Believer...or Make-Believer?

Ephesians 2: 8, 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. NIV

It’s not only that Americanized attitude which drives us…it seems to be an inherent way of thinking we all have inside us that says we can, and should, derive results by working for it. That is, of course, a very commendable work ethic that shouldn’t be minimized…but when it comes to salvation, the paradigm is much simpler. It’s a free gift and all we have to do is believe it and accept it. Hardly feels right but that’s the way God designed it.

The books of Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians and Hebrews all have passages specifically stating that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved. One notable observation, though...when the scriptures say “You must believe”, there is an understood element of “acceptance” as well. It is not sufficient to simply believe there is a God. James 2:19 says it quite well, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” The fact remains that when we say we believe, we must own an accepting belief which transcends the mere acknowledgement of God.

Perhaps there are vast amounts of people in this world playing make-believe with their faith; perhaps there are numerous people in this world who will be met with a very gruesome eternal surprise. It isn’t the obligation of Christians, however, to make that judgment.

So…to what degree of “belief” is sufficient for salvation? I simply don’t know, nor do I feel it is necessary for me to know. That is God’s call to make and my job is simply to spread the Gospel. Salvation is God’s gift to mankind…not the Christian’s gift to all the unsaved.

The sad reality is many we try to reach will simply not accept the truth of salvation. Jesus stated in numerous parables and teachings that “many will be called, but few are chosen.” We are commissioned to share the wonderful truth of how much a merciful God loves us by sending his own son, Jesus Christ, to die a humiliating and painful death so that He could take on the sins of this world. His death and resurrection are the elements by which the Holy Spirit can now intervene when someone says, “Yes, I believe.” Christians need to spread this message…then let God provide the gift.

Greg Morton
© February 1, 2012

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