Yes, Belief Alone-ism is false; James says that we are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24). James says faith without works is dead (James 2:17). James says that he will show you his faith by his works (James 2:18). James says even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). But surely it is more than just doing works. We learn in Matthew 7:23 that those who did wonderful works were told to depart from Jesus. Why? Because Jesus said that they worked iniquity and or lawlessness. Hebrews 12:14 says that without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
Now, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:3-5, Romans 11:6, Galatians 3:10, and Titus 3:5 are often quoted to promote that we are saved solely by God's grace through faith alone and not by any works of any kind whatsoever. I believe these verses are talking about we are "Initially Saved" or "Ultimately Saved" by God's grace.
This is a process of salvation that is not without works because it is based upon God's grace.
We are first
initially saved by God's grace and mercy through faith by:
(a) Believing the gospel (i.e. believing that Christ died for our sins, and he was buried, and was risen three days later on our behalf for salvation - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4),
(b) Seeking forgiveness with the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 18:9-14) (Romans 10:13),
(c) Accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior (Matthew 11:28-29) (John 15:7).
We also are ultimately saved by God's grace in the fact that if we happen to unintentionally sin on rare occasion in our holy walk with God, we can confess and forsake such sins to be forgiven of them (Instead of doing a good work alone to be forgiven). See: 1 John 1:9, Psalms 51, Luke 18:9-14, and Proverbs 28:13.
Jesus warned us of sin and how it can destroy our souls (Matthew 5:28-30) (Matthew 6:15) (Matthew 12:37) (Matthew 25:31-46) (Luke 9:62). Even after the cross: His followers warned us about how sin can destroy our souls (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) (Galatians 5:19-21) (1 John 3:15) (Revelation 21:8).
After we are saved by God's grace, we also need to enter the next step or stage of the salvation process called the Sanctification Process so as to be saved, as well.
- We are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).
- Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
- A person can deny God by a lack of works (Titus 1:16).
- Jesus agreed with the lawyer that to love God, and to love your neighbor is a part of inheriting eternal life (Luke 10:25-28).
- Those who have done good, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, shall come forth unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:29).
- We have to continue in His goodness, otherwise we can be cut off [just like the Jews were cut off] (Romans 11:21-22).
- Helping the poor, and the unfortunate relates to inheriting the Kingdom (Matthew 25:34-40), and not helping the poor, and the unfortunate relates to going away into everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:41-46).
- Whoever does not righteousness or does not love his brother is not of God (1 John 3:10).
- Whoever does what Jesus says is likened unto a wise man who built his house upon the rock, and when a storm came, it did not fall, (Matthew 7:24-25), but the person who does not do what Jesus says is likened unto a fool who built his house upon the sand, and when a storm came, great was the fall of that house (Matthew 7:26-27).
- Abiding in Jesus will bear much fruit, but if a person does not abide in Jesus [thereby being unfruitful], they are cast out [or cut off] like a branch to be burned in the fire (John 15:5-6).
- If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing (1 Peter 4:18-19).
- Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) (NKJV).
Most people think of salvation as being overly simplistic. They read Paul and conclude the wrong thing. Paul was trying to refute "
Works ALONE Salvationism" via by going back to the "
613 Laws of the Law of Moses." Paul was dealing with the problem of "Circumcision Salvationism." This was the false belief that said that you had to be first circumcised in order to be saved (Note: This heresy is described for us in detail at the Jerusalem Council; See: Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, and Acts of the Apostles 15:24). Paul even said that if the Galatian believers sought to be circumcised, Christ would profit them nothing (Galatians 5:2). This was because they were being deceived by Jews to think they had to be circumcised in order to be initially saved instead of having faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Paul was not against living holy as a part of the salvation process after a person was first saved by God's grace; For Paul also said that there are those who have denied God by a lack of works in Titus 1:16. Paul also said that if any man does not agree with the words of Jesus Christ, and the doctrine according to godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James 4:6 says that God resists the proud, and he gives grace to the humble.
We are saved both in Justification (God's grace through faith), and then afterwards we are saved by entering into the Sanctification Process (Living holy by the power of God).
Here are three verses that say we are saved by both.
#1. John chapter 5, verse 24.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).
The word "hears" is another way of saying, "obeys."
The expanded Bible makes this more clear.
"I tell you the truth
[Truly, truly I say to you], whoever
hears [obeys] what I say
[my word/message] and
believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty
[come into judgment/condemnation] but has already left death and entered life
[ passed from death into life]." (John 5:24) (EXB).
In other words, this above verse says that whoever OBEYS what Jesus says, and BELIEVES in Him has eternal life.
#2. 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13.
"...God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth"
(2 Thessalonians 2:13).
This is saying that God has chosen us to salvation by two things:
(1) Belief of the Truth (i.e. Jesus is the Truth - Jhn 14:6).
(2) Sanctification of the Spirit (of which we see the eradication of sin out of our life by the Spirit mentioned in Rms 8:13; For everyone should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor - 1 Thess. 4:4).
So this above verse is saying you need a belief in Jesus, and the Sanctification of the Spirit (to live holy) as a part of salvation. Note: Look at the surrounding immediate context (before and after) for 2 Thessalonians 2:13; For it does refer to works.
#3. James chapter 2, verse 24.
"You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).
Obviously you believe we are justified by faith as a part of salvation. But what is interesting is that the word "justified" is used once in both faith and works. This verse above here says we are justified (declared just, i.e. saved) by works and by faith. For faith without works is dead (James 2:17). A dead faith cannot save anyone. Good works is one aspect of the Sanctification Process. Living holy is the ultimate focus of Sanctification. For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (See: Hebrews 12:14).
Not all sin is the same. There is a sin that does not lead unto death (1 John 5:16-17). Paul was not condemned by God for refusing to listen to the Spirit in going to Jerusalem. Baptism is not a command that if disobeyed leads to spiritual death (1 John 3:15). This is not to say that we should not obey God even in the most minor of things. The point here is that God will not condemn us for something that is not specifically made clear within His Word. However, there are grievous sins that can cause a loss of salvation unless we confess and forsake such sins. These sins would be sins that the Bible does clearly condemn like murder, theft, hate, adultery, not loving your brother, etc.
This is why we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
