Often people are quick to lead a person to a profession of Jesus as Savior. If they are not careful, they may over-simplify the route to salvation and thereby have only a PROFESSOR instead of a POSSESSOR. We should never make salvation easier or harder to be had than the Lord intended for it to be.
Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. When the Bible said “believe”, does it mean to acknowledge the existence of Jesus as a historical person, and by this acknowledgement be saved? If so, few people have ever been lost. Those who nailed Him to the cross knew He existed, but they were not “believers” as the scriptures speak of believing.
To believe means, according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, to have faith–upon, in, or with respect to. Belief in Jesus as the Christ means to acknowledge His existence, to have confidence in His integrity as the Christ, and to honor His counsel. This is God’s route to salvation. Few, if any, would deny what is an established fact–the existence of Jesus; and many express a sincere confidence in Jesus’ being the Christ; but not many honor His counsel. Therefore, their “believism” is not complete and they are not saved.
Jesus said in John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” The man who believes the testimony of these Scriptures concerning Jesus will manifest spiritual life to those around him. Those who acknowledge Jesus in His existence and integrity but deny His counsel in word or deed have no life in them to manifest.
When you were saved it was according to the scriptures; if you are still saved it is because you are living according to the scriptures; and if you are saved at Jesus’ coming it will be because you continued living according to the Holy Scriptures. We must honor His counsel, for Romans 10:10 says, “With the heart man believeth unto RIGHTEOUSNESS”.
Point people to Jesus–to His existence, to His integrity, and to His counsel–and God will honor your efforts.