Why Believing in Jesus is Not Enough
Jesus said near the end of the Sermon on the Mount:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Jesus went on to finish His sermon by telling the parable of the wise and foolish builders. The moral explained in the parable is plain. It is not alone enough to hear what Jesus says. It is necessary both to hear His words and do them. What Jesus had just stated previously about calling on His name at the judgment scene was basically addressing this same point. It is simply not enough to merely believe in Jesus.
It has always been very hard for me to understand why many in the religious world have taught that the affirmation of Christ’s identity could alone save the sinner. John 7 reveals that many of the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus but did not obey Him, and were thus not His disciples. James 2 also points out that the demons believe in God and tremble, but their works are the works of the devil. During Jesus’ earthly ministry the devil’s angles regularly recognized that Jesus was the Son of God. But this did not ever imply that they were following Him.
Christ’s words about those who call on His name are quite the show stopper. Jesus is saying that many people accept His identity as Lord, but few personally make Him Lord. The only way we can prove that Jesus is the Master of our lives is through humble obedience – hence Jesus’ other statement at the end of this same sermon – “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
For some reason, when the church today preaches what Jesus preached about obedience we are labeled as those who believe in “works salvation.” Such could not be further from the case. We are saved by grace, through faith, and that not of ourselves it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). Doing the will of God does not mean that we don’t believe in grace. It means we DO believe in grace. In doing the will of God we prove our love to God for His grace by submitting to His better and higher will for us. In obeying the words of Jesus we are simply being faithful disciples and by our actions He knows and we know that He is truly the Lord of our lives.
It makes absolutely no sense for anyone to think that the can call Jesus, “Lord” – and then live as they want, worship as they want, or do anything else for that matter the way that they individually want to do them. If we are not willing to submit to Jesus and obey Him – then the Bible has no true purpose, and the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s only Son hasn’t taught us a thing.
Christianity is not that complicated. Love Jesus. Listen to Jesus. Believe in Jesus. Know Jesus. Obey Jesus. Live like Jesus. Don’t do certain things. Do all of these things. And when you are done at the end of each day doing all of these to the very best of your feeble human ability, give glory to God.
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” – Matthew 25:21
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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum
