Does It Really Matter What You Believe?
Here's a common question: How important are the various beliefs that Christians have if salvation is really all about knowing Jesus?
In short, does it really matter what we believe if we all love Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Savior?
Clearly, we are not saved because of the set of beliefs we hold near and dear to our hearts. Outside of a belief in -- and an acceptance of -- Jesus Christ, there is nothing else that determines our salvation.
Acts 16:30-31
(30) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
(31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 3:22-24
(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 10:8-11
(8) ...The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
However, the Bible makes it equally clear that accepting Jesus and His salvation is not the end of our obligation to Him. We are not called to salvation and then idleness. We are called to witness, to minister, to work in harmony with His will, and to abide in Him.
John 14:14-15
(14) If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:4-5
(4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
(5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Matthew 28:19-20
(19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 25:34-40
(34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(35) For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
(36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
(37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
(38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
(39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
(40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
So, saying that we love Jesus is good, but we must then do what it is He asks us to do and live in harmony with the principles He has outlined for us. We can't just do whatsoever we want while claiming to be in love with Him.
When Jesus returns, He has indicated that He will come with a reward that is based not on what we have said, but on what we have done:
Revelation 22:12
(12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 3:8-11
(8) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
(9) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
(10) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
(11) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
We need to make sure that we are not only saying that we love Jesus, but that what we are doing is in accordance with what we are saying and with what He has asked us to do...
And we know what He has asked us to do, because He has given us the Bible, the written Word.