BELIEVING IS NOT A RELIGIOUS WORK

Yesterday, I wrote of the two factors involved in one being saved:  Repentance AND Remission (Lk. 24:47).  And while they appear to be two different things, when it comes to the salvation of one's soul, they are really "two sides of the same coin":  Faith!  The Gospel message, the only message that God's Word says can save us (Rom. 1:16), reveals two things:  we are sinners in need of salvation, and Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised from the dead, all according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4)!  When a person believes the Gospel message, he turns from a life marked by sin (Repentance), to a life dedicated to living for the One Who gave Himself for us (Remission)!  The Holy Spirit convinces us we need a savior, also convinces us that Jesus fulfilled that role (Jn. 16:7-15; Heb. 9:22; 1 Jn. 2:2)!

Let me be absolutely clear; we are not saved by religious works, but are saved by faith in His finished work on our behalf on the cross!  Some have said that repentance and believing constitutes works, but the Apostle Paul wrote:  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal. 2:16)!  Clearly, believing we need to turn to God and willingly trust in His Son's sacrifice for us, is not works!

The word "believe" appears seventeen times in the entire Old Testament, and one hundred fourteen times in the New Testament:  it appears forty-six times in the Gospel of John!  John declares that the very purpose for his writing his Gospel, was that you and I might believe, and turn to Jesus Christ as our Lord!  Paul states that salvation is acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus:  he wrote, "That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Rom. 10:9)!  Here are but three examples of John's focus on salvation by faith in Jesus:

*  John 6:28-29 - "Then said they to Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent."  [Note: The only "work" God accepts for salvation, is for us to believe God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 2:16)]!

*  John 9:35-38 - "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Do you believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He Who talks with you.  And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him."  [Note:  True faith always results in the worship of Jesus Christ! (Mt. 2:11; 14:33; 28:9, 17; Lk. 24:52; Rev. 5:14)]!

*  John 20:29-31 - "Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:  But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through His name." [Note:  Faith is believing without seeing (Rom. 8:24).  Jesus' name is the only name that can save the lost (Acts 4:12; 16:31; Rom. 10:9; Gal. 3:22)]!

 

DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?  I PRAY YOU DO!