asking, "What is possible?" and the second group proclaiming the only phenomenon they believe to be possible.
The first groups hearts were open, sensitive enough to be pricked yes. The second group hardened their hearts to it. So it would seem to me rather that the order would be the will, or the want to, the heart (hardened or open), and then the mind rationalizing the decision.

Think of Thomas, he said, "I will not believe unless..." Does that necessarily mean that he wasn't open to the possibility that Jesus had risen? I'm not so sure of that. He may have only been confessing his unbelief or maybe need of more concrete confirmation of his hope. Who's to say what went on in His mind. Thomas' thoughts may have been something like a jealous love that would say, "If it is true that He showed Himself to you, then He will personally let me know. also."

Whatever was in Thomas' heart, Jesus was aware of because nobody had to tell Him about what Thomas had said.

I appreciate what you've shared but before people are saved I believe a person's heart is as described in Jeremiah 17:9...deceitful above all things and desperately wicked...so I have 2 questions concerning your assessment:

1. How does such a heart believe?
2. Can someone change their own heart?

David asked God, "create in me a new heart and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51)" And he is a man after God's own heart." I gather that David believed, "All things are possible to him who believes! (Mark 9:23)!" before that verse was ever written!

Sure. But he asked God to create and renew. He didn't do it himself.

I guess I don't understand how I might've implied anyone's salvation is diy.

I appreciate what you've shared but before people are saved I believe a person's heart is as described in Jeremiah 17:9...deceitful above all things and desperately wicked...so I have 2 questions concerning your assessment:

1. How does such a heart believe?
2. Can someone change their own heart?

There is a sense of mystery in regards to salvation. The Divine working in the human soul, the human soul responding to the Divine impulse.
The answer to your questions is the 'Grace of God'.
In the words of the hymn......."Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me.".

God's grace comes to us, enlightening, illuminating, and freeing us in order that we may respond to His love.

In post #67 you said the responses of the 2 different groups was because 1 group hardened their hearts and the other opened their hearts. That's why I have pursued the questioning along the line of the heart.
I apologize if I made it seem that you implied anything at all. I was merely trying to clarify my understanding of what scripture teaches.

The answer to your questions is the 'Grace of God'.

Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed... and my mind's eye processes that info relative to a heart, the seat of our faith. Generally speaking, our hearts are hardened by sin, but God is capable to prick even the smallest openings the size of a mustard seed. Everyone has a wicked heart and everyone has been given a measure of faith, or there would be excuse. As a former philosophy teacher claims, "Ought implies can." So if we ought believe then we have been equipped with the ability to. I don't know if opening our hearts qualifies as 'do it yourself' as I look as it as lying on a table and allowing the surgeon to work, And no one would do that very willingly unless he trusted his skill, of course.