Intellectual Assent

What is intellectual assent?

It is believing something in theory, but not acting upon it. For example, you might believe (intellectually only) that your friend could safely carry you out of a dangerous house fire. But until you allow that person to actually pick you up and carry you out, it is only intellectual assent.

In the spiritual arena, this would be a person who knows and believes that:

God is real
Jesus is Deity
Jesus died and rose again to pay for mankind's sin

But then does not respond to God in any way.

Knowledge Only

Here's a scary thought:

Believing the three bullet points above (intellectually only) qualifies a person to be a demon. The demons recognize Jesus, and the devil himself knows the truth of Christ, but that is only intellectual assent.

This concept is illustrated by the following verse written by James:

Reference	Scripture
James 2:19	You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Knowledge Plus Action

So, when it comes to a response, it involves both knowledge and an action.

Reference	Scripture
John 1:12	"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name"