This is perhaps the most important question in all of Christian theology. This question is the cause of the Reformation, the split between the Protestant churches and Catholic Church. This question is a key difference between biblical Christianity and most of the “Christian” cults. Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Am I saved just by believing in Jesus, or do I have to believe in Jesus and do certain things?The question of faith alone or faith plus works is made difficult by some hard-to-reconcile Bible passages. Compare Romans 3:28, 5:1 and Galatians 3:24 with James 2:24. Some see a difference between Paul (salvation is by faith alone) and James (salvation is by faith plus works). Paul dogmatically says that justification is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), while James appears to be saying that justification is by faith plus works. This apparent problem is answered by examining what exactly James is talking about.
James is refuting the belief that a person can have faith without producing any good works (James 2:17-18). James is emphasizing the point that genuine faith in Christ will produce a changed life and good works (James 2:20-26). James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but rather that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in his/her life. If a person claims to be a believer, but has no good works in his/her life, then he/she likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).Paul says the same thing in his writings. The good fruit believers should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Immediately after telling us that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), Paul informs us that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Paul expects just as much of a changed life as James does: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). James and Paul do not disagree in their teaching regarding salvation.
They approach the same subject from different perspectives. Paul simply emphasized that justification is by faith alone while James put emphasis on the fact that genuine faith in Christ produces good works.
Recommended Resource: Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification by R.C. Sproul.From:
www.gotquestions.org
Quasar92
This is a very popular subject matter, and I would like to share some information about it. Please allow me to do so in the light of the scriptures.....
First and foremost, it is true that faith is essential for salvation, for without faith, we can never be saved. However, faith alone is not enough, neither does works alone. They have to come together, or be combined to each other, in order for salvation to happen. Therefore, we cannot claim that faith alone could save us, nor can we claim that our works could save us. It is the combination of the two that will enable us to receive God's approval and eventually, lead to our salvation. But how do we know?
SCRIPTURAL PROOFS
1. James 2:26--"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Comment: For our faith to be alive, it should be coupled with works. Without works, our faith will be considered dead.
2. Matthew 7:21--"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Comment: Those who call upon the Lord, no doubt, have genuine faith or belief, or else, why would they call the Lord in the first place? However, their strong faith was not enough to allow them to enter God's kingdom. Why not? Because something was missing. What was missing? Works! But what kind of works? Well, it should be the right kind of works, not the kind of works that they did when they prophesied in Jesus' name and when they performed powerful works in Jesus' name.
Jesus clarified the kind of works necessary to enter God's kingdom. He said: "...but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Yes, only those doing the will of the Father will enter the kingdom! So, if you do the Father's will, you will enter the kingdom....If you don't do the Father's will, then you will not enter the kingdom....It's that simple!
Therefore, the real formula for salvation is genuine faith (true belief in God and Christ) + works (doing the Father's will) = salvation (entrance into God's kingdom).
Want more proof? Consider Judas Iscariot. He surely had genuine faith when he was chosen by Jesus Christ to be one of the 12 apostles. We all know that God and Christ both have the ability to read people's hearts, and no doubt, they saw genuine faith in Judas' heart. In fact the Bible called him a disciple (Luke 6:13), even before he was chosen to be an apostle. Do you know what the term "disciple" means? Many dictionaries define this term as "student", "follower", and "adherent" ("adherent", which means a "believer" or a "true believer"). Note the account on Luke 6:12-16:
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Therefore, if it is true that a person with genuine faith alone will be saved, why not Judas? If it is true that a person with genuine faith will definitely manifest works that will justify his faith, why not Judas? The answer? Well, let us go back to our real formula for salvation....Judas Iscariot got disqualified to enter God's kingdom because he had #1 but failed to do #2. Yes, works, the right kind, is a necessary ingredient to add to our faith in order to gain salvation!
Genuine faith (true belief in God and Christ) + Works (doing the Father's will) = Salvation (entrance into God's kingdom)