Belief Alone Will Never Save [Part 1]

            In recent years “belief only” has become one of the fastest growing doctrines on salvation.  This doctrine teaches all a person has to do to be saved is believe in your heart that Jesus is God’s Son and your personal Lord and Savior, and you will be saved. If this doctrine were true, it would be as one creed book states, “a very wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort.” However, does the Bible teach that “belief alone” is all a person must do to be saved?  What do the Scriptures say concerning “belief only?” 

             One of the greatest proofs that the Bible is the inspired Word of God is its ability to correct false doctrine.  I find it absolutely amazing that the religious world says, “Belief only saves” and in their exact terminology God says, “We see that a man is justified by works and NOT BY FAITH ONLY” (James 2:24, emphasis added).   Isn’t that amazing?  The religious world says to be saved all you have to do is believe in Jesus.  Yet, the only time “belief only” actually occurs in the Bible, God says the exact opposite.  God says belief only WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE (James 2:24)! 

            If a person were going to prove from the Scriptures that “belief only” is not the proper plan of salvation, what would one have to do?  He would have to show clear cases in the New Testament where people believed in Jesus but were still lost.  Let us do just that.  In the New Testament there are several cases where people believed in Jesus and were still not saved.  The first is found in John 12:42.  John records, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.”  It is evident from this verse that the rulers only had faith in Jesus.  The question must be asked, “Can a person believe in Jesus but be unwilling to confess Him and be saved?”  The Scriptures clearly teach that those who do not confess Jesus are not saved.  Jesus said, “Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 10:32-33).  The Apostle Paul also said that we must confess Jesus with our mouth before we are saved (Rom. 10:10).  What do we learn from these verses?  If a person believes in Jesus and is unwilling to confess Him they will not be saved!  This destroys the “belief only” argument.  The rulers in John 12:42 had faith and “faith only” in Jesus.  If a person were true to the teaching of “faith only” they would have to say these rulers were saved.  Yet, they would be in direct opposition to what Jesus had already said concerning the essentiality of confession.  Thus, belief alone did not save the rulers and will not save people today!

            Friends, from James 2:24 and this example of the rulers who had “faith only” in Jesus and were still lost, we can already see that “belief alone” is not a biblical doctrine.  The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must hear God’s word (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), repent of past sins (Luke 13:3), confess Jesus (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  May God help us not to believe what we have always heard, but to search the Scriptures diligently to be approved before God (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 2:15).

Belief Alone Will Never Save [Part 2]

            As I watch various preachers on television or radio, they will often bring their sermon to a climax by saying, “To become a child of God today all you have to do is believe in Jesus, and you are saved.”  Is this what the Bible teaches?  This week we are going to notice two more examples of people who believed in Jesus but were still lost.

            Remember, to prove that “belief only” is not a Scriptural plan of salvation, we must show clear cases where people believed in Jesus and were still lost.  Let us do just that.  In John 8:30 we are told, “As he spoke these words, many believed on him.”  It is evident from this text these people had “faith only” in Jesus.  Yet, in the same context Jesus said of these same people, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” (John 8:44).  What a powerful point!  Some of the same people who had had “faith only” in Jesus are called children of the Devil.  What do we learn from this text?  A person can have “faith only” in Jesus and still be a child of the Devil! 

            Another text that teaches a person can believe in Jesus and still be lost is Acts 9 & 22.  This is the account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion.  In response to the blinding presence of Jesus, in Acts 9:6 Paul said, “Lord, what would thou have me to do?”  It is evident by Paul’s usage of the word “Lord” he had “faith only” in Jesus.  He was now convinced he had been doing wrong and that Jesus was truly Lord and Master.  Yet, we learn from this same account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 22 that he was not saved at the point of “faith only.”  In response to Paul’s question of Acts 9:6, Paul is now told “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the Lord’s name” (Acts 22:16).  What do we learn from this verse?  Paul, who already had “faith only” in Jesus was not saved until he washed away his sins through baptism (Mk. 16:16).  Thus, “belief only” did not save Paul and it will not save anyone today.

            May we be reminded of the word of James 2:24, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”  While faith is important to salvation, the only time the phrase “faith only” occurs in the Bible God says it will not save.  The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must hear God’s word (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), repent of past sins (Luke 13:3), confess Jesus (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  We hope that you will read the next article in which we will look at certain passages people use to teach “faith only” as we examine what the Scriptures really teach. 

