Why do fundamentalists say that we are justified by faith alone ? Can you have faith without works ?

Question

I am referring especially to James 2:14 (KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Also Mt 7:24, Lk 10:25, Mt 25:14, Mt 25:31, Mt 7:21

Answer 1

Most so-called "born-again" Christians embrace this belief because it makes life so easy. They believe they don't have to DO anything to get to heaven--simply confess with your lips that Jesus Christ is their savior and BINGO they are saved. They always boldly proclaim that this is Biblical doctrine.

Ironically this is not even close to Biblical doctrine. No where in the scriptures does it say or imply that faithful works are unnecessary. This all stems from a misinterpretation of what the "works" are that Paul was referring to. In the days of Paul many saints (followers of Christ) were still embracing the Law of Moses, unaware that it had been done away with in the atonement of Christ. Paul was constantly struggling to teach them that the "works" of the Law of Moses could not save them--which is true. Today's apostate so-called Christians incorrectly think he was referring to ordinary good works. He was not.

The Bible is repleat with counsel concerning the eternal necessity to perform good works.

1. Jesus taught that not everyone that saith "Lord, Lord" would enter into the kingdom of His father, he that DOETH the will of the Father.
2. Jesus taught that we are to judge people by their fruits (works) not by simply what they said.
3. Jesus taught to follow His example. What did He do? Spent his life helping others through his good works.
4. James taught that faith without works is dead.
5. John in the Book of Revelation taught that at the great and last day we will all be judged by OUR WORKS out of the Book of Life.


Of course the so-called Born Again followers ignore these Biblical passages because they are hard to follow. It is EASY to say, "Oh Lord, I believe. Now save me." However true religion, revealed from God through living prophets does not agree with the false and devilish doctrines so commonly taught by uninspired leaders of apostate Christendom today.


Good point to make.

Answer 2

We are justified by faith. You answered your own question with the verses you picked. Faith without works is dead; in other words, if the works are not there, neither is the faith. If a person has faith in Jesus Christ, the good works you are asking about will show up. People who have trusted Jesus, because of the faith they have and the actions of the Holy Spirit within them do good works. The fruit of the tree is evidence of whether the tree is good or bad.

Answer 3

The answer to your question is the rest of James 2:14

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works.

We may be justified by faith, but our faith is seen in our actions. Abraham did works because he had faith. If you do not do good works then you do not have faith. Jesus said, "If you love me keep my commandments." Those 2 commandments are love the Lord you God with all your heart and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you are not doing these 2 things, then your actions show that you are not His.

Answer 4

Here is the thing a man is not justified or reconciled by what they do. They are reconciled through faith as was Abraham, that has always been true.
The point that James is making is that if you have faith, or think you are justified and you do not do good works check again cuz when you become filled you want to do good. If you want to you will, and if you do not then try again.

Answer 5

...We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone.
...Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
...Romans 5:1 - Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
...Real faith is not alone - the works are a natural result of true salvation. The works we do point to the fact we have been saved.
...Romans 3:28 - We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.
...Make no mistake, God saves us to do good works and to live holy lives that honor Him. If we don't, He will punish us, and if we refuse to repent, He may take us home early.
...Regarding our works - Isaiah 64:6 says - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
...Jesus did all that God required for our salvation. When He said "It is finished" He meant just that - that was a common marketplace term that meant "paid in full" and "the debt is paid".
Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe.
...To try and add anything to Christ's finished work on the cross is incorrect and I believe a tremedous insult to God.
...John 6:29 says, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent."

Answer 6

It's called 'cherry-picking'. For every verse one finds in support for being a doer of the word, other verses are used to justify 'faith' alone.

Funny, not a single person in the bible had this 'blind faith' las they all got to see, touch, witness miracles, and have audible conversations with god. Or was that Zeus or Ahmad Mazda or Aman-Ra? Or were the miracles that of Mithras and not Jesus? Or Dionysus and not Jesus? So many God's and man-god saviors to choose from.... ;-)

Answer 7

Obviously, any "works" in the name of God that were not based in faith would nothing but blasphmeous.
why would any one who does not believe the word spread it.

But faith alone is all that God requires for salvation.

Jesus said-"those that believe in me shall find peace"

Answer 8

Works is not about doing good things only, it's about the works you do concerning yourself, Such as quit drinking, smoking, keeping your temper, not telling lies, and showing kindness when you would otherwise show resentment. It's the work you do to get your ways of living in line with what Christ would want you to do.

Answer 9

Because works dont provide justification. If they did, then Christianity would be a works\righteousness system where you earn your way to Heaven.

God doesnt REQUIRE good works of us to get to Heaven, he EXPECTS them based on the grace and gifts hes given us already!

Answer 10

Martin Luther summed it up with, "good trees bear good fruit." This means, after one is infused with grace from god, then the person does good works. (Traditionally in Christianity, only God can decide who is justified, not people!)