WHAT THE DEVIL BELIEVES VS WHAT WE WHO ARE SAVED BELIEVE

Edward  O'Hara: Have you ever heard someone respond to the preaching of salvation by grace through faith without works by saying, "Well, the devil believes. So just believing is not enough"? I have. And it's very frustrating when hearing that from anyone who claims to believe in Jesus. It can attributed to immaturity. But, this kind of response can also mean that they really do not know Jesus.

Because this kind of response comes from their belief that only when works accompany faith is anyone saved.

Saying in effect that we are saved by works as if James was contradicting what Paul taught. Which also means that if we are not saved it is because of bad works. So salvation becomes an issue of works rather than of grace through faith. Which is the antithesis to everything the Bible teaches about salvation.

In Rom.4:1-5 Paul told us that Abraham was reckoned to be righteous by faith without works. In James2:17,18 James tells us that the only reason works are ever needed to accompany our faith is so that others can see our faith. So they can see with their natural eyes what a relationship with Jesus looks like. In Gen.15:6 God said that Abraham's belief in Him was his righteousness. In Gal.2:16 Paul said that Jesus' righteousness was His faith in the Father. And that when we believe in Jesus as He trusted the Father we too are righteous just as Jesus was.

This is why Paul said, "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus3:4-7

See what Paul said washes us when we believe? "Regeneration". Regeneration is the spiritual birth that gives us a spirit that we never had before. A spirit that Paul says communes with the Holy Spirit. He who "renews" us so that our ways will become God's ways. And our thoughts will become God's thoughts. Actually becoming by spiritual birth a child of God!

By this Paul says we are made "heirs according to the hope of eternal life". Because we are now spiritual children of God by birth. When before we were only natural, flesh and blood, like Adam was when he was made a living soul. Living in the unbelief of the natural man who has rejected the gospel.

But, when we believe in Him we are forever joined with God. So that as John said we can not sin, which is unbelief, because His seed, that is the spirit birthed in us by the word of God, remains in us.

Continuing in vs 8-11 Paul says, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."

But, then Paul adds, "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

Here we see Paul telling Titus that trying to help people who believe in salvation by works can become "unprofitable and vain". Very strong words ensue with Paul adding that after twice trying to help them see the truth about salvation by grace through faith without works he was to reject them. Because people who are so disposed are "subverted, and sin, having condemned themselves".

This does not mean that we are to give up on them. And it does not mean that we are to have nothing to do with them. It means that as far as their coming to a saving faith in Jesus they are so far caught in the trap of satan. And because they are unwilling to hear it's time to leave them in God's hands to use whatever we have planted in them to continue to work with them. While we continue to love them as we always had before.

Subverted is the same word used in Acts15:24 when the apostles told those who believed that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment".

So, none of the apostles ever instructed Israelite or Gentile believers in Jesus to keep the law of Moses. Or to be circumcised. Why then do so many still teach that even though we are not under the law, we still must keep the law? Paul tells us why right here in his letter to Titus. Because they have been subverted and sin and by this they have condemned themselves.

So the next time someone defends their belief that works are necessary for salvation show them what Paul wrote to Titus. And after instructing them twice on this matter if they persist. Reject them as Paul says. Leave them to God so that He can deal with their unbelief as only He can. We must get out of God's way so that He can reach them where we can not.

Or as Paul says to Titus, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Don't let anyone subvert your soul as the believing pharisees that argued with Paul thought to do. Let your righteousness be without works through your trust in Jesus. For while we are indeed saved unto good works. We are not saved by works. To the contrary, our salvation is by grace through faith, not of works.

The one common thread that runs through every cult is their dependence on works for salvation.

Their belief that only by works can a man be justified. Oh, they may cloak it in language that includes saved by grace through faith. But, never without qualifying works as necessary to prove your faith. And if not present neither is salvation.

This is why they use "the devil believes too" as if it is proof that works are required for salvation. Not realizing that they have played right into the devil's trap.

A trap Paul describes in 2Tim.2 as being “taken captive by the devil at his will". While encouraging the true believer that he is to be "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves(yes, these people oppose themselves); if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

When we believe in Jesus we trust in, cling to, and rely upon Him to "cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Which is unbelief. We do not simply believe He exists as James says the devil does. Nor do we simply believe He is the Creator as the devil does. Our belief in Jesus goes much deeper and is much more comprehensive than that.

We look to Him for our every need to be met. Beginning with deliverance from death to life in eternity. All the way down to our every need we have for this life. Praying without ceasing as Paul says to be in constant communication with Him by His Spirit that is in us. What and how the devil believes carries with it no such weight.

This is why when Paul says that when we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe He has raised from the dead we are saved. Because ours is a trusting in, clinging to, and relying upon believing. The kind of believing that puts Jesus at the center of our lives. And on the throne of our hearts. Just as Jesus trusted the Father when He lived as a man. And just as Job when he said, “though He slay me yet will I trust in Him”. Job13:5

If you will trust in Him in this way you will be righteous. If you will confess Jesus is Lord and that He has raised from the dead conquering death you will have eternal life. If you will be born of His Spirit you will be made a child of God and heir to His kingdom. If you will do this you will change from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye. If you will do this then I will see you there or in the air!

This message can also be heard at: https://rumble.com/v228qdg-what-the-devil-believes-vs-what-we-who-are-saved-believe.html