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Allow me to rephrase. If at any point belief becomes an act of will, it then becomes a work, on the basis of sheer effort it requires to maintain a belief that may dissolve.

So.... You do believe that belief requires will or you don't?

Okay, any time here I exclude "need", I state it erroneously. I absolutely recognize the obligation of belief, but since you are denying the connection between will and belief, I'm pointing out that it contradicts your original point of "maintaining your own belief"if it is not out of your own...

Mind you, I recognize the command to believe, to have faith, among all the other commands. When Peter sank, a lack of continuing belief, you might say continuing faith, he was restored in his belief again, calling out to his Redeemer and was rescued by Him who maintains a perfect faith. But if...

You're waffling again. If you have no willful control over your belief, then it is not out of an obligation, but something that is done to you. Either by nature or by the will of God. It can't be said "you need to do" because if you don't "will" your belief, your belief just is, no cause from...

Nope. You're good.

I wonder what would happen if you understood the word "context." I bet you'd learn the butler did it.

"No, you're a something something times a million!"

Pro tip: don't put bacon grease on a pan on a lit burner and forget.

I hope that doesn't sound as pretencious to you as it does to me now. I know that sometimes my literal execution can be convoluted. This applies both to the current quote and previous ones. Additionally if you did understand, I certainly don't mean to imply a lack of comprehension on your part.

I think perhaps you understand my view of belief in a different context than I intended. I was specifically referring to the maintenance department... What we do daily, I would say, as a part of our daily living within salvation, motivated by the Spirit, is part of the salvation we receive, but...

If your statement here about belief is true, and your previous statement about the requirement of belief is also true, then I personally would have no hope, as I cannot passively believe in God. I have a knowledge of God, but the doubt that comes with sin, the constant questioning of my human...

Also, I recognize that this is testimony, and not hard fact. Take that as you will.

I hate to sound pathetic, I'm really not trying to whine about my fears, but agoraphobia. I KNOW that my fear is unreasonable. I know that the statistics of what could happen don't agree with the anxiety that getting in car makes me feel. It takes real effort to focus on what I know to be true...

I'm compelled to agree. If we disagree on anything in this conversation, I'd like this to not be a point of contention between us.

I can't speak to that. I don't know that I hold all agreement with Calvin. I don't have a hateful view of humanity. The Trinity loved us enough to work out a plan for salvation, and I certainly don't claim a hold on the book of Life. I see the love of Christ all around me. Here too. But the...

Although, not a direct comparison, I'm sure the Jews saw Paul's view of his and all other works in at least a similar light. I'm not trashing the faith of Christ, being perfect and sufficient for all sinners, mind you. And I'm certainly not discouraging belief in Christ. I can get aggressive in...

Hmm, you make a fair point. Guess I'll have to look for another adjective. Maybe it's just my association of all things imperfect with filth.... ?

Additionally, if you're trying to sell me a filthy (humanly filthy, not directly you, but all humanity) belief full of human sin as a requirement to satisfy a perfect and just God, then you and I have a far greater gap in our understanding of God's holiness than you realize.

Doubt is the leaven of belief. It makes a continuous belief imperfect.