EASY BELIEVISM

biblelineministries.org ^ | Hank Lindstrom

[P-Marlowe]

EASY BELIEVISM

By Hank Lindstrom

     What is "Easy Believism"?  Usually the phrase "easy-believism" is a slam against those who teach that salvation is not by human works, but by faith in Jesus Christ alone.  It is clear from the Scriptures that salvation is received by faith only in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9)."

     "Easy Believism" is a way of saying that salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone is just too easy.  "It is too simple," they say.  Those who use the phrase "easy believism" are saying that there must be more to salvation than just faith in Jesus Christ.

     The Bible tells us that Satan uses the fact that the Gospel message is so simple to deceive people.  II Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."  One of the most common objections to the true gospel message is that "it is too simple".

     Satan changes the true gospel into a counterfeit message by addition and subtraction.  In other words, Satan adds human works or effort to the plan of salvation in order to make the message of none effect (I Corinthians 1:17).  Satan used phrases like "easy believism" and "it is too simple" to ridicule the true message of faith only (Romans 3:28).

     To not believe the record as God gave it makes it null and void. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son (I John 5:10)."  To add one human work to the plan of salvation would place a person before God without grace.  Romans 11:6 says, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.  But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

     When we talk about believing, we are not talking about mental assent to a historical fact.  We are talking about a personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who gave His life on the cross of Calvary, was buried and then rose again from the dead.  The word "believe" comes from the Greek word "pisteuo", which means to trust, to rely upon, to place one's weight upon, etc.  When a person puts his trust in Jesus Christ alone as his Saviour, he is saved.

     Christ died-that is history.  Christ died for me-that is salvation.  The fact that Jesus Christ died is a historical fact.  Accepting that truth about Jesus Christ's death as a historical fact does not save.  But the personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as a risen Saviour, who died for me does save.

     This conflict over grace vs. works has been going on ever since Cain and Abel.  Even the apostle Paul was slandered when he preached the gospel of the grace of God.  Romans 3:8 says, "And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just."  Some people were affirming that the apostle Paul taught that salvation by faith only was a license to sin.  "Let us do evil, that good may come (Romans 3:8)."

     We have now seen the two major objections to the true gospel.  1) "It is too simple", and 2) "easy believism" means that I could live as I please and still go to heaven.

     Amazingly, when a person is saved, he is saved forever and cannot be lost.  Jesus Christ gave His word in John 6:37 and 39, that "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."  If one person were ever lost that was ever saved, then Jesus Christ would be a liar (John 6:39).

     Therefore, it is true that no matter what a person does after he is saved that person is still saved.  What the person can lose by living as he pleases is not his salvation, but rewards, joy, fellowship, power, testimony, etc.  The things related to the Christian life and eternal rewards can be lost but not one's salvation.  This can also include the Lord taking a Christian home to heaven early.  Many of the Corinthian believers were taken home to heaven early according to I Corinthians 11:30 which says, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep."  Also, I Corinthians 10:8 tells of 23,000 that the Lord took home to heaven in one day.  It is clear that there are numerous illustrations throughout the Bible that God sometimes will take a Christian home before his time.  God will not cast the delinquent Christian out, but God might take him home to heaven early.

     Concerning the saved, God says in I Corinthians 11:32, "When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."  God deals with His children as a loving father would correct his erring child.  God is interested in our welfare and wishes for us to live a life that He can bless and reward.  (See Hebrews 12:6-11).

     So the Christian does not have a license to sin when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour, even though the person is saved eternally and cannot be lost.  Again, salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Romans 4:5 says, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

     To add works to the plan of salvation would be heresy and would mean no salvation at all. Ephesians 2:8,9 says "For grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."  I would hate to stand before God having no grace (mercy).  To anyone who adds works to God's grace, they will have no grace (mercy) according to Ephesians 2:8,9.

