Why Some Believers Are Lost
To those who believe the doctrine of salvation by faith only, it must seem confusing that the New Testament reveals examples of some believers who were lost. If faith alone saves, why are not the sins of all men who believe forgiven? Is God a respecter of persons, or does the New Testament contradict itself?
The careful student is not perplexed by these questions, for he is aware that salvation by faith alone is not taught in the Bible. The Scriptures do affirm justification by faith (Romans 5:1-2), and that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6); but the doctrines of salvation by faith and by faith only are not the same. Faith will save; faith only will not save. To illustrate, study these examples of believers who were lost.
Unsaved Believers
The inspired apostle John said of the leaders of the synagogue, "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." (John 12:41,42) Many of the religious leaders, after seeing the miracles wonders, and signs Jesus worked, believed on Him. If faith alone saves, these chief rulers would have received remission of sins at the moment they believed. This did not occur. Their sins were not forgiven because they lacked the courage to confess their faith. Furthermore, they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Surely this kind of attitude and action is unpardonable. The evidence cannot be denied, the chief rulers were believers in Christ, but lost!
Another unsaved believer was Agrippa, the king of the Jews. (Acts 26) In making his defense before Agrippa, Paul told of the vision he had seen and the events which led to his own conversion. He spoke of the attempts of the unbelieving Jews to take his life, and how, through the help of God, he had continued preaching the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After telling of these things he asked, "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." (Acts 26:27, 28) Agrippa believed the prophets, but this belief did not save him nor did it make him a Christian. To believe the prophets was to believe in Christ, for Paul preached only Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 2:2) Paul acknowledged that he was teaching "none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead...." (Acts 26:21-23) Paul knew that Agrippa believed in Christ through the prophets and Agrippa did not deny this, but the king did realize he was not a Christian, for he said, "Almost thou persuadest me ......Agrippa was a believer in Christ, but lost!
The purpose of this article, however, is not to prove that there were men who believed who were lost; for as illustrated, the Bible is unquestionably plain on this matter. Our purpose is to explain the reason some believers are lost. If faith does save, then what is the difference in the faith of these lost men and the faith of saved men? Why are some believers lost and others saved?
Saved Believers
The answer is given in the second chapter of James when the inspired writer compares saving faith with dead faith. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:17-20) Some believers are lost because their faith is not demonstrated by works; therefore, theirs is a dead faith. Lest some reader misunderstand, James was not eliminating the need of faith for salvation, nor was he teaching salvation by works only. Teachers of salvation by faith only usually are so wedded to the word "only" that they reason one must teach salvation either by faith only or by works only. Neither extreme is the Bible teaching. Faith and works cannot be separated in teaching God's plan of salvation.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is replete with examples of men who served God by faith. Not one of these men is described as pleasing God by faith "only." All did serve by faith, but each one proved his faith by works. Notice the language, "By faith Abel offered ...." (v. 4); "by faith Noah....moved with fear, prepared an ark...." (v. 7); "by faith, Abraham....obeyed ... " (v.8); "by faith, he sojourned .... " (v. 9) All these examples teach the same lesson — A saving faith is a working faith.
Works of faith are necessary. They do not precede faith nor circumscribe the grace of God, but works are essential to salvation. Read more from the second chapter of James: 'Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:21-24) This is the only passage in the Bible which uses the expression "faith only," and this verse clearly teaches that salvation by faith only is a false doctrine!
Working Righteousness
The world today makes much ado about not being saved by man's righteousness, which they mistakenly think has reference to what man does. It has no such meaning. Man's righteousness which stands condemned in the Scriptures (Titus 3:5; Romans 10:1-4), has reference to what man invents, in disregard for the commands of God. Man cannot be saved by going his own way. He cannot be saved in doing any of the things which man has invented, but that does not mean he can be saved without doing what God has ordained for man's doing. "In every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him" (Acts 10:35). We must be the servants of God's righteousness to be saved, and this is accomplished in obeying the gospel. "The gospel is God's power to salvation...for therein is revealed the righteousness of God" (Rom. 1:18-17). Faith does save, but faith must come from the word of God (Rom. 10:17). When a man obeys the gospel, he is saved by the grace of God through faith, and not works of his own invention (Eph. 2:8-9).
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Rom. 8:17-18). These Christians at Rome were made free from sin after they obeyed (works) from the heart (faith).
The doctrine of salvation by faith only is at fault in that it requires less than that taught by Jesus as essential. Christ demanded repentance. "I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3). Does this sound like faith only? He also expects confession. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Math 10:32). "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:10). Jesus further stated, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 18:18); hence, baptism is essential to salvation.
Many think that in teaching baptism as being essential to salvation, one is requiring more than faith, but this is not true. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:28-27). The inspired apostle instructs that we become the children of God by faith, but he does not say faith "only." He tells what kind of believer is in Christ when he says "for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ." We reach Christ through baptism. "So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death." (Rom. 6:3). No man could reject the command of baptism and be serving "by faith."
In Hebrews 11:7, Noah is described as preparing an ark to the saving of his house "by faith." However, Peter likens the salvation of Noah through the ark to the salvation that comes to the believer through baptism. (I Peter 3:20-21). Since the Scriptures parallel Noah's salvation through the ark to man's salvation through baptism, we understand that it is "by faith" we are baptized even as it was "by faith" Noah built the ark. "The like figure whereunto even baptism cloth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 3:21). We enter Christ, we put on Christ, in baptism. This is a work of faith. (Rom. 6:17-18).
The man who repents, confesses and is baptized through faith is justified by his faith (Rom. 5:1-2), and eternal life is granted to him (John 3:16). The life of a Christian is henceforth a continual work of faith, and he must beware lest he fall away with an evil heart of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:15). On the other hand, the man who believes but is unwilling to obey is not a Christian and must reap the same punishment as that of Agrippa and the chief rulers of the synagogue. His faith is dead.
— P. O. Box 376; Pinson, Alabama