Salvation: Faith and Works

One of the most hotly debated topics within the church is whether our salvation is a matter of faith, works, or both. Faith is simply trust in Jesus; that is that He is who He says He is and has done what He says He has done. Works are any deeds we perform which range from baptism, tithing, and giving to the poor to following the rules we have been given in the bible.

One side of the faith versus works debate says that we need only faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, in order to obtain salvation. Another side of the debate is that we must do good deeds in order to obtain salvation. In talking to Catholics, I've found that some claim faith to be a work, thus works alone save a person. Others claim that faith is the first step, but works are required in addition to it in order to save a person. I will make this simple by discussing one thing. Are works required for salvation?

Before going further, it is important to note that the two sides of the debate are not specifically a Catholic and Protestant debate. Often, it is a debate that crosses denominational boundaries and is found in every church. Have you ever told someone that they can't make it to Heaven without being baptized? Has someone told you that you must speak in tongues to be saved, or that if your bad deeds outweigh your good deeds that you will not get into heaven? Chances are, you have already been involved in the debate. Let us look to the authority of the bible to resolve the debate.

Those who believe that works are required for salvation often quote out of James 2 :

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ( James 2:14-17 )

At first glance, it appears that the bible is telling us that we are saved by faith and works. It has been my observation, however, that salvation is typically presented in one of two ways in the scriptures. First, it is presented as fact. Second, it is presented in they eyes of the observer. We cannot see salvation, but we can see signs of it. Upon further observation of James, this appears to be the latter context. James is trying to explain the importance of good works, not establish it as a requirement to salvation.

James 2:18 goes on to say, "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." (Emphasis added) I believe James is trying to explain that we cannot see the faith of those around us except as it is demonstrated through their works. What good is a person's faith to those around them if it is not demonstrated in a tangible way?

Galatians 2:16 tells us, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Works has no saving power. In fact, James 2:10 tells us, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."

Ephesians 7:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This makes it quite clear that our salvation is through our faith by the grace of God, given to us as a gift. One of the reasons it is this way is because we tend to be boastful people. Imagine how arrogant and prideful we might become if we came to believe that our own works got us in to heaven!

Turning back to James 2, we can see the bigger picture:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ( James 2:21-24 )

James is using Abraham as an example on how faith and works compliment each other. Had Abraham refused to follow God's orders to sacrifice his son, it would have been a demonstration of his lack of faith. Because of Abraham's faith in God, he did the good works of following God's commands to any cost. This is a natural response of faith.

When a person is infected with a virus, they may have a fever. The virus is the cause of the fever. Treating the fever makes a person appear to not be infected, but it does not cure the virus. Our faith in Christ causes “symptoms” in our lives. We go to church, we act differently, and we do our best at following God's commandments. Just as the fever is not the cause of the virus, our good works are not the cause for our salvation. Our salvation is the cause of our good works.

Perhaps the clearest sign that faith in Christ is the only path for our salvation is in the dialog Jesus had with the thief on the cross:

Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." ( Luke 23:42-43 )

The thief died there on the cross with Jesus. He had no chance to learn about the nature of God or His commandments for our lives. He was not baptized. He never spoke in tongues or tithed to the temple or church. Despite all of this, Jesus still promised this man, a thief, Paradise. The thief had faith in Jesus, as demonstrated by his request that Jesus remember him.

Those on the side of the "Faith plus Works" argument might shout, "Aha! The thief's statement was his works." They would be right, but his statement allowed us to see His faith. God knows our heart with or without works. The works we do are far short of the requirements of God, and are for our own benefit. Yet another gift from our Lord.

Rather than debating the exact point in time one is saved, we are far more productive making sure we are not the thief on the cross. That man could have dedicated his life to the Lord and experienced His many blessings. Instead, he suffered a death on the cross opposite to that of Jesus. His death was shameful and deserved. He is now in Paradise, but he passed up his only chance to serve God here on this earth.

Let us not worry ourselves about performing the right works to ensure our salvation. Our salvation is ensured in Jesus Christ. Instead, let us take our faith to it's natural course. Let us do the works we are driven to do by the Holy Spirit, not as a requirement for salvation, but as a demonstration of our love for God and for one another.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ( John 13:34-35 )