Faith Alone In Christ Alone!

Faith Alone In Christ Alone!

     Faith alone in Christ alone?   There are many people who consider themselves to be Christians, yet they often call this easy believism.  I recently read a publication on the Internet that used those very words, easy believism, to describe faith alone in Christ alone.  My response to that is...you bet it is!!!
     Salvation is by grace. This means that it results from unmerited favor, that it is not earned or deserved in any way.
     Salvation is accessed by faith, by believing in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on the cross for our sins.   God the Father poured the sins of the whole world on to His Son, Jesus Christ, and punished Jesus for what we have done.
     Salvation through faith is not of yourselves.  There is nothing that you or I can do to work for it or to add to it.
     Salvation is a gift from God.  A gift is simply received, and by making it a gift, God shows us His fairness.  He makes it available to everyone, regardless of their abilities, because anyone can accept a gift.  A gift depends on the work, merits, love, and generosity of the giver.  All you or I can do when offered such a gift is to refuse it or take it.
     Salvation is not as result of works.  It costs us nothing to be saved.  If we had to earn it or add to it, Jesus Christ's work on the cross would not be complete and sufficient.
     Salvation by faith alone means that no one should boast.  God gets all of the glory because God does all of the work. Whether or not some believers will admit it, the primary reason for adding any kind of works to the gospel is pride, and that can be mental or actual verbal "boasting". They may not actually say it, but it gives them credit for a part of their salvation. They did something that an unsaved person has not done.
     All of the above facts about salvation are taught in two simple verses:

Ephesians 2:8-9:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

     These are two of the clearest verses in God's word.  You don't need to be a Bible scholar to understand the apostle Paul's words in these verses.  Nevertheless, many believers deny such teachings.  Apparently, they can't deal with the idea that someone whom they believe has been a "great sinner" or "carnal believer", can still go to heaven through a simple decision to believe in Jesus Christ.
     Well I say, that's their problem, but don't let such people make it yours.  No matter what kind of tricks these legalistic religious types play with other verses in the Bible, don't fall for it! Don't let them bully you into working for your salvation (of course, what they consider to be working), and don't even argue with them (did you ever see a Christian change their mind about anything in the Bible because you argued with them about it?).
     Stand firm on Ephesians 2:8-9. Quote it over and over again.  Believe these verses.  Salvation is a free gift from God to all who choose to accept it.
     The greatest Biblical example that proves this doctrine is the criminal crucified next to Jesus, who placed his faith in Christ and was saved. This man who Christians often call the "good thief" asked Jesus to "remember me when you enter your kingdom". Jesus responded by promising him that he would be in Paradise that very day (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43).  Had Jesus not responded verbally to the thief's request, many Christians today would tell you that there is "no way" that man was saved.
     The "good thief" lived his life as a criminal, finally being sentenced to death for it.  In the end, he made an "easy death-bed" confession of faith, doing nothing more than believing in Jesus:

·         He didn't walk an aisle to "publicly proclaim his decision" or to "seal his commitment";

·         He was never baptized;

·         He never made restitution for what he had done;

·         He  never showed fruit or a changed life, or any other "evidence" of repentance;

·         He never spoke in tongues;

·         He didn't "make Jesus Lord";

·         He didn't "invite Jesus into his heart";

·         He didn't recite the sinner's prayer;

·         He never joined or became active in a church;

·         He never received "the second blessing" nor was he ever "slain in the spirit";

·         He never "shed tears of repentance";

·         He never sang "Do Lord", threw a twig on a fire, or committed his life to full-time service;

·         God didn't heal him, rescue him, or bless him with material assets or good health;

·         And "worse" of all, he never tithed, made a pledge, "planted a seed", or gave one penny of his money.

     The "good thief" simply placed his faith totally in Jesus Christ. He believed in a situation where he had "nothing to lose" by doing so, on a "death-bed" when it couldn't have been more "convenient", where it didn't cost him a thing. Today's "fruit inspectors" would have this man burning in hell had Jesus not told us different.
     In fact, such legalistic people who add works to the gospel are in danger of hell-fire themselves, because they may not have fully trusted in the work of Jesus Christ for their own salvation.  If you add your own works to salvation, then you are not putting your faith solely in the work of Jesus Christ. One day, these religious types who work to make Jesus their "Lord" (when, in fact, He already is Lord) may hear those dreaded words, "I never knew you", from Jesus Himself on Judgment Day.
     Salvation is easy for us, because Jesus did all of the work.  Don't confuse salvation with discipleship.  People who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation but then never grow in their faith, never abide in God's word, will still go to heaven.  However, the believer who chooses to live in carnality after salvation, will not have a life here that is easy:

·         God will discipline His children who disobey Him;

·         Carnal believers will not enjoy God's maximum blessings in their life here on earth;

·         They will not earn rewards for eternity.

     Salvation is a one-time decision to trust Jesus Christ.  Being a disciple (student) of Jesus is a series of day-to-day decisions to learn and obey God's Word, the Bible, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
     Don't let another person steal away your assurance of salvation by making you "carry the cross", "pay the cost", or "make Jesus Lord" to get it.
     No person ever did less to be saved than the "good thief" on the cross. In fact, no person ever did more to be saved either.

Salvation = Faith in Jesus Christ + NOTHING!