The rise and spread of false doctrines among Gods people have driven them to promote un-scriptural concepts just to be a part of the religious community. They are not willing to "endure sound doctrine" but "according to their own desires ... turn away from the truth and ...are turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4. They are able to make big inroads into the Lord's church because they find a ready-made audience for their erroneous teachings, unlearned and unstable brethren, who are dissatisfied with the New Testament pattern for the Lord's people and are always wanting something new and novel.
____________________
One of these false doctrines are in the creed book of one popular denomination stating, “that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.” But is it true? Does the Bible say that if one believes in Jesus, it makes no difference what else he believes or does? Are you surprised that the Bible plainly says that faith alone is not enough?
In James 2 the Bible addresses the question of “faith alone” by talking about a man who believes but does not obey. James asks “Can faith save him?” (James 2:14). His answer is a clear No! Even demons believe (James 2:19) to no avail. Man is justified “not by faith only” (James 2:24) because “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
In John 8:30-36, Jesus spoke to some who “believed in Him.” But they were not yet saved. Jesus said they also needed to obey His word to be made free. They were believers, but they were not yet free from sin. Later, in John 12:42, some among the rulers believed on Jesus but would not confess it. Were they saved? No, Jesus said plainly that one who will not confess Him on earth will be denied before God (Matthew 10:32-33).
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says that some who believe enough to accept Him as Lord will be lost because they “practice lawlessness” in spite of their belief. Our practice can affect our salvation! The New Testament speaks of the possibility that one may believe “in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:2). Luke 8:13 speaks of some who believe and then fall away. We are told in Acts 8:13 that the sorcerer Simon believed, yet in Acts 8:20-23 we see that his heart had not become right with God, and he was back in the “bond of iniquity.” Obviously something more than believing was required.
These scriptures do not minimize the value of faith. Faith is an absolute requirement for forgiveness, but it is not the only one. John 1:12 says believers have “power to become children of God.” They are not yet children of God, but they have the power to become such, because faith empowers all the other things that believers are told to do (Acts 8:35-39; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 22:16). Certainly faith is the foundation, but it is the beginning, not the end.
It is not enough to “simply believe and receive,” or to believe and say a sinner’s prayer. When the Bible says “not by faith only” (James 2:24) it should be clear that something else is required.
So, what else is required? This is a very good question that deserves a correct response according to Gods Word:
____________________
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20).
"Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21).
"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin" (Romans 6:3-7 -- The church in Rome was composed of both Jews and Gentiles).
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26-28).
"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Colossians 2:11-13 -- the passage was directed to Gentiles who had become Christians).
