Faith Means "Ability To Believe"?

In a posting titled "Zack Guess - Hardshell Apologist" (here) I cite from Elder Guess, an apologist for Hardshellism. 

Guess wrote:

"Faith" is "the ability to believe." So, if one believes, he is exercising the faith which he already has."

In response to this I wrote:

"Faith" is "the ability to believe."  Faith is not belief!  Faith is without belief!  Unbelievers are actually believers!

Guess, by defining "faith" by "ability to believe," has changed the whole meaning of the word.  After Guess cites the definition of faith and believe as given by scholars, he then adds to the definition and gives one that no scholar gives, a totally new definition.  Is this not a clear example of perverting and corrupting the word of God?  Is "repentance" also to be defined as "the ability to repent"?  Is "perseverance" to be defined as "the ability to persevere"?  Is "knowing" and "trusting" God to be defined as "the ability to know and trust"? 

Interesting is this remark from Guess:

"We are brought to God in vital, living union by faith."

We are glad for this confession but it contradicts much of what Guess wrote in the article I was critiquing. But, we are astonished that he can give to "faith" such a totally unwarranted definition, one that has no basis in fact at all.

What think ye?