It would be impossible in the course of one study to notice all the innovations that have been introduced into the doctrine of Christ. However, we do want to
notice at least two of the most frequently taught. They deal with the subjects of faith and grace. Namely, is it possible for one to be saved by faith alone, and
once an individual is saved, is it possible for that person to sin and be lost?
First of all, let us look at the subject of faith.
THE NECESSITY OF FAITH
To begin with, let us prove the necessity of faith, lest someone gets the idea that we doubt it. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith [it] [is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Romans 1:17, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.' " And finally, 2 Corinthians 5:7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." We can clearly see that faith is a necessary part of our salvation. We cannot question that for a moment. But the question is, "Can faith alone, by itself, save a person from sin?" The only way to answer that question is to go to the scriptures and see if they teach such a doctrine.
DOES FAITH ALONE SAVE?
It is noteworthy that many leading churches and church creeds teach that faith alone saves. Some even state that "the doctrine of faith only is a wholesome
doctrine and full of comfort." The Bible teaches the very
opposite. Let us notice James 2:24, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." It says we are not saved by faith only. How then can man justify his erroneous teachings? Let us see more of the inconsistencies into which this
doctrine leads us. James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!" Now if one is saved by merely
believing, the devils will be saved, too. And we know they cannot be.
Again we read in John 1:11-12, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive
Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" The Bible teaches here that the
believer is not a son of God but merely has the right to become a son of God. If faith only saved, then the believer would indeed be a child of the Father. But
this passage teaches that as a believer he only has the right or permission to become a child of God if he so chooses or desires. Notice further John 8:31,
"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.' " Remember, these Jews "believed on him." If
faith alone saves, they are saved because they believed. However, verse 44 tells us more. "You are of [your] father the devil, and the desires of your father
you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and [does] [not] stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks
from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it." So, we see from this verse that the very Jews who believed on Jesus were of the devil. Their
faith did not save them.
Again, in John 12:42-43, "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; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." Here again we have some people
who believed on the Lord, but for some reason failed to continue their obedience, and as a result were denounced. This only re-emphasizes the truth that only
believing will not save.
Please read Acts 26:19-29. This is the account of Paul's sermon before King Agrippa. You will notice that as Paul concludes he asks the following question,
"Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." So, there is no doubt that Agrippa is a believer. Now according to some, he is saved. If faith
only saves, he must be because he believes. He does not deny it, and Paul affirms it. But, let us see verse 28. "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost
persuade me to become a Christian.' " So, even though he was a believer, he was not a Christian. He was not saved. Agrippa knew more about salvation
than many modern-day preachers. He knew that believing did not save him or make a Christian of him. Would it not be fine if everyone knew as much?
BELIEVERS MUST DO MORE
On the very first day of the Church, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter, using the keys to the kingdom, preached the first sermon and the people realized
who Christ was. They then asked what they must do to be saved? Did Peter respond by saying,
"You believe, and that is enough"? No, he told them to repent and be baptized to have their sins washed away. (Acts 2:36-39)
If faith was enough they would have been saved. But even then they realized there was more
than just knowing that Jesus was the Christ.
GRACE AND SALVATION
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it] [is] the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8. This passage from the New Testament proves that we are saved by grace. It does not prove that we are saved by grace only but definitely teaches the grace of God plays a role in our salvation. However, we are interested in whether or not after one is saved, he can ever fall from grace and be lost. Man says no, he cannot. The following quote by Sam Morris, at the time Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Stamford, Texas, demonstrates what man says. "Does a Christian's sins damn his soul? We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul. All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit, from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger. The way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul." Surely you can see the implications of such a doctrine as this.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Even though man says "no," the Bible says a definite "yes." Man can fall from grace. The doctrine that man cannot fall is an old one. The devil preached it to mother Eve in the garden of Eden. He said, "thou shalt not surely die." She believed him, and the result is still with us today. If the doctrine were true, it would make a fool out of the devil because he tries to get Christians to sin and, if it is impossible, what good will it do him even if he succeeds? Let us notice the following very carefully.
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The Bible warns against it. In 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." The word of God recognizes the
possibility of falling. It even warns us against it. Would it not be foolish for the Bible to warn us of something that is not possible? Surely the Spirit
knew what he was doing when He told us to "take heed." |
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A Bible example. In 1 Corinthians 10:8, we are given a Bible example of some people who fell from grace. "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as
some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell." A great multitude of people sinned. They committed an immoral act. The result: they fell.
It would probably be extremely difficult for some of these modern preachers to convince these 23,000 of the validity of their doctrine. |
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The Bible says we can. That is right. In plain, unmistakable terms. Listen--"You have become estranged from Christ, you who [attempt] [to] be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." Galatians 5:4. Can anyone deny such plain language as that? How can a man stand before an audience of intelligent people and tell them they cannot so sin and be lost because of it when the Bible says "you have fallen from grace"? |
We believe the above evidence from the Scriptures to be irrefutable. We are not boasting that one can fall from grace, just recognizing what the Bible says
about it. We have no desire to make that mistake ourselves, or to see others make it.
For that reason, we would like to notice:
THE BIBLE FORMULA OF PREVENTION
This formula is found in 2 Peter 1:5-9, and John 15:5. In that order, let us notice them. "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, [you] [will] [be] neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." "I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." The formula then for remaining faithful is to abide in Christ and add to our lives those things mentioned by Peter. A failure to do these things leads to falling from grace, something which the Bible warns us against. Man says you cannot; the Bible says you can. WHICH WILL YOU BELIEVE?
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