The Heresy of "Easy Believism"

Question 1

Will everyone who professes faith in Christ enter the Kingdom?

Answer 1

He said many who call him Lord will be forbidden from entering the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 7:13-23).

Question 2

Lordship Salvation

Answer 2

One cannot make Christ your saviour without also accepting Him as Lord over your life.

Faith without works is a dead faith.

Question 3

7 points of agreement

Answer 3

(1) Christ’s death purchased eternal salvation;
(2) the saved are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone;
(3) sinners cannot earn divine favor;
(4) God requires no preparatory works or pre-salvation reformation;
(5) eternal life is a gift of God;
(6) believers are saved before their faith ever produces any righteous works; and
(7) Christians can and do sin, sometimes horribly.

Question 4

Easy Believism Distinctive One: Repentance

Answer 4

First, Scripture teaches that the gospel calls sinners to faith joined in oneness with repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 20:21; 2 Pet. 3:9). Repentance is a turning from sin (Acts 3:19; Luke 24:47) that consists not of a human work but of a divinely bestowed grace (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). It is a change of heart, but genuine repentance will effect a change of behavior as well (Luke 3:8; Acts 26:18-20). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that repentance is simply a synonym for faith and that no turning from sin is required for salvation.

…faith has become merely an
intellectual exercise. Instead of
calling men and women to surrender
to Christ, modern evangelism
asks them only to accept some
basic facts about Him.

Question 5

Easy Believism Distinctive Two: Faith

Answer 5

Second, Scripture teaches that salvation is all God’s work. Those who believe are saved utterly apart from any effort on their own (Titus 3:5). Even faith is a gift of God, not a work of man (Eph. 2:1-5, 8). Real faith therefore cannot be defective or short-lived but endures forever (Phil. 1:6; cf. Heb. 11). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that faith might not last and that a true Christian can completely cease believing.

Question 6

Easy Believism Distinctive Three: The object of faith

Answer 6

Third, Scripture teaches that the object of faith is Christ Himself, not a creed or a promise (John 3:16). Faith therefore involves personal commitment to Christ (2 Cor. 5:15). In other words, all true believers follow Jesus (John 10:27-28). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that saving faith is simply being convinced or giving credence to the truth of the gospel and does not include a personal commitment to the person of Christ.

Question 7

Easy Believism Distinctive Four: Fruit of the Spirit

Answer 7

Fourth, Scripture teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17). Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person (Gal. 2:20). The nature of the Christian is new and different (Rom. 6:6). The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again (1 John 3:9-10). Those with genuine faith follow Christ (John 10:27), love their brothers (1 John 3:14), obey God’s commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14), do the will of God (Matt. 12:50), abide in God’s Word (John 8:31), keep God’s Word (John 17:6), do good works (Eph. 2:10), and continue in the faith (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that although some spiritual fruit is inevitable, that fruit might not be visible to others and Christians can even lapse into a state of permanent spiritual barrenness.

Question 8

Easy Believism Distinctive Four: The nature of Sanctification

Answer 8

Fifth, Scripture teaches that God’s gift of eternal life includes all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 8:32), not just a ticket to heaven. In contrast, according to easy-believism, only the judicial aspects of salvation (e.g., justification, adoption, and positional sanctification) are guaranteed for believers in this life; practical sanctification and growth in grace require a post-conversion act of dedication.

Question 9

Easy Believism Distinctive Four: The requirement of submission to Christ’s Lordship

Answer 9

Sixth, Scripture teaches that Jesus is Lord of all, and the faith He demands involves unconditional surrender (Rom. 6:17-18; 10:9-10). In other words, Christ does not bestow eternal life on those whose hearts remain set against Him (James 4:6). Surrender to Jesus’ lordship is not an addendum to the biblical terms of salvation; the summons to submission is at the heart of the gospel invitation throughout Scripture. In contrast, easy-believism teaches that submission to Christ’s supreme authority is not germane to the saving transaction.

Question 10

Easy Believism Distinctive Seven: Carnality

Answer 10

Seventh, Scripture teaches that those who truly believe will love Christ (1 Pet. 1:8-9; Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 16:22). They will therefore long to obey Him (John 14:15, 23). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that Christians may fall into a state of lifelong carnality.

Question 11

Easy Believism Distinctive Eight: The evidence of faith

Answer 11

Eighth, Scripture teaches that behavior is an important test of faith. Obedience is evidence that one’s faith is real (1 John 2:3). On the other hand, the person who remains utterly unwilling to obey Christ does not evidence true faith (1 John 2:4). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that disobedience and prolonged sin are no reason to doubt the reality of one’s faith.

Question 12

Easy Believism Distinctive Nine: The eternal nature of faith

Answer 12

Ninth, Scripture teaches that genuine believers may stumble and fall, but they will persevere in the faith (1 Cor. 1:8). Those who later turn completely away from the Lord show that they were never truly born again (1 John 2:19). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that a true believer may utterly forsake Christ and come to the point of not believing.

Question 13

The fruit of true faith

Answer 13

1. A changed life (2 Cor. 5:17).
2. Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person (Gal. 2:20).
3. The nature of the Christian is new and different (Rom. 6:6).
4. The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again (1 John 3:9-10).
5. Those with genuine faith follow Christ (John 10:27),
6. love their brothers (1 John 3:14),
7. obey God’s commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14),
8. do the will of God (Matt. 12:50),
9. abide in God’s Word (John 8:31),
10. keep God’s Word (John 17:6),
11. do good works (Eph. 2:10),
12. continue in the faith (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14).