BELIEF IN CHRIST IS ESSENTIAL BUT NOT ADEQUATE.

In Acts 16:31, we read these words “So they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” This verse or statement has been for many years the bulwark of the denominational doctrine of sola fide or faith only.

The James Buchanan Professor of New Testament Thomas R. Schreiner wrote: “The apostles in Acts call on people to repent and believe to be save. Indeed, both the Gospel of John and Acts stress that faith saves, suggesting that faith alone saves.” (Schreiner, 2015)

Belief is used in various senses in the Scriptures. But primarily, the inspired writers mean a mental recognition or acknowledgement of something or someone as being true. James employed that usage when he wrote, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!” James 2:19. Hence, to the faith only advocate all that stands between a person and salvation is unbelief in Christ and His finished work.

There is no question that a person who holds the Bible as the revealed truth will deny the essentiality of belief in the Christ in the salvation of man. The Bible in numerous passages teaches that it is impossible to be saved without belief (that active meaningful mental conceptualization) in Christ. The great chapter on faith acknowledges that, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. Jesus pointed to his audience in John 8:24, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Nevertheless, James stops the mouth of those who contradict when he wrote: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:24. No doubt this verse got Martin Luther, the great German theologian thinking, worked up and worried. For he called the book of James, “an epistle of straw”. The question is, does a man need more than belief in Christ in order to be saved?

In the book of Acts, Luke showed beyond doubt that the cases of conversion prove that belief in Christ is not adequate for salvation. Without a single exception, the Holy Spirit teaches that there is more to belief in Christ than meets the eye. Below is a quick and terse perusal of the facts.

1. 1. The Jews on the Pentecost day. In Acts 2, the convicted Jews on the day of Pentecost asked, “…Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v37) The Holy Spirit through Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (v38) Luke wrote, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” (v41) The Jews on the day of Pentecost, repented and were baptized to become Christians.
2. 2. The conversion of the Samaritans. In Acts 8, the record tells us of the mighty works of God through Philip in Samaria. And in Acts 8:12, Luke tells us, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” In connection with conversions in Samaria, we’re told of the conversion of Simon Magus the magician. “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.” (V13)
3. 3. The Ethiopian official. Philip is informed by the Holy Spirit concerning the eunuch of great authority under Queen Candace who was reading the Scriptures. Philip inquired about his understanding of what he was reading. The record says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture preached Jesus to him.” (v35) In verse 36, the eunuch asked as they approached an oasis, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Luke tells us that, “… both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (v 38)
4. 4. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In Acts 9, Luke details the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. On his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Paul learnt a lesson the hard way viz. “it is hard to kick against the goads” Acts 9:5. A lesson he no doubt never forgot. From a convicted heart, he asked, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (v 6) In Acts 9:18, Luke records, “Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.” Paul recounting his conversion told his audience what Ananias said, “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
5. 5. The case of Cornelius. In Acts 10, we read of a devout man called Cornelius who needed to be saved. An angel appeared to Cornelius and instructed him to send for Peter with the promise that “… He [Peter] will tell you what you must do.” (v 6) Peter met Cornelius and his household, and “…commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” (v 48)
6. 6. The conversion of Lydia. In Philippi, Paul taught the gospel of Christ to a group of women gathered at a riverside praying. Lydia, one of the women gathered was receptive to the gospel “…and when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. So she persuaded us.” Acts 16:15
7. 7. The Jailor at Philippi. In Acts 16, Paul ended up with many stripes for casting out evil spirits from a young woman. He got thrown into prison and with his compatriots. By fervent petitions to God, the ground quaked and let them loose from their shackles at midnight. The prison guard came to Paul and Silas asking, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30. They replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (v.31) Two verses later Luke reports that, “… he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.” (v 33)
8. 8. The conversion of the Corinthians. Acts 18, records Paul’s labor in the Greek province and city of Corinth. The fruits of his labors being thus; “Then Cripus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing believed and were baptized”, Acts 18:8. What did the Corinthians do? Upon hearing the word of God, the Corinthians believed and were baptized.
9. 9. The conversion of the Ephesians. Paul met some disciples in the city of Ephesus according to Acts 19. Though disciples they didn’t know about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit as much as they should. Paul made a few enquiries and before he left them, “…they were baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.” Acts 19:5

The conclusion that apropos to all the cases of conversion that is found in the book of Acts listed above is that the process of salvation requires more than belief in Christ. Those who heard the gospel preached believe in the message, repented of their sins and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures teach explicitly that a man has access to salvation only when he’s in Christ which is effected by repentance and baptism. And it takes more than mental acknowledgment of the facts of the gospel to be in Christ. Which fact is evident and undeniable in the cases of conversion examined above. In 2 Timothy 2:10, Paul speaking of his experience with endurance said, “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” John also added, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His son.” 1 John 5:11 The phrase “in Christ Jesus” seems to be the Holy Spirit favorite verbiage in describing a person’s relationship to the Christ in the epistles of Paul. Ephesians 1:3 teaches that all spiritual blessings are in Christ. Ephesians 1:7 tells us that redemption and forgiveness of sins are in Christ. Ephesians 1:11 talks about an inheritance that is obtained in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 teaches that the new creature is in Christ. Further, Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Bible in many places talks about the blessings that are located in Christ.

The question that begs answering is how does one gets into Christ Jesus. As goes the proposition, so goes the proof; to the Bible and its records alone we appeal. Romans 6:3, 4 reads “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.” Paul in Galatians 3:26-27 said, “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.” Consider these passages carefully and examine their proper connections to each other and the conclusion begs of noting more than the fact that belief in Christ ALONE is not adequate to salvation of the soul of man.

We hasten to state in no uncertain terms to all men that you don’t prove anything about a Bible subject by reading a verse where it is not mentioned. The records show that to be saved, a man must

Hear the gospel of Christ – Romans 10:17

Believe the gospel of Christ – Romans 1:16-17;

Repent of their sins – Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38;

Profess their faith in Christ – Romans 10:9,10

Be baptized in the name of Christ – Romans 6:3-4; Acts 22:16

Remain faithful in Christ – Revelation 2:10

Visit the church of Christ near you, they will be glad to study further with you from the word of God.

Work Cited

Schreiner, T., 2015. Faith Alone. Zondervan Academic, p.150.