The cornerstone of all Christian belief is that one must believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins in order to obtain eternal life. Many have wrongly concluded that a statement of belief is all it takes. For we know faith, while crucial, also must come with works. “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20.“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
In the following verses of Acts, Paul taught those same people the word of God and, in believing, they were then baptized. Not only did they state their faith in Jesus Christ, but they then showed their faith by their actions.
Additionally, by faith we develop our characters. 2 Peter 1:5-8, 10-11 (NKJV), “. . . add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . 10 Therefore, brethren, . . . if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Belief grows into actions. Jesus believed in God and this compelled Him to do the Father’s will. Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, ‘Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God.’”
We are told in James 2:19 that the devils, (or the fallen angels) also believe and tremble. Once again, this verse offers proof that more is required than just belief. These devils did believe because they had been in heaven for billions of years serving God. Yet they rebelled and were cast out of heaven. So, the answer is no – just believing God does not save them.
