by R. L. Morrison

Many people will look upon this title as a contradiction: something that could not possibly occur. The reason is because so many religious organizations today teach the doctrine of faith only. It can be stated in these words, "Only believe, and you will be saved." Or perhaps, "Accept Christ as your personal Savior."

The Bible does teach that one is saved by faith. But does the Bible teach that one can be saved by faith only? There is a great difference in faith having a part in one's salvation and in one's being saved by faith alone. Faith only means nothing more than faith. This doctrine excludes repentance, for if faith only saves, repentance has no part in man's salvation.

If it can be shown by the Bible that one or more who believed were NOT saved, then we should be able to see the fallacy of this doctrine. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). If one person is a believer and yet not saved, it follows that God would show respect (personal preference) if another believer is saved at the point of his belief.

In John 8:30-34, we find the record of Jesus' conversation with a group of Jews. Many of them believed on him, but were they saved? In verse 44, Jesus said to them, "Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." In verse 38, Jesus mentions two fathers: God, His Father, and their father, the devil. These Jews were believers, but were not saved, were not children of God; they were still children of the devil. Here is the Bible record of "unsaved believers."

John 12:42 reveals that many among the chief rulers believed on Jesus, but did not confess Him. Were they saved? The following verse answers: They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. No one can cling to this attitude and please God. Here is the record of more "unsaved believers."

In Acts 9, we find the record of Saul, a man who severely persecuted the early Church. He was on his way to Damascus to search for disciples of Jesus, to arrest and take them to Jerusalem. But suddenly a light from heaven shined about him. He fell to the earth. A voice said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul replied, "Who art thou, Lord?" He received the reply, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest." Saul then asked, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Jesus replied, "Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." Here is another example of an "unsaved believer." Saul, who persecuted Christians even unto death, became a believer when he heard the voice from heaven and saw Him who spoke (Acts 9:17). Ananias, whom the Lord sent to Saul to tell him what to do, said, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

I read once some things a man wrote about this event. He wrote that Paul started falling from his horse a sinner but hit the ground a saved man. This, of course, is not found in the Bible. If Saul was saved when he hit the ground, he was saved before the Lord spoke to him; therefore saved before he believed, for he did not become a believer in Christ until Jesus identified himself. Then he was told to go to Damascus where he would be told what to do. Three days later Ananias came and told him to call upon the name of the Lord. Ananias also told Saul HOW to do this: Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sin. Saul was a believer, an unsaved believer, until he learned what to do, and then did it!

We need to recognize that belief is used in two senses in the Bible. One use is simply to give mental assent: to accept as true. The second use includes other acts of obedience. Consider an example of the first use mentioned: "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed and turned to the Lord" (Acts 11:21). Now if faith only saves, these people were already turned to the Lord when they believed. But here believing is one thing and turning to the Lord is another. They believed before they turned to the Lord, therefore they were not saved when they gave mental assent to the facts presented concerning Christ.

In Mark 16:16, we read that Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." He taught the necessity of faith, but NOT faith only. Jesus said the believer shall be saved. Consider it this way: He that ... shall be saved. He that does what? Who shall be saved? Why, he that believeth AND is baptized! Saul of Tarsus is an example of a believer who was baptized and was saved by doing so, for his sins were washed away!

In Acts 10, we find an example of an "unsaved believer." Cornelius was a Gentile, but he was a devout man. He feared God, was given to prayer, and gave much alms to the people. A man of his character would be considered a devout Christian by most religious people today. But this man, without doubt a believer in God, was not saved. An angel of the Lord, in a vision, told Cornelius to send to Joppa for Peter, an apostle. Peter responded to his request, and when he arrived, asked why he had been asked to come. When informed by Cornelius about the vision, and what he was told to do, Peter recognized that the Gentiles were to hear the gospel and have an opportunity to obey it.

When Peter told of this event in Jerusalem, he related the words of the angel in the vision: "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 11:13-14). This is the beginning of preaching Christ to the Gentile people, and, of course, Peter was directed to do so by the Holy Spirit.

When these Gentiles received the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter asked, "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, ...and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:47-48). Here is the account of another "unsaved believer" who, upon learning what was required of him, obeyed. His faith in God and good works were not sufficient to save him. His faith led to obedience. When he obeyed, he was saved.

We shall now consider an example of believers who refused to acknowledge their faith and follow Jesus. "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him: but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43). This is not to say that these men would have been saved by confessing Christ. They believed, but did not want to follow him because others objected to him and those who followed him. They feared the Pharisees more than they feared God.

There are people today who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They believe that He is the Savior of mankind. They refuse to obey him, refuse to become a Christian because they fear what friends or relatives might say or think about them. Some have said, "I believe you are right. I believe you teach the truth. But if I obey the gospel, my family will reject me." Another, "Yes, I believe, but if I should submit to baptism, I would dishonor my grandmother, for she did not believe baptism is necessary to be saved." Or yet another, "My mother was never baptized. She was a good woman. I believe she is in heaven. Why can't I be like her?'

Many indeed, are the excuses people offer, yet they say they believe in Jesus. These people are "unsaved believers," for a "saved person" is a believer who has obeyed the commands of the gospel, even though some may find fault with them for doing so.

Some people really do not want to do a thing, they just want to want to do it. When they REALLY want to, they will obey the gospel.

Now, are there "unsaved believers?" Yes, indeed, for God is no respecter of persons. If you do believe, then complete your obedience: Repent of (turn away from) your sins, confess your faith in Christ, be baptized, and live a faithful life of service to Christ. Put on Christ in baptism and be saved.