FALSE DOCTRINES EXPOSED

"Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free "- John 8:32

The False Doctrine of 
"Salvation by Faith Only" Exposed

The word of God certainly teaches the importance of abiding in the doctrine of Christ, but gives a severe warning to those who would bring any other doctrine, II John 9-10. The doctrine of Christ is what Christ has taught, which are his teachings. Christ has certain teachings concerning man's salvation and we are not at liberty to pick and choose which ones we will obey. We are to obey all of Christ's teachings, (doctrine) concerning salvation. Those who teach and preach "salvation by faith only" are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ because of a failure to teach all that Christ said about salvation. Jesus has plainly declared that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God", Matt. 4:4.

"Faith only" is not consistent with the words of Jesus in Luke 13:5, "I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish".

"Faith only" is not consistent with Matt. 10:32, where Jesus says, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven".

"Faith only" is not consistent with Jesus' words found in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved".

There's no doubt that those who teach "salvation by faith only" believe in Jesus, but so do those who cry out, "Lord, Lord", in Matt. 7:21 But just believing in Jesus will not be enough to save them or anyone today because Jesus said "Not everyone who saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven". Jesus is saying that a person can believe in him and still be lost, if he does not do what he says. That's the lesson also in Matt. 7:26,27. The faith that saves is not "faith only", but rather is an "obedient faith", Rom. 1:5 & 16:26.

Where faith alone is mentioned in the Bible in scriptures such as, James 2:17, 20, and 26, the word of God says it is a dead faith. It is the kind of faith the devils have, James 2:19. Also James 2:24, teaches very plainly that, justification is not "by faith only". So abiding in the doctrine of Christ is more than just having "faith only"; it is obeying all Jesus has to say about being saved.

John 12:42, says of the chief rulers "many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue". This is a great example of a "dead faith" being alone. Jesus requires our faith to be active, that is, obedient to his teachings. In the case of the rulers, they were not obedient to God's word, and would not confess Jesus, fearing they would be put out of the synagogue. So anyone who says these rulers were saved by "faith alone", is saying confession is not necessary for one to be saved.

In Rom. 5:1 Paul says, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". Notice it did not say by "faith only". Verse nine of this same chapter says we are "justified by his blood". Why not put "only" after this statement and eliminate faith? The real question is, why put "only" with anything concerning salvation, for the Bible says "man shall not live by bread ALONE, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God", Matt. 4:4.

The doctrine of salvation by "faith alone" may be "very full of comfort" but it is also very full of damnation. For James 2:24 says "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only".

For "Plain Truth",


Butch Ellis