Just recently, in a movie, I heard the statement “I’ll have faith for the both of us.”  Some people believe that their faith can impact the salvation of another.  It is a common belief among the Mormon Church that you can be baptized for someone who has died.  The Roman Catholic Church teaches that a person can pray a loved one out of “purgatory” (not a real place).  However, these beliefs are foreign to the Scriptures.  No where does God say anything that would lead one to believe that their faith or works could save another.  What God has been clear about, is that most (with the exception of infants and young children) will be accountable for their own actions.

     (Ezekiel 18:20-21) “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”  (James 4:17) “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death…”  Based upon the above quoted scriptures several things are clear.  First off, one is not accountable for the sins of another.  That does not mean that other’s sins do not have an impact on our lives.  The sin of Adam and Eve impacted our lives by bringing death into the world (I Corinthians 15:21-22).  The second point is that someone who cannot know the difference between right and wrong cannot sin (an infant or young child).  Seeing the first two points we have made, we can accurately conclude that a child is born into a saved state and only becomes a sinner when they grow enough to have knowledge of right and wrong, then they can sin - not before.  Finally, we can conclude from the above quoted scriptures that sin earns spiritual damnation.  Unless one repents of their sins they will be eternally punished (Luke 13:3; 5 and II Thessalonians 1:8-9).

     The word of God is very clear that there will be a Judgment Day.  The word of God is also clear on what to expect when it comes to our giving an answer for what we have done.  (Romans 14:12) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”  (II Corinthians 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”  (John 12:48) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”  From the above quoted Scriptures we can conclude several things.  First, we will stand and give an account before the Lord.  Secondly, that account will be based upon the things we have done in this life.  Finally, the standard upon which we will be judged is the word of God.  Therefore, if one would just live their lives according to what the Lord says in His word (II Peter 1:3), they would be properly prepared to meet the Lord.  This may mean that there are things that one would need to change in their lives to be ready.

     One does not need to depend on the faith of another person to get to Heaven.  Faith and obedience cannot be borrowed.  Once a person makes the appropriate changes in their life to prepare to meet God they then can continue to live in obedience to Him.  Our obedience is necessary for us to have eternal life (Matthew 7:21).  Before one can become a Christian they must first repent of their sins (Acts 3:19).  Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  Light (righteousness) and darkness (evil) do not dwell together (II Corinthians 6:14).  A person that wants to abide eternally with God must make the appropriate changes in their lives to do so.  That means they must be willing to walk away from sin and turn to God.

     People often confuse repentance with confession.  Confessing your sins to God (I John 1:9) and repentance (changing) are two different things.  Repentance is not just something you say, repentance is something you do.  Repentance is something that is shown in one’s life.  (Acts 26:20) “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”  Repentance is not just being sorry.  Notice what the inspired Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth along this line: (II Corinthians 7:9-10) “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

      (II Corinthians 5:11) “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…”  While one cannot give their faith and obedience to another, one can give the Gospel to another.  It is the word of God that is able to save the lost (Romans 1:16 and James 1:21).  It is the word of God that produces faith in the heart of the hearer (Romans 10:17 and Matthew 13:1ff.).  If you really want someone to be saved - teach them the truth.

     (John 8:32) “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  To free someone from the bondage of sin we must have faith in the power of the word of God.  Our faith in the powerful word of God (Hebrews 4:12) will cause us to teach others that they too might be saved.  In this way our faith does have a saving impact on others.  However, if they neglect to hear and obey our faith will do nothing further to benefit them.  If that person does listen and obey their faith will save them.  Faith is powerful.  It causes men to fully trust in the Lord and do all manners of good works (Hebrews ch. 11 and James 2:14-26).  So, if you want your faith to have an impact on another you must allow your faith in the word of God show by teaching that person.

     You cannot believe for someone else.  You cannot repent of someone else’s sins.  You cannot confess for someone else.  You cannot be baptized for someone else.  However, you can teach someone else.  In the Judgment Day the Lord will not call forth the strongest of believers and ask for their lists of people they want to share their faithfulness with.  What the Lord will do, as shown in this article, is call upon you to answer for yourself and all others for themselves.  Those who have chosen not to obey the Lord will find themselves punished for an eternity (Matthew 25:31-46).

     In the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31), the Rich Man found himself in torment wishing that he could warn others not to come there.  Notice the words that are written concerning this account: (Luke 16:27-31) “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”  Abraham pointed out to the Rich Man that each one must hear what God has said and change.  The Rich Man could do nothing to further assist his family in repenting.  This is a point we must all accept.

     Every Christian has someone they love that is lost.  We want to help and if we could share our faith that would be great.  But, we cannot.  We can’t send someone from the dead to scare our loved ones into repenting.  We cannot do anything above trying to save them through teaching them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for all men (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-9).  I tell you that no man has the love for the souls of men as does our Lord.  However, even He will not extend forgiveness to those who obey not (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).  There will even be those people who stand before Him having done “good things” and because they were not obedient He will deny them (Matthew 7:21-23).  Each person is accountable for themselves.  You are going to answer for what you have done.  Prepare yourself, and hope that your faith is evident in your life enough to affect others and cause them to desire obeying the Gospel.