We don't know the end of that story. But many 'believe' that are not born again. None are born again that do not believe. The elect do not produce their own faith. It is given them by the Spirit of God.
I'm a 68 year old missionary kid, "accepted the Lord" before I can remember, grew up on a foreign Bible Institute (Pastor training) Campus, was around missionaries my whole life, had long family devotions every evening, daily memorizing (KJV), discussed at length theology according to the Greek with my father and mother, my father being a master of some authority and more common sense than anyone else I know concerning languages and the Koiné. I've seen 'em come and go, and grew up with both sorts.
Since coming the The States as an adult, I've agonized more about things than you know, reading, studying and praying and crying; I'm not naïve about this. In fact, I'm the one who says there are more Elect believers than Christians want to admit, who die less 'virtuous' than they were earlier in their lives. The Bride is not now as we see things, but will be perfect. Without spot or blemish, and these 'less virtuous' are what she is made of. Perfectly suited to her husband. And her members are every one of them known by God and precious to him individually and together. There are no copies, no substitutes; this is God's work.
This is God's work, I repeat. This is his doing, and we don't understand it. But it is simple fact that he will accomplish it —it is a sure thing, and every one of us is at his mercy. IF I am of the Elect, I will be there. And he doesn't redeem anyone but the Elect.
The Spirit of God can do as he pleases. He can make one person behave, and drive another away from God. He can "bless" the works of one, and let him think he is saved by the fact that he is favored by God (or so he thinks). He can drive another one crazy with fear and doubt about his own lack of obedience. But only the Elect, the regenerated, will see the Kingdom of Heaven. And they don't look like what they think they want to look like.