Belief Alone Will Never Save [Part 3]

            People sometimes come to a passage in the Bible and quote only that passage to prove a doctrine.  For example, Mormons will quote “other sheep I have” (Jn. 10:16) to promote their view  of Christ going to the Native Americans.  Jehovah’s Witnesses will cite “You are My Witnesses” (Is. 43:10) to show that their name is ordained by God.  As one examines both of these Scriptures in their context it is easy to determine they are being pulled out of context and greatly misused.  This same principle of lifting Scriptures out of their immediate context and the context of the rest of the Bible applies directly to the “belief only” doctrine.  Let me explain.

            One can quote certain passages that teach belief is essential to salvation.  Luke records for us, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).  Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).  A person can also quote certain passages that teach repentance is essential to salvation.  Jesus says, “I tell you, no: but, except you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3).  Peter states, “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…”  (Acts 3:19).  One can also reference certain passages that teach confession is essential to salvation.  Paul says, “…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).  Jesus says, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 10:32).  A person can also see certain passages that teach baptism is essential to salvation.  Peter commands, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).  Jesus says, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved…”  (Mk. 16:16).  All of these passages individually teach one point about salvation.  All of these passages together give us the full picture of what a person must do to be saved.  Why would a person pick one of these passages and exalt it above others that are just as important?  We would not do that in other areas of life.  Allow me to illustrate.  If you were going to make a chocolate cake, you would get out your recipe book and look up the chocolate cake recipe.  The recipe starts on the bottom half of one page and continues on to the next page.  Imagine what it would be like if you only followed what was on the bottom half of the first page.  The recipe might say something like, “Add eggs, flour, and chocolate.”  On the next page the recipe would say, “Add sugar and butter.”  If you just followed the front page only that would be one of the worst cakes you ever ate!  Why?  You did not follow the entire recipe.  The Bible is a book that you must examine in its entirety to receive the proper plan.  This is especially true on salvation, and it is why the “belief only” doctrine cannot stand up to a careful scrutiny of the Scriptures.  I cannot just pick and choose passages here and there that I like or are comforting.  I must take all of what the Bible says on a subject (Ps. 119:160).

            Friend, do not let someone dupe you into thinking that all a person has to do to be saved is believe.  Remember, James says “belief only” will never save anyone (Jass 2:24).  The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must hear God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), repent of past sins (Lk. 13:3), confess Jesus (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  May God help each of us to examine fully what the Scriptures teach!

Belief Alone Will Never Save {Part 4}

            When a person says, “All you have to do to be saved is believe”, they have left out other commands the Lord said one must do to be saved.  As we continue our study of “belief alone”, we are going to look at exactly what the Lord says one must do to be saved.  Notice what Jesus said one must do to be saved.

            Jesus said a person had to confess Him before men to be saved.  “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 10:32-33).  Paul repeated this when he said, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).  Thus, “belief alone” cannot be the only step in salvation.  Jesus said I must also confess him.

            Jesus also said a person must repent or change their life.  In the context of some sins being worse than other sins Jesus said, “I tell you no, but unless you repent you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).  As the gospel was just beginning to be preached in the Book of Acts Peter said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).  We learn again that “belief alone” cannot be the only step in salvation for Jesus said repentance is necessary.

            Our Lord also taught that baptism was a step in the plan of salvation.  Jesus says so clearly, “He that believes and is baptized will be saved.  He that does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  With this Peter agrees when he says, “Repent and be baptized every one of your for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).  The Apostle Paul was taught that baptism was a part of God’s plan of salvation.  Ananias said to him, “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).  In the clearest passage of all Peter says, “…baptism does now also save us” (1 Peter 3:21).  Again, “belief only” cannot be the only step in salvation.  Jesus, Paul, and Peter all taught that baptism was a part of the plan of salvation.

            Friend, don’t just believe everything you hear about salvation.  Some preacher may tell you that all you have to do to be saved is believe.  Remember these passages that have been mentioned also teach steps one must take to be saved.  And, may we never forget the words of the Lord’s brother when he says, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).  The only time the words “faith only” occur in the Bible God says “faith only” will not save!!!!