Will Believing About God Save Us?

As I found out when I was a boy, not every church teaches the full counsel of God. In fact, some denominations are much like the Pharisees of the first century. All they teach is works as a means to please God.

But what does God's Word say about righteousness? If we depend on our own works to save us, we're headed for hell.

Those who assume that believing about God is good enough need to heed the warning in James 2:19 (KJV). "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." In other words, the demons are more orthodox in their theology than those who just believe there's a god out there somewhere.

And if just being good  is good enough, what about what Romans 4:2 (KJV) says? "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God."

Furthermore, the Pharisees kept the law but not out of love for God. But Christ's harshest criticisms were levelled at them because they were inwardly corrupt. He said in Matthew 23:23 (KJV), "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Paul also pointed out in Galatians 2:16 (KJV) that, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

According to James 2:18 (KJV) righteous works done out of love are proof of one's faith in Christ. "Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works:' show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

God doesn't reject all good deeds but only those done to butter him up. I'll be pointing this out in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many churchgoers depend on their denominational affiliation for their salvation when they should surrender their lives to Christ.