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Nowhere in the entire Bible that is it taught that faith ALONE is enough for one to be saved. As a matter of fact, the Savior Himself requires those who already have faith in Him to obey His teachings, proving that mere confession of faith is not sufficient.
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Not enough to attain salvation


Letter to the Editor:
GOD'S MESSAGE, December 2006, p.3

 GREETINGS   TO   ALL   the   Pasugo:  God's Message staff and editors.

I just want to ask for your help regarding the true meaning of the statements stated in Romans 10:9-11 saying that:  "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto  righteousness,  and   with   the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, '"Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame' "

My friend and I debated about the true meaning of these verses. She said that believing in God and Christ is enough for man to attain salvation and man does not need any religion to be saved.  Is it true?  Please enlighten us and help us to be in the right path to salvation.

Jhay-r  Corpuz
jr-d-great@yahoo.com

 

Editor's reply:

Romans 10:9-11 indeed underscores the importance of possessing faith in our Lord God and in Christ for one to attain salvation. However, nowhere in these verses or in the entire Bible is it taught that faith alone is enough for one to be saved. As a matter of fact, the Savior Himself requires those who already have faith in Him to obey His teachings, proving that mere confession of faith is not sufficient:

“So Jesus said to those who believed in him, ‘If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples’.” (John 8:31, Today’s English Version)

 Apostle James even teaches emphatically the futility of having faith without works:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? … See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:14, 24, New American Bible, emphasis ours)

Apostle James even added that faith without actions or deeds is dead (James 2:17).

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20, NKJV)

The Bible therefore explicitly teaches that faith alone is not a guarantee for salvation.

Regarding Romans 10:9-11, verse 17 of that same chapter explains how one acquires faith:

 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (New King James Version)

Faith, which is necessary to salvation, is acquired by hearing or receiving the words of God or the gospel as preached by God’s messengers:

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? …” (Rom. 10:14-15, Ibid.)

Moreover, the Savior Himself decrees that aside from receiving the gospel and possessing faith, one should also receive the true baptism to be worthy of salvation:  

 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’.” (Mark 16:15-16, Ibid.)

Those who have received the true baptism, that is, baptism into the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3-4)

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. (Rom. 6:3-4, NKJV) (emphasis ours)

are found in one body, the Church of which Christ is the head (I Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18).

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. (I Cor. 12:13, NKJV) (emphasis ours)

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Col. 1:18, NKJV) (emphasis ours)

This Church is the Church of Christ that the Savior purchased with His precious blood (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood. (Acts 20:28, Lamsa) (emphasis ours)

Therefore, belief in Christ and in God is not sufficient for one to be saved. The Savior also requires a believer to be obedient to His teachings, one of which is receiving baptism in the true religion or the true Church—the Church of Christ.  

___________________

Note: Some cited verses are printed in full to facilitate study.

Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind. For the latest Worship Service Directory of Iglesia ni Cristo Locales and Congregations outside the Philippines, please visit www.iglesianicristoworshipservice.com or just click link at home page.

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