Easy believism is the view that salvation comes through mere intellectual assent to the gospel message without repentance from sin. It is a shallow or superficial understanding of the biblical gospel that requires little more from the sinner than an acknowledgment of Christ’s deity and confession of belief in His sacrifice on the cross.
The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith goes beyond mental agreement to trusting in Christ and His finished work on the cross as the sole basis for forgiveness of sins. Saving faith involves repentance from sin and submission to Christ as Lord.
Easy believism weakens the biblical conditions of salvation by separating faith from repentance and obedience. It teaches that as long as someone prayed a prayer or “accepted Jesus into their heart” at some point, they are eternally secure in their salvation regardless of how they live. In this view, acts of sin cannot jeopardize one’s salvation because it depends entirely on a past decision.
The danger of easy believism is that it gives false assurance. Jesus warned, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Genuine salvation is marked by changed thinking, affections, and behavior because of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Here are some key biblical problems with easy believism:
1. It ignores Jesus’ repeated warnings about false converts. Jesus said that not all who call Him “Lord, Lord” will enter His kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23). Many will claim to have prophesied, cast out demons, and done mighty works in Jesus’ name, yet He will declare “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Jesus would not warn against false conversions if a simple profession of faith at some point in life secured heaven.
2. It eliminates repentance from the gospel. Jesus said His primary mission was to call sinners to “repentance” (Matthew 9:13). He said “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” must be proclaimed in His name to all nations (Luke 24:47). The apostles taught that God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30) and repentance leads to times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). Repentance involves a change of mind about sin and a turning away from unrighteousness.
3. It teaches salvation without submission to Christ’s lordship. Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God and the One He sent, Jesus Christ (John 17:3). Receiving Christ as “Lord” is necessary to become a child of God (John 1:12-13). Salvation includes submission to Christ’s authority. “Lord” signifies not just belief, but wholehearted devotion, allegiance, and obedience to Christ.
4. It promotes a false dichotomy between grace and obedience. Easy believism claims that requiring obedience to Christ undermines salvation by grace. But Scripture teaches salvation is both by grace alone and for the purpose of good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Those born again through faith have a new desire to obey Christ’s commands.
5. It separates justification and sanctification. Justification means being declared legally righteous before God while sanctification means being made practically righteous through the Spirit. Easy believism so disconnects these two that holiness is optional after justification. But the Bible says “Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14) and we have been saved by grace to walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10).
6. It creates millions of false converts according to Jesus. Countless people claim to be Christians because they raised their hand at an evangelistic rally, signed a card, prayed a prayer, were baptized, or go to church. But Jesus said few would find the narrow way to life (Matthew 7:13-14) while many would be turned away who thought they were saved (Matthew 7:21-23). He warned about seeds falling on rocky and thorny ground representing those who fall away after shallow commitments.
7. It distorts grace into licentiousness. According to Jude 4, some distort the biblical doctrine of grace into a license for immorality. They deny Christ by how they live, yet claim heaven is guaranteed based on a past prayer. The Bible says we are not under law, but under grace which teaches us to live uprightly (Titus 2:11-14). True grace transforms. As Romans 6:1-2 asks, how can those who have died to sin continue living in it?
8. It produces unfruitful, ungodly living. Jesus said every healthy tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17). The seed that fell on good soil represents those who remain faithful under trial and bear fruit (Luke 8:15). First John 3:9 says whoever is born of God does not continue sinning because God’s seed remains in them. When professing believers live just like the world, it reveals a heart that has not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
9. It divides justification from regeneration. Regeneration is being born again by the Spirit (John 3:3-8) while justification is being declared righteous legally. Easy believism claims one can occur without the other. But the Bible teaches spiritual rebirth enables and immediates justification by faith so that no justified person is left unregenerate. The new birth and saving faith are inextricably linked so that everyone who is justified is also regenerate.
10. It prevents saving faith by giving false assurance. When people assume they are eternally secure based on a past decision, they see no need to examine themselves against Scripture (2 Corinthians 13:5) or to take biblical warnings seriously. This produces a false assurance that leads many to death (Proverbs 14:12). The good news only saves those who continue in the word of Christ (John 8:31).
In summary, easy believism distorts the biblical gospel by setting forth a crossless Christianity that is devoid of repentance, biblical faith, lordship, and true transformation. Saving faith unites the sinner to Christ so that His death and resurrection become theirs, leading to a new heart that produces lifelong fruit.
As a corrective to easy believism, the Bible calls for repentant faith in the Savior that submits to His lordship. The good news is not just a gift to be received, but Christ Himself to be embraced (Philippians 3:7-9). Those born of God love Him, walk in His ways, obey His commands, abide in His word, and practice righteousness (1 John 2:3-6; 3:24; 5:18). Salvation involves much more than praying a formulaic prayer. It requires counting the cost and yielding everything to Christ.
Salvation cannot be divorced from Jesus’ lordship or reduced to a one-time transaction. The new birth transforms the heart so that loving and obeying Christ becomes natural. Salvation is not achieved or maintained by human effort, but true grace will always change a person’s life. Where there is no evidence of repentance and obedience, there is no evidence of salvation. Easy believism peddles a crossless gospel that leads not to eternal life, but destruction.
