Are you saved by faith or by faith and works?

Question

Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith...not of works.
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Answer 1

We are saved by faith alone, it is a free gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast about how good he is and is deserving of forgiveness and salvation because of his works.
On the other hand, if a person is truly saved, they will do good works. A good tree will bear good fruit. A genuine Christian will bear good fruit--do good works. "You will know them by their fruit." Good works is evidence of our faith.

Answer 2

Really good question- one that has divided Christians at times, so I'm glad you asked it. I'll try and answer it the best I can. Works will get you nowhere with God, no amount of helping elderly ladies across the street or cleaning up ditches or opening up doors for people will ever get you saved. People are saved by faith, not works. However, Once you are saved, it is proved by the life that you live- the works are the outward expression of the inward commitment that you have made to Christ.

Answer 3

Boy,that's a worn one.
Faith + 0 = Salvation. That's your good tree Jesus speaks about. What do we get from a good tree? Fruit! Works is the fruit off the faith tree.
We do good works because we are saved ,not to get saved.
What James is saying (and he was a stuffy old guy) is that if you have faith works will accompany your faith.
In other words .I'll know it is a good tree if I see good fruit.
Remember in Ephesians ,the rest of that says "It is a gift of God,least anyman boast".
Well,you can't work for a gift otherwise ,it is wages.

Answer 4

works are the evidence of faith. the acting out of faith. Works alone do not save you. Grace saves you. But faith without works is dead. v24 that you list says justified, not saved. They are 2 different things.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

Answer 5

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Titus 3:5 -- "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."

In the verse in James you are referring to - James is dealing with people who profess to be Christians, and yet they don't evidence the reality of their faith by their works [deeds]. Over, and over again... people will say they have faith and they don't have works, and James is saying that real faith always produces works as a result... The question is, 'A man may say that he has faith, but will that faith justify him?' If it is just a 'said' faith”—no, it won't!”

Answer 6

We are saved by faith alone. That being said, if one is saved, their works will show it. The way I understand James 2:24, is actions speak louder than words. If you are saying you have faith, you should be behaving in a manner becoming of one who has faith, and if you are not, than people will question if your faith is real.

Answer 7

We are saved by Grace through Faith alone.

Works are evidence and a natural progression of faith.

Answer 8

Good verse. U need both...Your saved by faith but you are but judge by works (James 2:10)

Answer 9

We are saved by faith, & then works will follow, If a man says he has faith & have no works, then his faith becomes void, Just for example the bible says forsake not to assemble thyself together----------- Assembly together is a work, Water baptism is a work, Why should I be baptized if I have not repented, & if I have repented Then what hinders me to be baptized.

Answer 10

It is two different things. We all have the opportunity of being saved. We must accept Jesus Christ to be saved. To accept Jesus means to follow His commandments. These are the works referred to. You can't just say I accept Him, and then continue your life in sin. You must change your ways and follow His commandments. We are judged by our works. But with our works alone, had Jesus not atoned for our sins, we would not be able to be saved. See how it is our choice? We must act, not just talk the talk.