Easy Believism

I believe this passage of scripture in Romans is one of the most often quoted passages of scripture when someone is teaching “easy believism.” And, I will explain what I mean by that in a few minutes here. But, I want to first look at what this passage is really saying, in context.

First of all, we can’t pull two verses out of context and build an entire doctrine of salvation from sin from them, yet many do. Also, we can’t interpret these two verses apart from the whole of the book of Romans, for it was written to the church in Rome by the Apostle Paul as one complete letter, so we must interpret these two verses in light of the whole book.

And, again, we must compare scripture with scripture, which is what a topical study does, in order to get the complete picture.

So, with that said, let’s look at what this is really saying.

Confess what?

We must confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord. He is God. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is the promised Messiah of Israel. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. He is our creator God. He is completely sovereign over all things that he has created. And, nothing can thwart his purposes.

As Lord, he is owner-master of our lives. He has full reign. Our lives are surrendered to him. We are in submission to his will for our lives. We live to serve him. He’s the boss! And, we are his servants, his bond-slaves – slaves to God and slaves to righteousness, since he delivered us from our slavery to sin. Thus, we have died with him to sin that we might live with him to righteousness. Our lives are no longer our own, for we were bought back for God with the price of Jesus’ blood. So, we now honor God with our lives.

We must confess, out loud, in front of other people, that Jesus is now king of our hearts and that our lives are now surrendered to him for his service. But, this can’t be just words or the confession will mean nothing. It must be genuine. He must truly be the owner now of our lives, and we must be following him in surrender to his will and to his ways. For, if we profess it, but we don’t mean it, it will hold no weight at all. It is just hot air.

And, believe what?

We must believe that God raised him from the dead. But, this entails so much more, for to believe that, we have to believe that he died, that he rose again, as he said he would, that he ascended back to heaven, that he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell his followers, and that one day he is coming again to take us to be with him forever.

And, if we believe in all that, we must also believe in who he is and why he had to die, and what his death and resurrection mean for us. Thus, we will believe that he died that we might die with him to sin and live with him to righteousness. We will believe that his death on that cross put our sin to death, and when he rose from the dead, he rose victorious over sin, hell, Satan and death, on our behalf.

Since we have confessed him as Lord, as God, then we believe that it was God who took on human flesh and became a man and who died to take away the sins of the world. And, too, we will believe that his death meant for us that we could be delivered from our slavery to sin, and his life means that we can live holy lives pleasing to him. For, if we believe him, and we believe in what he did for us, then we will submit to him as Lord of our lives, too.

Faith and Confession

Another thing this teaches us, too, is that faith and confession with our mouths go hand in hand. It appears that we can’t have one without the other, which makes perfect sense. For, if we truly believe Jesus to be who he is, and if we truly believe that he provided the way for us to be free from our slavery to sin, then why wouldn’t we want to share that with others?

There is a scripture where Jesus said that if we are ashamed of him that he will be ashamed of us when he comes back. If we deny him before others, he will deny us. If we don’t take up our cross daily and follow him, then we are not truly his disciples. For, if we want to be Jesus followers, then we must deny self, take up our cross daily and follow (obey) Jesus.

So, it isn’t enough just to say we believe in him. And, it isn’t enough just to make a profession of faith in him, either, especially if it is not genuine. Our actions and our faith work together. For, what we do is evidence of what we truly believe. And, confession of him as Lord is not just us mouthing the words, either, and confession, as well, is not just with words. For, if what we profess with our mouths and what we do are opposite, our actions will indeed speak louder than our words.

Persecution

I want to look at one more thing here before I talk about easy believism, and that is I want us to consider who the people were of Paul’s day who were being given these instructions, and what the mood of the day was with regard to belief in Jesus Christ.

Some of them were Jews by birth, and some of them were Gentiles by birth. So, for the Jew to confess Jesus as Lord would have been considered an outrage, and it could have meant much persecution and/or certain death. The same may have been true for the Gentiles, as all Christians were under persecution at that time, as far as I can recall.

But, let’s look at our day and time. In many countries throughout the world such a belief in Jesus, and such an outward and verbal confession of him as Lord, as God, does mean great persecution for the follower of Christ, and in many cases it means it could cost them their lives. So, they don’t take such faith or such a confession lightly, at all. They are quite committed to Christ Jesus as Lord of their lives, in order for them to put their lives on the line.

