Believing Yet Perishing

    There are passages throughout the New Testament that indicate that a person may indeed believe and yet perish. Let us examine a few of these.

    John records in his account of the life of Christ that "many believed in His name...But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them." (John 2:23-24) The faith of these people did not result in salvation because it was not the proper kind. Jesus surely would have committed Himself to them if their belief had been acceptable.

    Peter also indicated that a person could believe and yet be lost. Acts chapter 8 tells of a man named Simon who believed and was even baptized (Acts 8:13), yet afterwards Peter clearly says that Simon was perishing (Acts 8:20). Peter goes on to say to Simon, "Your heart is not right in the sight of God" and "You are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:21-23). Some believed in vain. His faith was of no value.

    James, another New Testament writer, also shows that there are those that are believing yet perishing. He asks in James 2:14, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?" The obvious answer is an emphatic "NO." He continues by saying, " So also by faith itself, if is does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!" (James 2:17-19) Dead faith, faith that does not give evidence of life, never has and never will save anyone. Every person with dead faith will certainly die in his sins and be appointed his portion where there what be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

    One final passage will certainly convince anyone who is honest with the Scriptures that a person can believe and yet still perish. The words of the Lord Jesus are extremely sobering as he declares in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who call Him Lord will enter the kingdom or heaven. Surely no one would deny that these who name Christ as their Lord do not have faith in Him. These people not only call Jesus their Lord, but they have risen to heights of spiritual service. They have preached the name of Jesus. They have cast out demons. They have performed miracles. However, these who "believe" are turned away with the words, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of iniquity."

    Consider these things. Does not John tell us of many who believed but did not obtain an interest in the Savior? Does not Peter in His dealings with Simon plainly show us that a person can believe and even be baptized without being freed from the bonds of iniquity? Does not James indicate that dead faith does not and cannot save? Does not out Lord Himself warn us that many who believe in Him and call Him Lord will be banished from His presence for eternity? It is true that there are those "that believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39), but never forgot that there are those who are believing yet perishing.

    The questions that remain are these: "How can you know whether or not your 'faith is counted for righteousness' (Romans 4:5)?" How can you discern between faith that is effectual and faith that is empty?" There are four distinct tests that will aid you in determining whether or not your faith is saving faith. While reading, look into the mirror of Holy Writ, not the mirage of human speculation, to see what image is reflected. Remember that God's unchanging Word is the plumb line and measuring rod with which one is to measure ones faith, not the adjustable rod of religious thought. God's plumb line is taught, unmoveable, and His measuring rod is firm and unwavering. The greatest deception are those that are closest to the truth. The greatest mistake that one can make is the one with the most serious consequences. If you must be wrong about something, make sure that it does not have to do with true, saving faith. To be wrong in this has eternal consequences.

Test #1: If your faith is in anything other that the Lord Jesus Christ in in way, shape or form, then it is not saving faith. Christ saves none but those whose confidence rests in Him and His merits alone. "Cursed be the man that trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord." and "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5;7) Do not think for one moment that you faith is the proper kind if you have added any human work to the precious blood of Christ which alone cleanses from all sin. Do not be as the foolish Galations who were bewitched into mixing human works with the gospel of grace. God's anathema in upon those who do.

Test #2: If your faith does not embrace Christ in the fullness of His Person, then it is not saving faith. Do not entertain the abominable thought that you may trust in Christ as your Savior without bowing to Him as your Lord. You cannot believe on Christ savingly and continue to be the master of your own life. Christ is the great Prophet, Priest, and King. It is impossible to have Him as your Priest to save you without having Him as your King to rule you. The King of kings says, "But as for these enemies of mine, who do not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me." (Luke 19:27) Let it be known to you who think that you who can have Christ as your Savior only that the sword of God's wrath will soon cut you off and will cast you into Hell.

Test #3: If your faith does not result in a changed life, then it is not saving faith. "Therefore, if any anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (1 Cor. 5:17) If Jesus has not changed your life, the He has not changed your future. You cannot look to Christ as Savior over your shoulder and think that you may be saved. The whole of your life must be changed, renewed. "Whoever says, 'I know Him' but does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:4-6) Personal holiness is the fruit of genuine conversion and is by no means optional for indeed without holiness no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) A person with saving faith will give evidence for it. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) Please do not misunderstand this. Salvation is "not because of  works done by is in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5,6) The only work that is of any saving benefit to us is the work of Jesus Christ upon in cross, in the shedding of His blood for the sins of many and by dying and being raised again in Him, from spiritual death to eternal life. However, the absence of good works in faith is evidence of the absence of genuine, saving faith. Everlasting torment will be your lot if the type of faith that you possess has not genuinely, noticeably and increasingly changed your life.

Test #4: If your faith does not persevere, then it is not saving faith. In the parable of the sower Jesus explains that the seed that fell on stony ground represents those who have heard the Word of God and received it with gladness, but have no root in themselves. "And these are the ones sown on rocky ground; the ones who, when they hear the word, receive with with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for awhile. Then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away." (Mark 4:16-17) The apostle John indicates that the problem with those who continue for a while in following Christ and then turn their back on Him were never saved. (1 John 2:19) If you are one of those who used to believe, and today, say that you have fallen away, know this day with certainty that you have never been born again from above, for "He who has began a good work in you will bring it to completion". (Phil 1:6) But if you have been truly saved, know this, "The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died in Him, we will also live in Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful- for He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 11:13)

    The Scriptures clearly teach that many are believing, yet are perishing. Does your faith pass these four tests? If not, then you can be sure that you do not have the true, genuine, saving faith of God's elect but the faith of devils. (James 2:19)  Seek the Lord while He may be found. He alone is the Founder and Perfector of saving faith. (Hebrews 12:2) It is at His disposal and is given to whoever He desires to give it to according the the good pleasure of His will. (Eph. 1:1-14) Seek Him today! Perhaps He will have mercy on you and and save your soul. May you not continue to be believing and yet perishing. May the Almighty Christ who alone can do what you are incapable of doing for yourself perform a work of grace in you heart today unto His glory and His glory alone.

A Note To Those Who Claim to Have Saving Faith: Remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:5- "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" Make sure this day that you have passed The Test.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone,
as revealed in the Scripture alone to the glory of God alone.