If you listen to the preaching and teaching of most pastors and theologians, the answer is a guarded no.
Of course, no pastor or theologian says that there is no mental component to saving faith. And none say that there is no mental component to sanctification.
But most pastors and theologians place the emphasis in both salvation and discipleship on what people do, not on what they consider true.
Most Christian traditions today understand “whoever believes in Him” in John 3:16 to refer to whoever turns from his sins, commits his life to Christ, and follows Him for the rest of his life. They say that saving faith is not mental assent. Saving faith requires action.
Likewise, most Christian traditions understand “walking in the Spirit” as continuing to do what got you saved in the first place: daily turning from sin, committing your life, and following Christ.
Most Christian traditions see little difference between salvation and discipleship.
But the truth is radically different.
According to Scripture, the mind (and one’s mindset) is crucial to both salvation and discipleship, which are very different.
After Jesus had explained His promise that the one who believes in Him will be glorified and will never die spiritually, He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). He wasn’t asking her about her prayer life or her service for Him. He was asking whether she was convinced that He is indeed the resurrection and the life. She answered in the affirmative, and she said nothing about turning from sins, commitment of life, or following Him (John 11:27).
Believing in Jesus means just that. It is believing in Him for the gift of God, everlasting life (John 4:10, 14, 25-26). Repentance, surrender, commitment, or following Him are not required. The moment one believes in Jesus, he is eternally secure. Ongoing discipleship is not required to retain everlasting life. Once a person is saved, he will always be saved.
It is true, of course, that discipleship has good works as its aim. The Lord Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16). However, how we do that is by having the right mindset, not by psyching ourselves up by dogged determination.
In Rom 8:6, Paul said, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” In 1 Cor 2:16, he said that the spiritual believer has “the mind of Christ.”
How does transformation of life occur? Paul said, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom 12:2). Compare 2 Cor 3:18.
Your mind matters. In a sense, Christianity is a battle for your mind. To be born again, you must believe in Jesus for everlasting life. To be sanctified, you must be spiritually minded. A legalistic mindset will not produce righteous living.
Keep grace in focus, and you will be transformed by the continual renewing of your mind by the Word of God.