In America

I live in America, so it is what I am familiar with. Your country may be similar, I don’t know. But, in America, if someone confesses faith in Jesus Christ with their mouths or calls him “Lord,” no one brings out the firing squads. The name “Jesus” is actually quite acceptable here, as is the term or the title “Lord.” Not many are threatened by that at all. For, we are often referred to here as a “Christian” nation.

So, telling an American that all he has to do is to believe Jesus was raised from the dead and to confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord, it doesn’t have to mean anything. It doesn’t have to change anything in that person’s life. And, so to teach these two verses as the gospel message absent of all the other scriptures on what it means to be a believer in Jesus, is teaching “easy believism.” It doesn’t mean a heart transformation ever took place.

But, many people are using these two verses as their gospel message, and that is reducing the gospel to a mere profession of faith. But, it doesn’t tell the people who are believing that that is all they have to do, that belief in their hearts, and a confession with their mouths, is so much more than that.

It doesn’t tell them what Romans 6 and Romans 8 tells them about death to sin and walking in holiness as required by God for salvation from sin and eternal life with God. It doesn’t tell them that “Lord” means Jesus is now the boss of our lives. It doesn’t tell them what Ephesians 4:17-24 tells them about how they are not to live like they did before, and how they must forsake their self-life and their sin-life to follow Jesus Christ in obedience, if they want that hope of heaven when they leave this earth.

And, thus it is “easy-believism” because it short circuits the true gospel message and it leaves the “believer” with the idea that if he just acknowledges Jesus, and if he just believes (intellectually) in his death and resurrection, that he is saved from his sins, heaven is guaranteed him, and what he does from this point forward doesn’t matter.

But, the truth is that we must die daily to sin and self, we must be walking in obedience to our Lord, we must leave our old lives of sin behind us, and we must surrender our lives to Jesus and to his will for our lives. For, this is what it means to believe. And, the truth is that if we don’t give up our lives of sin, and we don’t follow our Lord in obedience, then eternal life is not guaranteed us at all. It is not saying we have to be perfect, but that sin should no longer be our master. Jesus is to be our only Lord.

So, don’t buy into the “easy-believism” message that tells you that a mere confession of Christ as Lord and a mere acknowledgement of Jesus and what he did for us is going to secure heaven for you no matter how you live your life. For, that is a lie straight from hell. Read all of Romans. Then, you will know the truth which will set you free.

[See: Lu. 9:23-25; Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:19-21; Gal. 6:7-8; Eph. 4:17-24; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; 2 Co. 5:15, 21; 1 Pet. 2:24.]

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Daniel C said:

I'm not sure if you actually wanted a response from people who believe in eternal security but I think your post warrants it because of the conclusion of your message ''For, that is a lie straight from hell. Read all of Romans.''

Well it's a brave move from a person who believes in works-salvation to call upon the Apostle Pauls writing as he is the champion of salvation is by Grace,faith and Christ alone. He also defines salvation as a free eternal gift. Usually works salvation advocates reference the ambiguous parables from Matthew and the other synoptic Gospels.

My counter argument:


I don't believe I or any saved Christian can lose my salvation and it's because salvation has been described as the eternal gift of God:

John 3:16 (Jesus said)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


Ephesians 2:8-9 (Paul said)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God


Romans 6:23 (Paul said)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord


If God takes back the gift he told me I can keep forever,he is a liar.
If I have to work for it,it is not a free gift.
I cannot give back the gift because Gods will is greater than mine.


Therefore I believe salvation is a free gift for those who believe on Christ and cannot lose their salvation.

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It isn't about what you or I believe. It is about what the word of God teaches. If you believe I have incorrectly interpreted a particular scripture, then tell me which one, how you think I misinterpreted it, and how you believe it should be interpreted. And, then we will have something we can discuss. Thank you for responding. But, I am not teaching works-based salvation. I am teaching the gospel as Jesus and as his NT apostles taught it.

Daniel C said:

Ok, I interpret the Gospel that way and I used scripture to demonstrate it. That's why I believe that way,because the Bible defines things and teaches that way.

The majority of your post was commentary about how ''easy believesm'' is wrong,so I showed you why It's correct.

You say you don't don't believe in works-salvation but if you have to earn your salvation-that is work. If salvation is free,it's a gift and that is what my argument was.

How do you think a person is saved?

