Does belief save you? Is it enough to know Jesus died for you? Is believing He died to take away your sins the same as placing your faith in Jesus? Consider:
“A man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, ‘What do you have to do with us, Jesus? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’
But Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Be quiet and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him…. But He would not permit the demons to speak because they knew Him” Mark 1:23-26, 34.
“Demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But He would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Messiah” Luke 4:41.
As His ministry began, Jesus cast demons out of many people—and every time He had to shut them up. It was too early to have anyone calling Him “the Holy One of God.” He was the Son of God and the demons knew it. But it was not yet time to upset the powers-that-be with talk of a man claiming to be God. That time would come, but not for another three years.
(*Plus, who wants demons on the marketing team? Jesus chose John the Baptist as His publicist.)
On the question of belief, James writes: “You believe that God is One. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble.” James 2:19. THE DEMONS ALSO BELIEVE. They knew EXACTLY Who Jesus was—and it terrified them because one day He would destroy them.
Thus, accurate belief or “head knowledge” is not enough! If you were drowning and saw a life boat (pictured), BELIEVING it could save you is only the first step. You must CLIMB ABOARD. Salvation is belief plus action: we must place our life in the hands of Jesus. Correct belief by itself is not enough.
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