Saving Faith Produces Action

Several years ago, an evangelist flew into Albuquerque to hold a revival in one of the churches.  The pastor was a few minutes late arriving at the airport to pick him up, and on the way to the church he told the pastor, he was glad for the delay because it had given him the opportunity to win three people to Christ.  The pastor waqs amazed that anyone could win that many souls in such a short time and decided to go soul winning with him the next morning to learn how.  As they went down the street, the evangelist asked each person they met if they believed in Jesus.  If they said they did, he announced that they were saved.   When the pastor asked how he could say that, the evangelist quoted John3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” 

Unfortunately, a lot of people have made the same mistake the Evangelist was making.   James 2:19 tells us, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”  It is great to believe that Jesus exists and that he died on the cross, but even the devils believe that, and they clearly are not saved.  Simply believing in his existence, or even that he died for our sins is not enough to save us.  Romans 10:9-13 tells us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

In order to be saved, it necessary to believe not only that Jesus exists but that he was raised from the dead.  Implicit in that belief is the understanding that, as Romans 3:23 states,”… all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and that “…the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” according to Romans 6:23.  Believing that jesus was raised from the dead is critical because as Acts 17:31 tells us, “…he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”  As I Corinthians 15:17 warns, “…if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”    This is not merely mental acceptance of the statement, but a conviction that he died and was raised again for your sins, according to Romans 10:10a.  “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…”

To receive that salvation, one must act on that belief in the resurrection, confessing that belief to God.  James 2:17 warns that faith must produce action to accomplish anything.  “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. “  Romans 10:10b states “…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. “  Inherent in that confession is the acknowledgment that we are sinners who deserve death, but that Jesus has taken our place, paying our penalty for us.   I John 1:8-10 tells us, “f we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

There is no indication whether any of the people who the evangelist talked to were saved or not, because we have no idea whether they believed in Christ’s resurrection, or whether they had confessed that belief to God.  They may just believe that there was a historical person called Jesus who taught the people.