Is "easy-believism" really wrong?

Easy believism is not biblical. Believing on Christ is NOT just mental assent to the FACT that Jesus Christ died for our sins. It requires a CHANGE of heart--it requires that we ACKNOWLEDGE that we are sinners in NEED of a Savior.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)

From the Way of Life Encyclopedia

REPENTANCE

Repentance is a supernatural work of God whereby a responsive sinner, being convicted by the Holy Spirit of his rebellion, turns to God from his sinful ways and trusts Jesus Christ for salvation (2Ti 2:25; Joh 16:8; Ac 11:18; 26:20). Repentance means more than sorrow or regret or despair or grief. It is also more than mere confession or acknowledgement of sin. Pharaoh, Saul, and Judas did all of that but did not exercise Bible repentance (Ex 9:27; 1Sa 15:24; 24:17; 26:21; Mt 27:3-4). Bible repentance means a turning to God and a change of mind toward God that results in a change of life (Mt 3:1-2; Lu 5:32; 13:1-3; 18:13; Ac 2:38; 5:31; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; 2Pe 3:9). There are two types of repentance: (1) Repentance for unbelievers for salvation (Lu 13:3; Ac 2:38). (2) repentance for believers from daily sin (Re 2:5,16,21-22).
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BELIEVE

Man's part in salvation is to believe in Jesus Christ (Joh 3:16; 6:28-29). What does this mean? In the English Bible, the Greek word commonly translated "believe" (pisteuo) is also translated "commit to one's trust" (Lu 16:11; Joh 2:24; Ro 3:2; 1Co 9:17; Ga 2:7; 1Th 2:4; 1Ti 1:11; Tit 1:3). This is the basic meaning of believing in Christ. It means to commit myself to Him, to fully trust Him for salvation. It means to believe in such a way that I actually turn away from sin and idols and false religion to receive Jesus Christ as my only Lord and Savior

 

Agreed Linda -

Acts 17v30 is pretty clear in my mind - "...God commandeth all men everywhere to repent." Doesn't look like an option.

 

Easy-believism is 100% unscriptural because it is like you waved with a bone in front of your dog and make sure you see your dog's tail wag.

 

How do you get saved if it is not by believing?

 

Are we not turned from darkness to light?

Did not the Thessalonians turn from idols to God?

Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. You cannot turn to God without turning from sin and the devil.

 

Acts 16:29-31
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said:

'REPENT! REPENT!'
And turn now from your sin!
Cleanse your heart and make some room
So Jesus can come in!

Wait, that wasn't is, was it?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Faith is not turning to God, it is believing that what God said is true. If Jesus said whosoever believes would be raised up on the last day, it must be true. It doesn't do the Gospel any favor to confuse the issue of repentence with faith. The problem is we have been confusing the kingdom of God with salvation in eternity.

This guy right here:
John 6:40
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
could be the same as this guy right here:
Luke 12:45-46
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

 

Perfect!

James, how do you answer the Acts passage that God commands all men everywhere to repent?

 

Of course all men are commanded to repent. This doesn't mean that is how we obtain eternal salvation. The first thing a man must repent of is unbelief, and believe the Gospel. But just before this passage, in verse 18, Jesus told Paul that he was going to the gentiles to do two things, that they might recieve two things.

Acts 26:18
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

The first is to open their eyes, that they may receive forgiveness of sins. This is being born again by faith, the only way to receive forgiveness of sins is to see through the eye of faith that Jesus has paid for our sins already.

The second is to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith (the ones with their eyes opened). You must be born again by faith first before you can turn unto God. Being saved by believing does not guarantee the inheritance, but not being saved will disqualify you from the start.

 

sorry, I think you were referring to 17:30, but my answer stands.

 

But in the OP his article makes it pretty clear that what he's calling "easy-believism" is not what most around here consider it to be. He's against just "praying a prayer", and completely for a clear understanding of the gospel.

My church split some years ago over this issue. The ones who left (they were called the "repentance crowd") were the ones who expected people to clean up their lives in order to be saved. They had begun equating smoking, drunkenness, cussing, etc. with NOT being saved. (They can't possibly be saved....look what they still do!)

 

I don't know anyone who thinks that leading someone in a prayer saves them. The purpose in leading someone in a prayer is just to help them put their faith into a verbal form that they can hold on to. If after all that, you can ask a guy why he is going to go be with Jesus for eternity, and he says 'well I said the prayer' then its time to start over from the top.

 

James,

Im all for praying the prayer with the person you are talking to. I have seen a few abuse this idea, though. Some kids or inexperienced soulwinners. And Im not saying throw the idea out then, just we need more soulwinning training within our circles.

 

On a mission trip to Romania, I learned that Baptist Christians there are not called believers. They're called Repenters.

 

well amen! I hope that means they have had changed lives and are living a good testimony because of their conversion.


I also meant to say in my previous posts, that because of our split we became a little too shy of the word "repent", I think. At least some of us did for awhile. When used correctly, and not as a means for bashing new converts over the head, it of course is appropriate.

 

I guess I am kind of like James (in the Bible).

I believe where there is no work there really never was any faith to start with.

 

Yes, C4K,

Those that truly have placed their faith will show so, both outwardly and inwardly. What is on the inside eventually has to come out.

He that believeth in me as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Is the new convert showing signs of being a fountain? Is the evidence of the Holy Spirit seen? When a fountain is working, the water goes up and then spreads out.

 

Is "believing" "easy"? I mean you have to want to turn from what you have always done and known, and put all faith and hope in Christ...not easy.

On the other hand, accepting a free gift is "easy".

 

Personally, I've always thought of myself as the instrument God uses. I'm available, but God doesn't need me to "win" anyone for Him.