Christians - is good works evidence that we are saved?

Question

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7 15-20

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my[e] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! James 2: 14-19

Just so you know I believe we are saved by faith alone. Our salvation is a gift of God. We are called to be holy. I believe good works are some of the proof one has that a good work has been started by Jesus.

Answer 1

Good works are the result of salvation; not a cause of salvation. Regeneration precedes good works.

Though we are not saved by our good deeds, nevertheless, our good works are the evidence that we are saved as Holy Spirit, indwelling in us, enables us to obey God.

Jesus said, if you love me you will keep my commandments.

Paul says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, …For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Answer 2

Paul dogmatically says that justification is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) while James appears to be saying that justification is by faith plus works. This apparent problem is answered by examining what exactly James is talking about. James is refuting the belief that a person can have faith without producing any good works (James 2:17-18). James is emphasizing the point that genuine faith in Christ will produce a changed life and good works (James 2:20-26). James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but rather that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in his life. If a person claims to be a believer, but has no good works in his life – then he likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Paul says the same thing in his writings. The good fruit believers should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Immediately after telling us that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), Paul informs us that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Paul expects just as much of a changed life as James does, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17)! James and Paul do not disagree on their teaching on salvation. They approach the same subject from different perspectives. Paul simply emphasized that justification is by faith alone while James put emphasis on the fact that faith in Christ produces good works.

Recommended Resource: Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification by R.C. Sproul.

Answer 3

If we love God and we have faith , we will have good works. Absolutely. He says faith without works is nothing. so if one doesnt have good works, they arent really Gods and will not be saved. God says we must love Him, and He says If you love me, Follow My commands. Obey me. so there is no way to keep your salvation withouut good works, but the good works is not what saves you. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can save you, heal you and deliver you.
But, even so, with saying all of that. Only God knows the heart. And many may do so many wonderful works, trying to work their way to Heaven or to impress God or others. We cant convince God we are good enough for Him, we have all fallen short of the Glory of God. WE cant always KNOW the motives of someone else, but God always knows. So someone could be so nice and doing all they can to serve God, for all the wrong reasons and not be saved at all.
Great question.

Answer 4

No, we can only truly be saved at the end not beforehand, we can be marked for salvation by our obedience to God's Word, but the real salvation is not yet here, good works are a part of showing obedience to God's word, but evidence of having God's holy spirit would be the fruitage of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering,, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness,and self-control, if these things are not present in us then we do not have the holy spirit.

Answer 5

Well false prophets may claim to be Christian, but they deny the power of the cross...

I believe that true Christians have the love of God in their heart because they have had a heart change when born of His Spirit. This is the spiritual rebirth and this seal is the evidence that we are saved.

Good workds will follow the spiritual rebirth. But, others may falsely accuse you of being the same old sinful person, but you know that you are a new person in Christ Jesus.

Answer 6

Yes.
Good works is one of the outward signs that we are 'saved'... Especially as it concerns "Fruit of the Spirit" (like you mentioned)

*Good works are useless unless they're prompted by faith though...* (There are lots of people in this world who are good moral people, who do good works ---- but that doesn't nessesarily mean that they're saved...It may just mean that they like it when people respect them, and esteem them as role-models of society. In other words, wrong motive behind it.)

...Just like faith without deeds is useless.

They go hand in hand.


Comment to Bryan: You are not following the same Bible, if you think for one second that being 'saved' is not biblical...
Read Romans 10:10...It outlines the two parts nessesary in order to be saved...

Believing in your heart (faith) + Confessing with your mouth (i.e. acknowledging your need of a Savior; and admitting you're a sinner) = Salvation.

Answer 7

Yes, if we do a good work (or many) it is AN evidence that we are saved.

Still, everyone comes along in their respective walks with God at a different pace than their peers. We must be careful not to condemn. There are many, many Christians who are struggling in their walks with God (we've all been there) and their works are not yet readily apparent....perhaps even non-existent at that time. But God knows our hearts and He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. And thank goodness!!! If my salvation were dependent only upon my ability to bring forth good works...I'd be in deep trouble.

We don't do good works to obtain our salvation. Our good works are an outflowing of the ultimate good work that God is doing in us (if we allow Him to do it). They are a response to Grace...not a requirement to receive Grace.

Very good question. Thanks!!

Answer 8

The Bible says: Faith without works is dead.
However, it is by grace we are SAVED through faith, not of works lest any man should boast.
Yes, the works are the fruit of our salvation, not the source.

Answer 9

Only good deeds won't get nobody in heaven , you have to have faith in the Living God, our Lord Jesus.Besides that we have to act on our faith.
People can do good works and the outcome can be bad, if it wasn't the will of God , we have to be led by the Spirit at all times .

Answer 10

The answer is yes; however, what does it mean to be, "saved?"

By Adam and Eve, everyone became subject to both physical and spiritual death.

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone will be resurrected, thus overcoming physical death through no action on our part.

In addition, through the Atonement everyone can be saved from spiritual death (brought back into the presence of God) by faith in Jesus Christ sufficient to cause obedience to His teachings.

The purpose of earth life wasn't to just bring everyone back into God's presence -- there were simpler ways to do this. The purpose of earth life is to help us develop a better understanding of the principles of happiness, or in other words, to help us understand the difference between right and wrong.