Many people charge that the faith-alone view of salvation is easy believism. I recently did a 7-minute YouTube video (see here) entitled, “What Is Easy Believism?” Check it out for more information.
In this blog, I want to discuss whether believing in Jesus for everlasting life that can never be lost is easy. Is believism easy?
If you ask people from non-Christian religions, they will say that having a blessed afterlife is not by faith in Jesus Christ. It is by following the tenets of their religion. One must stay on the path that leads to salvation. That is true for Muslims, Orthodox Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and other religions.
But what about within Christianity?
The cults do not believe in the faith-alone message.
Most Protestants do not believe the faith-alone message either.
Neither do most Catholics and Orthodox Christians.
If the message of faith-alone, apart from works, is so easy to believe, then why do so few people believe it?
My answer is that it is not easy to believe that. It is hard to believe.
But why is that the case?
First, it is hard to believe because it runs contrary to human nature. We think we have to earn our way in life and in the life to come.
Second, it is difficult to believe because most traditions, even within Christianity, do not teach that. It is definitely a view with far fewer adherents than the faith plus works perspective.
Most religions, including most within Christendom, oppose the faith-alone in Christ-alone position in print, on social media, on television, and face-to-face.
Third, Satan actively opposes the grace message (e.g., Luke 8:12; 2 Cor 4:4), making it hard to believe.
Do you believe in believism? Do you believe the message of John 3:16? Is it really true that all who believe in Jesus will never perish and have everlasting life? If you believe that, then you are an outsider as far as most people are concerned. If you share your faith with others, you will find people oppose what you are saying. They may mock you to your face or behind your back.
I do not think it is easy to believe. Jesus said that the way is narrow that leads to life and few find it (Matt 7:13-14). Paul made it clear that the message of works salvation is the man-pleasing message and that the message of justification by faith alone, apart from works, is the God-pleasing message (Gal 1:10).
Easy believism? Hardly. It is hard to believe something that is widely rejected. But it is the truth. And once you believe, you know you are secure forever in Christ. That is truly good news, don’t you think?