     In conclusion, those who say "easy-believism" are rejecting the true gospel of grace (Ephesians 2:8,9), by saying "it is too simple" and "it is a license to sin".  Remember the true gospel is simple (II Corinthians 11:3), and God corrects (chastens) those that are truly saved (Hebrew 12:6).

     We pray that you can say as the Apostle Paul said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Roman 1:16)."

[1 spark]

I strive to follow His laws which are written in my mind and my heart. When I sin, i do exaclty what scripture teaches us to do, and exactly what Jesus teaches us to do. I repent.

[P-Marlowe]

When I sin, i do exaclty what scripture teaches us to do, and exactly what Jesus teaches us to do. I repent.

Do you sin when you have a bacon cheeseburger? Would you consider eating a bacon cheeseburger a sin? If not, why not?

[1 spark]

Here ya go. More info on what the Bible, Jesus, Paul, James, Jesus' followers, and King Solomon have to say regarding whether or not the law is in effect today.

http://www.mindspring.com/~sjayg/sample.htm

[1 spark]

Not a sin, unless i STEAL the bacon cheeseburger. As a gentile, i fall under Noahide Law.

I've noticed a couple of posts by ET that explain it very well.
Reply #70 in this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/901976/posts?q=1&&page=51

and you can check this out:
http://www.vendyljones.org.il/noahide/noah.htm

[Cvengr]

All of the land promised to Israel in the Palestinian Covenant is not yet possessed by Israel. They are promised it unceasingly. Accordingly, I understand this covenant to yet be completely fulfilled and is destined for future fulfillment.

[Celtman]

I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

      I believe that the Lord said what he meant and meant what He said.  "I never knew you ..." - this implies that whoever "you" is, "you" was never a born-again Christian.  In no way does this verse imply that a true Christian can sin away his salvation.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

P-Marlowe, maybe you can answer this one for me. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul states "What I do is discipline my own body and master it, for fear that after having preached to others I myself should be rejected." It seems that Paul is saying he is uncertain of his own salvation or recognizes that he can lose it. How do you reconcile this statement with your beliefs?

[wai-ming]

So the Christian does not have a license to sin when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

Yes, he does!

Believers can do whatever they please. They cannot lose their salvation.

According to the article:

it is true that no matter what a person does after he is saved that person is still saved.

For the "saved" person, there are no eternal consequences to sin. Our salvation is guaranteed, regardless of our acts. We are saved because of our belief in Jesus. 'Nuff said.

[nickcarraway]

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:31-46)

[ET(end tyranny)]

All of the land promised to Israel in the Palestinian Covenant is not yet possessed by Israel. They are promised it unceasingly. Accordingly, I understand this covenant to yet be completely fulfilled and is destined for future fulfillment.

Granted. As I pointed out in post #30, there is a LOT that hasn't been fulfilled yet.

[1 spark]

I believe that the Lord said what he meant and meant what He said. "I never knew you ..." - this implies that whoever "you" is, "you" was never a born-again Christian. In no way does this verse imply that a true Christian can sin away his salvation.

Check it out again:

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

WHO do you think Jesus was speaking of in verse 22? WHO do you think does all that stuff in HIS name?

Also: The word "iniquity" comes from the Greek word "anomia". Thayer's Greek lexicon defines it this way:

BDB/Thayers # 458 anomia {an-om-ee'-ah} from 459; TDNT - 4:1085,646; n f AV - iniquity 12, unrighteousness 1, transgress the law + 4060 1, transgression of the law 1; 15 1) the condition of without law 1a) because ignorant of it 1b) because of violating it 2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness And Strong's Lexicon defines it: "illegality (i.e. violation of the law)

Iniquity = sin = turning away from God's LAW.

[P-Marlowe]

So the Christian does not have a license to sin when he accepts Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Wai Ming: Yes, he does!

Wai Ming: For the "saved" person, there are no eternal consequences to sin.

