THE GOSPEL OF EASY BELIEVISM
By Bibleman
The gospel of “Easy Believism” suggests that all one has to do to be saved is to accept Jesus as your personal Savior without any commitment, dedication, repentance sanctification or forsaking of the former life of sin. Can one make a decision to receive Christ without any commitment and without allowing Christ to be Lord over every area of ones life? Not according to the scriptures. The message of an “easy believism” that calls for a decision to receive Christ without true repentance and radical life-changing spiritual renewal is not the true biblical doctrine of salvation. The message of “easy believism” only produces believers in name only who are “carnal Christians” that have never been regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit and who have little or no commitment to Christ.
CARNAL CHRISTIANS
Carnal Christians are those who have made a decision to accept Christ without turning from their sins. They may allow Jesus to be their Savior but have not fully surrendered their life to the Lord. The spiritual walk of these so-called Christians is little if any different than that of a lost person. A “carnal Christian” is really no Christian at all because they have accepted a false view of salvation. Nowhere in the Bible can one find any teaching that a person can accept Christ and be genuinely saved without a transformed life. Only those who have repented of all their sins, been born of the Spirit becoming purified, sanctified and completely renewed and transformed, are true Christians. (Acts 2:38, Rom. 8:9, Jn. 3:3-8) Carnal Christians, even though they may have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, are not true disciples, are not committed to the Lordship of Christ, have not fully repented of their sinful lifestyles, have not been born again and will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9, 10, Gal. 5:19-21)
FALSE VIEWS OF GRACE
LIBERTINISM is a gospel of cheap grace and easy believism that does not demand a change in ones lifestyle, discourages the necessity of holiness, and falsely proclaims the unrepentant and uncommitted as being truly saved Christians. Grace is merely no more than a license that allows believers to continue to commit sin, producing multitudes who profess to know Christ but whose deeds deny Him. (Tit. 1:16, Rom. 6:1,2, Mt. 7:21-23) Our freedom in Christ does not mean we have free reign to indulge the sinful nature by having a license to freely commit sin when ever we choose. (Gal. 5:1,13, 1 Pet. 2:16, Rom. 6)
IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS is the false doctrine that teaches that when one has made a decision to accept Christ as his personal Savior, God will no longer see that persons sin but will only see the blood of Jesus or Jesus Himself and therefore credit the believer as being righteous and holy even though he is not. This type of justification is a phony “saved in your sins” unbiblical philosophy. This doctrine would completely negate the purpose and necessity of sanctification-the act whereby God cleanses and purifies one of all sin, making one holy, free from sin and spiritually regenerated by the Holy Spirit. To suggest that an unrepentant and unsanctified believer is automatically clothed in Jesus’ righteousness in order to unjustly cover up his own sin is a very dangerous lie. Jesus does not save anyone in their sins. All must repent and be born again so they can be saved from their sins and become holy and righteous, like Jesus. (Mt. 1:21, Acts 2:38, 1 Jn. 3:2)
ETERNAL SECURITY is yet another false and dangerously misleading doctrine that produces a vast number of uncommitted “carnal Christians.” If you can be saved by just accepting Christ as your Savior and then remain saved forever no matter how wickedly you choose to live, why be committed to discipleship, lordship, or holiness? Is it possible, however, to believe in Jesus and even accept Him as your personal Savior and not really be saved? Yes, indeed! The Bible tells us that Simeon the sorcerer was just such a person. Simeon, like so many today, made a profession of faith in Christ and was baptized but never experienced the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit because he failed to repent of all his sins. (Acts 8:13, 20-23) Jesus, himself, said that not all professing Christians (those who have accepted Him as Savior) will make it to heaven. Only those who are fully committed to Him will be saved. (Mt. 7:21)
TRUE SALVATION
Since “easy believism” does not call for full surrender, total commitment, genuine repentance and forsaking of all sin and a complete change of heart regarding a former corrupt lifestyle, it is not a true path to eternal life. Jesus must be Lord and Master over every area of a true Christian’s life. Those who truly believe in Christ are committed to him by turning from sin and mortifying the old flesh by the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
DISCIPLESHIP
A true believer is a disciple who has not only accepted Christ as His Savior but who has repented of his sins, been sanctified by the Holy Spirit having a transformed heart that is willing to learn, obey and follow Christ. Discipleship involves total commitment to Christ and includes self-denial, obedience, and following Christ in the ways of holiness and purity. (Lk. 14:26-35) A true disciple is one who is willing to forsake all to follow Christ. Disciples abide in the word, have a personal relationship with Christ and bear much fruit.
LORDSHIP
Only when a believer completely surrenders every area of his life to Christ can He be the imperial Master of his heart and life. Christ must have total jurisdiction over the believers Character (Gal. 5:22-23, 1 Cor. 15:33, Lk. 8:15), finances (Mal. 3:8-10), assets (Lk. 15:11-21), time (Ep. 5:16, Col. 4:5), decisions (Lk. 6:12-16, Jam. 1:5-7), desires (Ep. 2:1-5, 1 Cor. 10:6) recreation (Ecc. 2:1-11, 2 Tim. 3:4), work (1 Pet. 2:18-20), family life (Tit. 2:4-5, 1 Tim. 5:4, Col. 3:19-21, Ep. 5:22-33, 6:1-4), thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5, Phil. 4:8), actions (Mt. 5:42, 25:34-46), attitudes (Phil. 2:14, Mk. 9:50, Mt. 5:36-48), entertainment (Phil. 4:8, 1 Jn. 2:15-17) lifestyle (Lk. 21:34-36, 8:11-15) bodily appetites (Rom. 6:12-23, 13:14, 1 Cor. 10:31, Gal. 5:24), spiritual life (Lk. 8:5-8) and social life (2 Cor. 6:17, Ep. 5:3-5,11,18). Only those who have been truly converted, having the Holy Spirit, can be obedient and submissive to the Lordship of Christ. (Acts 9:6, 1 Cor. 12:3, Col. 2:6, 9-10)
SONSHIP
It is not merely those who “accept Christ” that are saved but those who are “in Christ.” (Rom. 8:1) To be “in Christ” one must do more than just accept Him, one must be baptized into Christ after repentance of all sin. All who are truly baptized into Christ, put on Christ by walking in newness of life.(Rom. 13:14,Gal. 3:27, Ep. 4:24, Col. 3:10) Enslavement to the former life of sin no longer exists. When one is born again he is sanctified, saved from sin and able to live a life of holiness by the indwelling Spirit of God. (Rom. 6, 8:1-10) Through the new birth we can establish a new covenant relationship with Christ. By being united to Christ, we become His sons and daughters and joint heirs in His inheritance. (Rom. 8:17) True heirs are conformed into the likeness and image of their Lord, (Rom. 8:29) by living a life of holiness and purity. (1 Jn. 3:2-10) Submit to the true gospel of grace by repenting of all your sins and allowing Jesus to transform your life! Salvation and victory over sin can be yours through Christ! (Rev. 3:19-22, Rom. 6, 8:1-10, Tit. 2:11-14)
