Sinful Confidences, Sinful Creeds And Sinful Conduct
There is no question that conduct that does not align itself to the divine standard is something that is sinful. However, what many people do not know is that one can have the right conduct but carry in his bosom a sinful essential belief or creed. Not all right conduct is governed by a right essential belief. And a sinful creed or belief is as wrong and wicked as a sinful conduct and behavior. God is concerned with both. A man may do good deeds but if he has the wrong essential beliefs he will still go to hell.
To go even further, it is entirely possible to have the right conduct and the right essential beliefs and still go to hell. Right behavior and right beliefs do not necessarily result in a right kind of confidence.
You can be as orthoprax (having the right practice) as orthoprax can be, you can be as orthodox (having the right beliefs) as orthodox can be but if you have not placed your confidence in the Savior and what He did on the cross alone for salvation, you will still go to hell.
A sinner will not be saved by just merely having the right beliefs ABOUT Christ. No, that is not enough. It should lead to trusting in Him for salvation. Right belief about Christ should lead to confidence in Christ in order for salvation to take place. The devil and his demons rightly believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world but it does not mean that they trust in Him for salvation.
Many people today believe that the Lord Jesus is the Savior, that He died on the cross for them. But their faith is not solely in Him for salvation. They feel confident that because they are good people having done a lot of good works that they will be saved for it.
Yes, having the right conduct is important. Yes, having the right creed is important. But it is the right kind of confidence that saves. And one's confidence can only be right if it is confidence in the Savior; not confidence in self, in one's good character and good works.
