Is there more to salvation by grace alone?

Hello all. Praise the Lord.


Well, I was reading the book of James yesterday, just to get some more knowledge on what to do, and 2:26 said "So also, faith without works is dead"


But, this is what caught my eye, also. I have the NIV Bible, and I was reading the foot note. It said:

"Understanding, like faith, is shown by how one lives. Specifically, understanding is demonstrated by a good life and good deeds. This is what Jesus taught (see Matthew 7:15-23)." (Italics made by NIV Bible comitee)


James also gave examples of how Abraham was saved, James said:


"Was not Abraham considered rightous for what he did when he offered up his son, Issac for a sacrifice?"-James 2:21

"You believe there is one God-Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder."-James 2:19

So, here's a good explanation.

Mean people who have faith simply isn't going to Heaven. Remember what Jesus is going to say to the sheep:

"You have fed me when I was hungry, clothed me when I was naked, visited me when I was in prison, and gave me something to drink when I was thirsty."

James, also, said something about this. Here it is:

James 1:27: "Religon that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being poluted by the world"

James is saying that you can't engage in evil activities that Jesus condemed on his Sermon on the Mountain. He also is saying that a true Christian will be full of love.

So, faith without works is dead. But, by works, James means your personality, how you treat others, who was created in God's image. How one lives, how you treat others.


The reasoning out of this, is here. This is what James was trying to tell us before others twisted it so they wouldn't have to be nice. James was trying to say this:

Faith matters 50% in your salvation. But what also matters is how you treat others and also how you obey what Jesus said. That's another 50% of your salvation. True salvation come from Faith and works.

James wasn't saying that if we fall short of God's standard, we won't have salvation. He knows that himself and us have fallen short. What he's saying is that if you just don't try to live up to God's standard, being mean to others and paying no mind to what Jesus said, then that's not true Faith, that's dead Faith.

rogsr said:

I don't think there is a 50/50 ratio that God uses to judge whether or not we are saved. Paul said we are saved by faith, true. James said faith without works is dead, also true. By faith we are saved, but what do we with the rest of our lives? The answer is works. If someone is saved a seed is planted, but if they do nothing to cultivate it then the seed whithers away and dies. Many people come to faith and then fall out of it just as easily. They are who Jesus was talking about in the parable of the Planter and the Seed. Some Seeds fell among the thorns, and when the seeds grew they were choked out by the thorns.

We are saved by faith, and we are servants of God by our works.

It is possible to have faith with no works, but under most circumstances those people are called luke warm, a topic which Jesus also covered. It is not God's intention to just give us a seed, but also to have that seed grow into a huge mustard plant which gives shelter to creatures around us. What is the point of having a seed if you do not grow it into a plant or flower? It is works which help it to grow, therefore faith without works is dead.

Answer your question?

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Thank you. You've answered it.

That 50% thing I was just using to make my point clearer. but you cleared it up.

People can have faith without works, but what James was saying is this:

People will loose faith if they don't preach or obey God's law.

But I'm still going to try my best to obey God's laws, though.


May Christ bless you.

Thanks for everyone's help! I was confused, but now I get it. Thanks!