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You can read about that here: Saved by Grace through Faith

Nicolaus Mourer said:

Paul clearly taught that we are saved when we hear the gospel of Christ and receive it by faith (Romans 10:17).

Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." Here Paul is clear that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit only after we believe. He goes on to say in Ephesians 4:30 that we should not grieve the Spirit, which seals us unto the day of redemption (the day described in 1 Corinthians 15).

John declares that all who are saved are saved simply by believing; those who believe are given power to become the sons of God because of Christ Jesus (John 1:12-13).

Peter states that we are kept by the power of God through faith (1 Peter 1:3-5).

The Hebrew writer states that it is impossible to renew someone who has placed their faith in Christ since that would put Christ to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6). This is not saying the person cannot be renewed... it is stating that the person that placed their faith in Christ is ALREADY renewed. Otherwise, Christ was never sufficient in the first place to provide remission of sins as promised in Acts 10:43 and justification of all things as taught in Acts 13:39.

It is evident that salvation is a free gift that cannot be lost. Christ is "he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth," (Revelation 3:7). Once Christ gives us salvation, we cannot shut that door which he opens, nor open that door which he shuts.

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Please read Saved by Grace through Faith

Nicolaus Mourer said:

I've heard it said that a person delves into heresy when he tries to over-explain something simple from scripture. I believe we are seeing that example in this thread.

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Wow! Then that would make Paul a heretic because he went to great lengths to explain to professing Christians exactly what these verses mean. That is what most of his letters do because so many people didn't get it and so many people were being led astray. So this is why we have to interpret scriptures in context because there are so many different ways people interpret them.

Albion said:

That's probably true, but there's nothing wrong with the verse itself.​

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That is correct. There is nothing wrong with scripture. But, scripture can be wrongly interpreted and from that can stem all sorts of false doctrines and false teachings which can lead people astray from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, this is one of those passages which is often misinterpreted. If this was not a problem, even in the early church, then we wouldn't have all of Paul's letters. But his letters were to often correct error in biblical interpretation and in false teachings and to make certain that the people understood the truth of what these terms "grace" and "faith" and "gift" really mean.

Let me give a few examples here of how Paul sought to correct error and to explain to those who professed faith in Jesus Christ what it really meant to be "in Christ," and what genuine faith in Jesus Christ really looked like. Romans 8 is one of those passages:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Notice what he said here. He said that being in Christ, by faith in him, means we walk (in practice, in conduct, in lifestyle) after the Spirit of God and not after the flesh. For, if we walk after the flesh, we are going to die in our sins, not have eternal life with God.

Notice that he also said that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk (in practice, in day to day living) not after our flesh, but after the Spirit. He didn't say that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who believe in Jesus Christ, but he explains what believing in Jesus Christ means for us, because not everyone understood that.

Then he goes on to explain that if we are carnally minded and our minds and our actions are set on doing what is of the flesh, then that results in death, not in eternal life with God. Why? Because the carnal mind is at enmity with God because it is not subject to the law of God. So, if we are spiritually minded, and we are in Christ, by faith in him, then we are subject to the law of God.

Then, we have one of those "if" verses which are very common in scripture related to our salvation from sin. We are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF the Spirit dwells in us. But, the Spirit cannot dwell in those who are still of the flesh and who are still walking after the flesh, but only those who have died with Christ to sin and who are walking after the Spirit.

So, and this is speaking to those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, if we live after the flesh, we are going to die in our sins, but IF through the Spirit of God (and this is key here) we do put to death the deeds of the flesh, then we will live with Christ for eternity. And, this word "mortify" or "put to death" is a present tense word, not past tense.

And, if we are being led of the Spirit of God, then we are the children of God. If our flesh is what is leading us, instead, then we are not children of God. And, there are many many more scriptures which teach the same thing. So, how we interpret the word "faith" does matter with regard to whether or not we are genuinely being saved from our sins and have the hope of eternal life with God.

Galatians 5:16-21 KJV
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Here Paul is giving more instruction on what it means to be in the Spirit and to have eternal life with God. And, he is writing this to those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. He is letting these who profess faith in Jesus Christ know that to believe in Jesus Christ means we walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh, and that if we want to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, that we must walk (in practice, in conduct, in lifestyle) after the Spirit, according to God's will and his ways.

And, then he gives a listing of some of the works of the flesh which should no longer be a part of our lives. We should no longer be under the control of sin. For, if this is what we practice, we will not inherit the kingdom of God no matter what we professed with our lips and said we believed. And, this is repeated over and over again throughout Paul's writings and other New Testament books, and even in the teachings of Jesus when he walked on this earth.

