Are All Believers Christians?

Mike Johnson

What is necessary for people to be acceptable in the eyes of God?  Many feel that to obtain salvation, all that is needed is the belief that Christ is the son of God. Does the Bible teach this?

John 12:42-43 speaks of unsaved believers.  It says, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in 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.” Although they were believers, these rulers were unsaved.

In James 2:14-26, the author writes about the relationship between faith and works where he says, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” A person who has “faith only” has a faith no higher than the demons, and obviously, the demons do not have salvation.  Just as the demons are not saved by “faith only,” neither are people.  Faith without works, as in the doctrine of “faith only,” is a dead faith. In verse 24, James says salvation is not by faith only as he says, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” How can it be any clearer?  Saving faith is an obedient faith (Heb. 11).

It is not enough to mentally consent to the fact that Christ is the son of God. Besides being a believer (Jn. 3:16), one must also repent (Acts 2:38), confess Christ (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized (Acts 2:38, Mk. 16:16).  One must also remain faithful (I Cor. 15:58, Rev. 2:10). It takes more than “faith only” to obtain salvation!

Are all believers Christians?  The Bible answer to this question is “No.”  The Bible teaches to become a Christian; it takes more than merely being a believer.