Salvation is not a license to sin. It is merely a pardon from the sin. There is a huge difference. In order to get a pardon you must recognize that you have done wrong and plead for mercy. If you have a license to sin, then you need not ever ask for mercy. You need not ever ask for forgiveness. But the requirement for the Believer is that we must ask forgiveness. We must be contrite. We can't sin without conscience. If we do, then there is a signifcant question as to whether or not you are really a believer in Jesus. After all if you believe in Jesus, you will do what he asks.

You are wrong that there are no eternal consequences to the Christian's sin. There are eternal consequences to every sin. Lest you forget, Jesus died for that sin. Jesus suffered on the cross for that sin. Thus if you take pleasure in sin, then you take pleasure in Jesus suffering. If you take pleasure in Jesus suffering, then I don't think you can claim to be saved. Each time you deliberately commit a sin you crucify Jesus afresh as that is one more sin that Jesus had to suffer and die for. Does that make you feel good? Do you feel comfortable sinning knowing that Jesus had to suffer specifically for that sin?

If that doesn't bother you, if you feel free to sin without conscience, and without guilt, then it certainly won't bother Jesus to say to you at the Judgement, "Depart from me... I never knew you."

Just as you can take legalism too far, you certainly can also take "easy believism" too far. Something to think about.

[wai-ming]

Thanks for your response, P-Marlowe.

Something to think about indeed.

From the Article:

Amazingly, when a person is saved, he is saved forever and cannot be lost...If one person were ever lost that was ever saved, then Jesus Christ would be a liar (John 6:39).

Therefore, it is true that no matter what a person does after he is saved that person is still saved

Once saved, always saved!

From Post 50:

You do good works because you love Jesus and the Holy Spirit leads you in that direction. You don't do them because you have to in order to be saved.

Good works are irrelevant to our salvation.

From Post 112:

You are wrong that there are no eternal consequences to the Christian's sin. There are eternal consequences to every sin.

And what might those "eternal consequences" be? If the above is correct, I cannot lose my salvation. Neither "sin" nor "good works" will have any lasting effect on one who is "saved." Logically, a saved person can sin with impugnity. (I'm not saying that I recommend it.) Christ has taken care of all our sins. We only have to believe in Him.

The real question is "what does 'believe in Him' mean?

From Post 1:

Ok, so you guys who don't like Easy Believism, what must a man do to be saved if not simply believe?

You seem to be implying here that "simply believing" is enough for salvation.

How many conditions other than belief are there?

How many? Let's see:

From Post 112:

But the requirement for the Believer is that we must ask forgiveness. We must be contrite.

From Post 50:

...repentance is an essential element,...it is a necessary element to our belief. Christ called us to repent. So if we are to be saved we must repent as we cannot believe unless we repent.

Hmmmm. Asking forgiveness, being contrite, repenting.... Seems a lot more than "simple" belief.

From Post 1:

My challenge to you is that if you don't believe in what many call "Easy Believism" then perhaps YOU don't believe the Gospel at all!

And from Post 112:

Just as you can take legalism too far, you certainly can also take "easy believism" too far.

So which is it? Is there more to salvation than "Easy Believism" or not?

Will the real P-Marlowe please stand up?

[P-Marlowe]

You are a difficult person to discuss things with. That being said, I never said a saved person could lose their salvation. Likewise I never said a saved person could sin with impunity. It would be impossible for a saved person to sin with impunity since a saved person is a new creation and the ability to sin with impunity ceases to exist from the time of the new birth.

That seems to be lost on you. Oh well.

Let us just say that if you can willfully sin without any conscience at all, that is evidence that you do not have an honest belief Christ. It would be evidence that you have a strong belief in sin.

[Joshua]

" That is why Jesus' mission failed. That is why the kingdom has been delayed. That's why Jesus started talking about how he had to suffer and die, because he realized that he had failed. "

You would think God would've planned this out a little better before he went looking for a virgin. I hope he gets his timing right next time around.

