Faither,
Paul tells us that the Gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation. Meaning the power is not merely in the Good News. The power IS the Good News.
That has to mean that anyone who believes the Gospel gets saved -- not because there's any power or merit in one's belief but because of the power inherent in what is believed.
Would you agree with that much?
Right that the power "is' the good news. The good news is Jesus tore the curtain and paid the penalty for us to have relationship with God.
As for 'believing", That alone will do nothing. Believing, believer, and to believe are the mistranslation I was asking if you knew about. Pisteuo is a verb, "an action, based upon a belief, sustained by confidence." The specific action is according to the Vines Greek, "A personal surrender to Him, and a life inspired by such surrender." This surrender is continuous. Much different than belief, wouldn't you say?
I thought the way you were headed on this topic, we might share some common ground.
I may have made a mistake.