Pastor's Corner
Easy Believism 101
The heresy called antinomianism has in these Last Days taken a new
destructive form with a new name "easy-believism" which denies that
salvation produces obedience to the law. In a day when men hate
every form of self-restriction, antinomianism has raised its ugly
head again to become a serious threat to sound doctrine. So to
understand "easy-believism" we must first have a definition of a old
heresy called antinomianism:
Antinomianism (Koine Greek αντι, against, νομος, law), or
lawlessness (ανομια), in theology is the idea that members of a
particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws
of ethics or morality as presented by religious authorities.
Antinomianism is the polar opposite of legalism, and both are
destructive heresies.
So what is "easy-believism?"
Easy believism is the teaching that a person can make a
"decision" of faith but have no inward, moral change. In other
words, it is the belief that a person can be justified by faith but
not sanctified, and still be a genuine believer bound for heaven.
Easy believism is usually associated with Arminianism, although not
all of Arminianism adheres to easy believism.
Some advocates of easy believism teach that the definition of
repentance is a decisional change of mind, and nothing more. Others
think it involves behavioral change, but that it is not necessary
for salvation.
Some of its other characteristics are:
- After a person has been converted and has received the Holy
Spirit, he is at liberty to follow his own inner promptings, for
the Holy Spirit within him causes him to want and to do only
what is good.
- Not every Christian exhibits a godly way of life.
- Any person who is an upholder of God's rules and standards
is a legalist.
- A conversion experience is proof of genuine salvation. If a
person can point to some moment when he accepted Christ, when he
was "saved," he is entitled to perfect assurance that heaven is
his eternal destiny.
Since there are many people who have accepted Christ and who
have, to all appearances, accepted Him sincerely, but who have never
amounted to much as Christians, easy-believism ventures yet another
fallacious teaching:
- It is possible for a Christian to live out his life as a
spiritual babe. A nominal Christian who shows little evidence of
spiritual growth is properly called a carnal Christian.
Is it just me, or does your flesh cry out "ahhhhhhh" at the sound
of this teaching and your spirit "uggggggghhhhh." In today's world
you don't have to go far to find a teacher who is willing to tickle
your ears (for a price of course) with this kind of false doctrine.
God's Word says
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and
exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
Titus 2:11-15*
Saving grace sets up a classroom in the believers heart and
teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. It teaches us to
live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world as
we look for that blessed hope of the appearing of our great God and
Saviour Jesus Christ! Let us never forget!
So what is the antidote for this heresy? As we close for today
the answer is simple:
Preach the Word, Preach All of the Word and leave none of it out,
Preach it in season and Preach it out of season, Allow the Truth
from God's Word to penetrate and change the unregenerate (because
this is true love). And let us be faithful to be workman approved by
God.
"Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not
to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not
need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2
Timothy 2:14-15**
Love in Christ
Jeff
*The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995
(electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.)
(Tit 2:11-15). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
**The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Ti 2:14-15).
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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