THE LIFE OF CHRIST AND THE FAITH "ALONE" DOCTRINE

By Nana Yaw Aidoo

Most denominational groups believe and teach that a person is saved by faith "alone" without any further acts of obedience. By that they mean once a person believes in Christ, nothing else is necessary to be done in order to be saved. We submit that this teaching is a most false and unfortunate teaching, that will damn the souls of so many sincere men and women to hell. This note, far from being a thorough treatment of the issue, would point out two incidents in the life of Christ, that falsify the heresy of salvation by faith "alone".

The first incident was during Christ's teaching on light and darkness. In the closing stages of His work in all parts of Palestine, Jesus Christ boldly confronted His enemies and in one of these confrontations, He asserted that He is "the light of the world" (John 8:12). In the ensuing discussion, John records that "as He spoke these words, many believed in Him" (John 8:30).

That being the case, no doubt if a denominational preacher were present at this time, he would have told all those who believed in Jesus that they were already saved. Not Jesus Christ! The very next verses prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Jesus believed that in order for one to be His disciple or be saved, that person must do something other than just believe. It is written; "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed'" (John 8:31). Our Lord further said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (John 8:51).

These Jews had believed in Christ hadn't they? Yet, our Lord said if they indeed wanted to be His disciples and not see death, their faith in Him had to work. Belief in Him alone was not enough. They had to do something in addition to merely believing in Him, in order to be His disciples indeed and in order to never see death. Does anyone have a chance of being saved, who is not indeed a disciple of Christ? If no, then the only way by which one can be a disciple indeed of Christ is if that person after believing in Christ, continues or abides in the word of Christ and keeps the word of Christ.

The second incident was during the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry. In a discourse to the multitude, John records that; "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43).

These rulers also believed in Christ didn't they? However, it is written that they wouldn't confess their faith in Christ in public. But, we know that Christ has said He'll confess to the Father, only those who confess their faith in Him "before men" (Matt.10:32-33). Therefore, since these rulers wouldn't confess Christ before men, they wouldn't be confessed by Christ before the Father. Does anyone have a chance of being saved whom Christ wouldn't confess before the Father? However, if like is claimed, we're saved by faith "alone", then we have God saving those whom Christ won't confess before Him and who "loved the praise of men more than the praise of God". Absurd isn't it? That certainly describes the doctrine of salvation by faith "alone". Absurd!

Friends, the only kind of faith that saves, is the faith that works or obeys (Gal.5:6; Heb.11; Jam.2:17-26). Christ will save only those who obey Him because He is "the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb.5:9). The idea of faith "alone" is so far out from biblical teaching that it's incomprehensible how some believe it. Faith "alone" does not save anyone because "even the demons believe - and tremble" (Jam.2:19).

Take every single passage in the New Testament that says we're saved by faith and we believe it. However, we won't privily add "alone" to such texts because God hasn't done such a thing. It's a great error to add to God's word (Pro.30:5-6; Rev.20:18-19). We won't add "alone" to the passages that teach justification by faith because the New Testament teaches justification by other things too. It teaches justification by repentance (Acts 11:18), by confession (Rom.10:9-10), by baptism (1 Pet.3:21) among others. Thus by combining the entirety of God's word on the issue of salvation (Psa.119:160), to add "alone" to the passages that teach justification by faith is to deny justification by the other things that the New Testament says saves us.

Do not be deceived friends, by the teachings of men. It is the word of "famous pastors" against the word of God. It is the word of the creed books against the message of saving grace. It is the word of the disciplines and confessions of faith against the word of He who has "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). These incidents in the life of Christ should prove to the lover of truth that the doctrine of salvation by faith "alone" is false.

Jesus Christ continues to proclaim; "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Obey the saving gospel today.

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