Learn Facts About Jesus And You Can Be Saved

It's interesting to me, to comment on the state of affairs of modern Christianity, the framework of it's belief system and how it's currently propogated.

If I would say to you, "Learn Facts About Jesus and You Can Be Saved" I wonder how many people would agree this is true. The statement implies at its root that knowledge, even cursory knowledge is enough for salvation. But surely something that is such a high reward requires more effort than simple arithmetic expressions...does it not?

Yet, this is what the synergist will say. "Do not the scriptures teach us that if we are to confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts and thou shalt be saved!" Yet, what is meticulously overlooked, seemingly on purpose, is the idea that to believe in the absence of the power of God is to simply know facts. But, if we admit this, then we must and can only examine what the scriptures mean when they command us to "believe".

What does it mean to believe?

Is belief the same as knowledge?

Then, are you sure you believe? For instance, if a belief is never tested, can it be said that you actually believe it? You may well...but how could you know for sure. The answer can only be that you couldn't.

So then, is this the belief that is being talked about? A conglomeration of knowledge and untested tenants of a system of thought, which at it's very core gives comfort to the holder by way of status, but no comfort by way of inner peace or even knowledge of it's truth. For it's truely the state of things a belief untested is no belief to be trusted, it's simply a hypothesis and all hypothesis must be tested if they are to be proven true. You would no more repel down a mountain with an untested rope, or jump out of an airplaine with an untested chute, but so many today are doing that exact thing with their faith. Hoping without evidence that they have decided correctly, having never looked back, perhaps even once to be sure. Using that system, you would not survive very long in deep sea diving. Accordingly, is this what we're called to? A system of thought that is a conglomeration of facts, indisputable by almost anyone in the community? How is it then that even muslims are not saved? Do they not also believe that Jesus died, was a prophet and rose again? I tell you, there are that do!

And mormons?

And roman catholics?

and JW's...

Oh I know you all have at one time or another made the joke that mormons or JW's were at the door. How do you know that they aren't your spiritual brothers or sisters?! How dare you make fun of them, when they promote the kingdom and you do not?? Do they not confess? Do they not believe?

OR

Is the issue much simpler than that?

Col 2:8 - see to it that no one takes advantage of you through philosophy or empty deception, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, rather than according to Christ.

Well, what does Christ have to say on the matter? First lets consult brother Paul on what belief is.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are you saved not of works, lest any man should boast, it is the gift of God.

So belief is not knowledge of facts, it's a gift of God. Why does believing in God need to be a gift?

1st Cor 2:14

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

It would appear that if it were not a gift, no one would understand it at all...since it's spiritually discerned.

So then, what does Christ say about how to believe in God?

John 6:28

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?

This is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He has sent.

Wait...didn't Paul say that belief is a gift?

Yeah, he did. How does someone earn a gift through the recompense of effort? They do not, it can only be given freely by the giver. So then, what many call belief and faith, is simply a mental ascent to facts about Jesus and they are no more saved by these facts than are muslims, mormons, roman catholics, hinduists and any who claim religiosity but deny the saving Act of God, the power and right of His choice and the requirement to be in absolute and unequivocal submission to His will and authority. Friend, if this is you, you're not saved. But then, only the spiritually enabled will hear that...