The problem is that “believers” is nearly meaningless. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19) “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:23-25)
God requires: belief (acknowledgement, agreement that Jesus Christ is Lord of All); confession (admitting our sins to God and agreeing with God that they are wrong); repentance (turning away from our sins; the word means to “change one’s mind”: “I was going in one direction, but I changed my mind and went in the other direction”); and obedience:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–9)
“When the people heard this (the preaching of the gospel), they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:37–38); “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.” (Acts 3:19–20)
“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” (John 3:36); “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15); “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” (John 14:23); “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (1 John 1:6)
It’s all or nothing; 100% or 0%. There can be no fence straddling, no waffling, no vacillating.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit* you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:14–18)
*the Greek word is ἐμέω, emeō. Same root as “emesis’, to vomit.
viewfromthebellybutton 