" Luke 17:21 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (NIV) "

The Kingdom has definitely been delayed in you.

[ET(end tyranny)]

You would think God would've planned this out a little better before he went looking for a virgin. I hope he gets his timing right next time around.

God gave people 'free will'. Choice. It wasn't God's fault that the people of Israel didn't repent, it wasn't Jesus' fault either.

The kingdom is within you, because the the laws are written upon our hearts. It is within you because it is up to you, the choices that you will make. Whether you will show your love for God, but submitting to His will, or if you will disobey and willfully ignore the laws.

1 John 1:5
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Go back to Genesis, and the 2 creations. One a little more expansive than the other. Right off the bat there is light, to seperate the darkness. Meaning all was darkness at first. Since the sun and moon didn't come along til later... this 'light' and 'darkness' to me indicate 'good and evil' or 'right and wrong'. Duality.

Next thing that stands out is obedience. Or more precisely 'dis-obedience'. Adam and Eve are kicked out of the garden.

Now, this is just an observation, and one I noticed several years ago, and that is, that in the 1st creation all animals including and Adam and Eve were told to go forth and multiply. In the 2nd creation, these words are missing.

Now, I suppose one could look at things from different perspectives, but we don't have a whole lot of 'time' involed, to compare data, so it would only be a supposition to say, that had they not partaken of the tree of knowledge, they wouldn't have known of evil, or procreation.

The first creation being 'carnal/flesh/darkness'?, (be fruitful and multiply) and the second not. What we might consider 'spiritual/light'?

I also noticed something else, Adam and Eve's first born is Cain. Second born is Abel. Cain kills Abel. Just as the first creation was carnal/flesh, so too, was Adam and Eve's first creation, Cain 'carnal or bad/evil', committing the first murder, because of 'jealousy'.

Did Eve partake of the tree of knowledge because she wanted to be 'better' than what she was? 'Pride'? Is this where we get the saying, 'Pride goeth before a great fall'?

Then we get to Abram and Hagar. Hagar becomes prideful when she conceives, eventually giving birth to Ishmael. Later Abram, now called Abraham and Sarah give birth to Isaac. Ishmael's birth is 'carnal/of the flesh/darkness', while Isaac's birth was based on a Promise/spiritual/light from God.

God reinforced the separation of the child of 'flesh/darkness', from the Child of 'Promise/light', when Hagar and Ishmael were sent off to wander. Another separation of darkness from light.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Another good post pointing to the importance of works.

This is an interesting verse, too:

John 10:38
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

This one makes it look like works come before faith and that works are more important. Though you believe not me... BELIEVE THE WORKS.

[ET(end tyranny)]

He affirmed the covenant at the last supper:

Mat 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

I think not. Think about the following verses.

Matthew 26:
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

One of the Noahide laws, carried over into Mosaic, is the commandment to abstain from 'drinking blood'. Jesus was a devout Jew, righteous. Do you really think that Jesus would suggest something, say something like the above verses, knowing full well that it was against Torah????

More likely the drinking of blood was added later. Drinking of blood is pagan, and probably introduced by Paul, whose roots were pagan Tarsus.

To suggest 'eating his flesh', canibalism, too, I would think Jesus would have been horrified at the idea, much less say something so ungodly.

The catholic eucharist believes that the wine and wafer become the actual body and blood of Christ. Do you have any idea how many people were burned at the stake because they refused to accept this pagan idea??

In my opinion, Jesus would NEVER had said such a thing. So WHO inserted it?

Since Paul's writings are the oldest in the NT, it seems logical that the gospels were crafted to support Paul's gospel, of gnostic paganism. jmo

[1 spark]

More from John:

14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.

14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Abstaing from blood was important enough that it got mentioned twice in chapter 15 of Acts. And in the second instance, it seemd good to the Holy Ghost that people abstain from blood.

Acts 15
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Acts 15
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Genesis 9
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.