Some might
consider themselves to be “saved” from judgment and a member of “the
church” only because they “believe in God.” Sadly,
many may be considered to be saved when they actually are not saved by
God’s love, grace and salvation that may only be found in Christ alone.
“Belief
in God” is not enough for salvation!
“Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) If
belief in God alone is enough, then the devils (demons) are
also saved.
In
Luke 4:33-34 we read “And in the synagogue there
was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried
out with a loud voice, 34 Saying,
Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art; the Holy One of God.” These devils (demons)
recognized Jesus of Nazareth, but are they saved? No!
At
Pentecost Peter said this. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the
people of
Israel
, that BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, whom ye
crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this
man stand here before you whole. 11 This
is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the corner. 12 NEITHER
IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER
HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts
4:10-12)
The word
“believe” in our modern English language has become watered down today
to mean a mere mental ascent to something. Sure, I would guess the vast
majority of people in the world believe God exists. The Muslims believe in a
god (Allah). Agnostics believe in the existence of a god of some sort, but
not in any specific definition of god.
I’ve
heard others say this. “He must be saved, he has a good heart.” This is
anther false hope because Paul wrote; Romans 3:10 As
it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Obviously our random acts of kindness and our good intentions are not
adequate to save us. A person’s so called good heart is not sufficient to
offset his sin nature and sinful acts. Only the shed blood of the innocent
Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient to pay for our sins.
The real
issue and question is this. Does one trust in and rely upon the shed blood
and death of Jesus Christ as their only means and claim of salvation?
If we want
to be saved we need one thing; faith – that is, trust and reliance in
“His blood.”
Romans
3:25 (Jesus) Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, to declare his righteousness
FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS that are past, through the forbearance of
God;
1
Corinthians 15:3-4 For I (Paul) delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS
ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES; 4 And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:
Thus Paul
said; Acts 16:31 And they answered, BELIEVE IN THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST
[give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust
yourself into His keeping] AND YOU WILL BE SAVED, [and this
applies both to] you and your household as well.