Salvation by faith only Christians: What about James 2:14?

Answer 1

Not a "salvation by faith only" Christian.

For me, one has to follow the teachings of Jesus, His example - it takes care of itself.

It is when one takes the whole gospel into account and not just pick out certain verses that one is going to get the whole picture as set out by God.

Scripture shows that works perfects faith:

Jam 2:22 Do you see that his faith was working together with his works, and by means of the works his faith was perfected?

&

Jam 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also one's faith without such works is dead.

Why some seem to have a problem with works as part of the life of a believer - - I just don't understand. To not have works makes - - the only thing that I can think of would be a 'bench warmer' (not anywhere close to what Jesus taught that a believer should be).

Answer 2

Faith is intengible and only known through the works.
Besides making us loving and merciful, faith produces other fine works. (James 2:14-26) Of course, professed faith that lacks works is not going to save us. True, we cannot earn a righteous standing with God by works of the Law. (Romans 4:2-5) James is talking about works motivated, not by a law code, but by faith and love. If we are moved by such qualities, we will not merely express kind wishes for a needy fellow worshiper. We will give material aid to an unclad or hungry brother or sister. James asks: ‘If you tell a needy brother: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed” but do not provide the necessities, of what benefit is that?’ None. (Job 31:16-22) Such “faith” is lifeless

Answer 3

Faith comes first, through Jesus Christ- salvation is through Christ alone- however once saved we must be about the work that God has planned before the beginning of time for us to do. Faith that has no works or deeds is a dead faith- but works without faith leads to death. Does that help?

Answer 4

Salvation is by faith, but what James is addressing here is those that, as you rightly saw, think it stops there. You have a duty once you become saved. Deeds do not save you, but a Christian can be seen by their deeds or as James puts it:

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Answer 5

Thge kind of faith that saves, produces works. That is the very point James is making: "I will show you my faith by my works".
A faith without works is not faith. Real faith alone is sufficient for salvation, but if that faith doesn't produce deeds, it is not real faith. (Am I being long-winded again?)

Answer 6

Read the whole thing in context.
Basically, what the meaning is, is that if someone claims to have faith, but there are no works, it's a dead faith. It isn't real.
Real faith, a living faith, this will result in works...good works.

I have two apple trees in my yard, one dead, the other alive.
One bears fruit, the other CAN'T.

See the difference? If one is IN Christ, you cannot help BUT bear fruit, which are the good works.

While we are NOT saved by good works, we certainly won't be saved WITHOUT them.

Answer 7

Heavenly Father wants all of His children to return to Him. The help or strength He gives us through the love of Jesus Christ is called grace. The things we must do are called works.

To gain eternal life, we need both grace and works. A Christian author, C. S. Lewis, compared grace and works to the blades of a pair of scissors. Both are necessary. To ask “Are you saved by grace or works?” is like asking “Do you cut with this blade or that one?”

We receive God’s grace because of the Atonement. We can’t raise ourselves from the dead, so the Resurrection is an example of His grace. We can’t purify ourselves from sin, so the Lord’s forgiveness is another example of grace. But before He will forgive us, we must repent—that’s our part, our works.

Besides repentance, our works also include receiving ordinances, keeping covenants, and serving others. While these works are necessary for salvation, they aren’t sufficient. They are not enough because we can’t live perfect lives, but we can do our best to live righteously. By doing so, we invite the Lord’s grace into our lives and qualify for the gift of salvation.

If your friends ask, “Does your church believe you are saved by grace or works?” you could say, “We believe that we are saved by grace after all we can do (see 2 Ne. 25:23). We don’t earn salvation. Heavenly Father and the Savior will bless us with eternal life, through Their grace, if we do our part. They have asked us to have faith in Jesus Christ, repent throughout our lives, be baptized and receive other ordinances, and faithfully endure to the end. If we do that, we are promised eternal life through the grace of God.”

“After all our obedience and good works, we cannot be saved from the effect of our sins without the grace extended by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
—Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “What Think Ye of Christ?” Ensign, Nov. 1988, 67.

Answer 8

Salvation is by the grace of God and through faith..lest any man should boast..that it was their "works" or "deeds" that saved them!
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.Ephesians 2:8-9
However, that does not mean we should not do good, we show that we have faith by the things we do.

Answer 9

Faith only will not save anyone. There are 5 steps to salvation Hear, Believe, repent, confess Jesus before men, and be baptized for the remission of sins. After that remain faithful to God. No one action alone will save anyone. You must complete all 5.

Answer 10

After faith, works will follow. If you claim to have faith, but you are not doing good deeds, then your a liar.