Galatians 6:7-8 KJV
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Again, this is being written to those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. He is telling them not to be deceived. So, what this is saying is that some of them were obviously being deceived, which is why Paul had to write so much to correct error and to set the record straight.

If we sow to please our flesh, from that same flesh we will reap corruption (decay, death, destruction). But, if we sow to please the Spirit of God we shall reap life everlasting.

So, if you have been following the scriptures I have been sharing here you are certain to see that Paul is going to great effort to explain to those professing faith in Jesus Christ what it means to truly believe in Jesus Christ. And, not only that, but over and over again what he explains is that we have to make righteousness our practice and we have to not make sin our practice or we don't have eternal life with God. So, eternal life is not guaranteed to everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ, but only to those who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. And, he keeps repeating this same message.

Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

So, what is this saying? It is Paul once again explaining to those who profess faith in Jesus Christ what it means to be in Christ by faith in him. He is once again demonstrating what that faith in Jesus Christ looks like, and he is reminding them of the truth of what he is telling them here that they should have been taught the truth in this way. This is what they should have learned. So, realize, too, that this is in the context of Ephesians 2:8-9. So, obviously everyone didn't understand what that meant.

Basically, what he is telling them is the truth that they should have learned, which is that they must put away from their lives the way they used to live before faith in Jesus Christ, if they are in Christ, because that way of life was alienated from the life of God, for it wasn't given over to God, but to all kinds of lasciviousness, greed and evil, and it is corrupt according to deceitful lusts.

But, the truth in Christ Jesus is that they must put that former way of living for sin and self away from their lives, they must be renewed in the spirit of their minds, and they must put on the new "man" who is created in Christ Jesus to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. This is what the faith to believe in Jesus looks like. And, those who have not died with Christ to sin, and are still walking in their flesh, do not have eternal life with God (See also: Lu. 9:23-25; Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:16-21; Gal. 6:7-8; 1 Jn. 1:5-9; Eph. 5:3-6; etc.).

klutedavid said:

There are many other verses to mention also.

The primary truth or doctrine in the scripture is that simple truth; that believing in Jesus is what the apostles taught, the gospel.

Mark 1
15 The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Mark 16
16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Mark 16
17 These signs will accompany those who have believed in My name.

Luke 8
12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.

Luke 8
13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

John 1
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

John 2:11
This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

John 2:23
Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name.

John 3:15
So that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:18
He who believes in Him is not judged.

John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has eternal life but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life.

John 6
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

John 6
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst".

John 6:40
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.

John 6:47
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

John 8:24
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

John 8:30
As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

John 9
36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him.

John 10
26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies."

John 11:26
And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.

John 11
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

John 12
36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.

John 14
29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.

John 16
9 Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;

John 20
31 But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Acts 2
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common.

Acts 4
4 But many of those who had heard the message believed.

Acts 4
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul.

Acts 5
14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.

Acts 8
13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip.

Acts 9
42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 10
43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.

Acts 10
45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed.

Acts 11
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

Acts 13
12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

Acts 13
39 And through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

Acts 13
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 14
1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed.

Acts 14
23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 15
7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe".

Acts 15:11
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.

Acts 15
7 That by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 16
31 They said, believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Acts 17
12 Therefore many of them believed.

Acts 17
34 But some men joined him and believed.

Acts 18
8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.

Acts 18
27 He greatly helped those who had believed through grace.

Acts 19
4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him".

Acts 19
18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

Romans 1
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Romans 3
22 Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe.

Romans 4
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Romans 10
9 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Romans 10
13 Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Romans 11
20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your belief.

1 Corinthians 1
21 God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 15
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day.

Philippians 1
29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him.

1 Thessalonians 2
13 For what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

2 Thessalonians 1
10 To be marveled at among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed.

1 Timothy 1
16 Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

Hebrews 3
19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4
3 For we who have believed enter that rest.

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It is a fact that only by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, can any of us be saved from our sins and have eternal life with God. That is not being disputed here. I agree wholeheartedly! What is at issue here is how we define faith (belief) and grace and the gift. So the writers of the New Testament went to great lengths to make sure the people understood, because their eternity with God depended on them knowing and living the truth. And so I am sharing what they taught in the hope that no one has a false belief which sends them to hell.