Is a gospel that requires good works a false gospel?

Question

Did Jesus teach faith alone? Or are good works also expected of Christians?

I seem to be getting a party line about faith alone. But can you point out any place where Jesus says we are saved by faith ALONE?

Jesus also said we are saved by baptism (Mark 16:16; John 3:5), self-renunciation (e.g., Matt 5:3, 10), repentence (Matt 3:2; 4:17; 18:8-9; Mark 9:42-48), obedience to God, doing what is right and just (e.g., Luke 10:25-28; John 12:50), adopting the humility of a child (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14), eating the bread of life (John 6:51, 53-54), and endurance to the end (Matt 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-18).

Answer 1

First, show me where in the Catechism, the official teaching of the Catholic Church, does it teach that we can “work” our way into Heaven? They can’t, because it doesn’t. The Catholic Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught a doctrine of salvation by works...that we can “work” our way into Heaven.

Second, I ask them to show me where in the Bible does it teach that we are saved by “faith alone.” They can’t, because it doesn’t. The only place in all of Scripture where the phrase “Faith Alone” appears, is in James...James 2:24, where it says that we are not...not...justified (or saved) by faith alone.

So, one of the two main pillars of Protestantism...the doctrine of salvation by faith alone...not only doesn’t appear in the Bible, but the Bible actually says the exact opposite - that we are not saved by faith alone

Third, I ask them that if works have nothing to do with our salvation...then how come every passage in the N.T. that I know of that talks about judgment says we will be judged by our works, not by whether or not we have faith alone? We see this in Rom 2, Matthew 15 and 16, 1 Ptr 1, Rev 20 and 22, 2 Cor 5, and many, many more verses.

Fourth, I ask them that if we are saved by faith alone, why does 1 Cor 13:13 say that love is greater than faith? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

As Catholics we believe that we are saved by God’s grace alone. We can do nothing, apart from God’s grace, to receive the free gift of salvation. We also believe, however, that we have to respond to God’s grace. Protestants believe that, too. However, many Protestants believe that the only response necessary is an act of faith; whereas, Catholics believe a response of faith and works is necessary...or, as the Bible puts it in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumsion is of any avail, but faith working through love...faith working through love...just as the Church teaches.

God Bless
Robin

Answer 2

Mini-Sermon on Faith and Works:
by Skip

As soon as you look even a little at what faith means you come to "works" and the "fruits of the gospel". The Pharisees and religious leaders that crucified Jesus had "faith" but it was not the right "faith". Faith is a living thing and faith without works is dying if not already dead. Faith with works is living, growing and is Christ in us.

The last part of the verse reminding us that we are "saved by faith not works least we not boast" is the important part. Any work that fosters spiritual pride is dangerous. As soon as people start looking at what THEY did and what good things THEY accomplished then they miss the mark. The irony is that most of the strong "saved by faith alone" camp are so wrapped up in what THEY believe and THEIR faith and how they faithfully follow THEIR way, leaders, interpretation, etc. that they become more filled with spiritual pride than the schmuck that is trying to work his way into heaven. Most people that are trying to work their way into heaven are faced with such constant failure that they are constantly reminded of their need for God--not so for those that think that THEY are saved by THEIR faith alone.

If you are going to take the "faith without works" approach you had better remind yourself everyday that it is a faith given to you by God and then usually with the help of a person and frequently many people!!

Answer 3

Has anyone ever asked you if you are "saved"? Some people promote a very attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as "their personal Lord and Savior." The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible & constant Christian teaching.

Recall this Scripture: "If we have died with him [in baptism; see Rom. 6:3-4] we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him" (2 Tim. 2:11-12). So, ff we do NOT persevere, we shall NOT reign with him. In other words, Christians can forfeit heaven. Jesus tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31-46). Ergo, if you do not endure to the end, well........

The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation (God will be true to his word and will grant salvation to those who have faith in Christ and are obedient to him [1 John 3:19-24]), but the Bible does NOT teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation. The Bible says, "See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness, otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22-23; Matt. 18:21-35, 1 Cor. 15:1-2, 2 Pet. 2:20-21).

Note that this includes an important condition: "provided you remain in his kindness." It is saying that Christians can lose their salvation by throwing it away. He warns, "Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall" (1 Cor. 10:11-12). , Paul admitted that even he could fall away: "I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). In saying this he points out that even he cannot be infallibly sure of his own present state or of his future salvation.

As a Catholic, when someone asks me if I have been "saved," I answer: "I am redeemed by the blood of Christ, I trust in him alone for my salvation, and, as the Bible teaches, I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), knowing that it is God's gift of grace that is working in me."

Answer 4

Hi Bruce,

The Catholic position on salvation can be summed up thus:

We are saved by Christ's grace alone, through faith and works done in charity inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible and the Catholic Church don't separate the "works of faith," preceded and caused by grace, from salvation .You can have all the faith in the world, but if you don't have charity, you are nothing:

I Corinthians 13:2 2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Works have no merit in themselves -- and faith without works is not enough. We are saved by grace alone -- a grace that we accept neither "by faith alone" nor "by works alone," but "by faith that works in charity" (Galatians 5:6).


Many non-Catholics, in their confused zeal for Jesus, are constantly asking Catholics if we are "born again," admonishing us that unless we are "born again" we cannot be saved. St. John the Evangelist in the third chapter of his Gospel, relate the phrase "born again" to the results of Baptism. Baptism is how we enter into the New Covenant, in the same way the Hebrews and Israelites entered the Old Covenant through circumcision.


"Believe, repent, and obey."

Answer 5

it has always been works, done just because it's the right thing to do, that 'saves'

'faith' alone is dead... heck even the demons believe

works, done expecting a reward, will gain that reward on earth only.

works, done out of fear, are evidence that the peace of G-d isn't there

works, done because it's the right thing to do, are sometimes done without ever having 'the law' or 'having received the gospel' or whatever

a 'gospel' of faith only is complete nonsense, and a false path!

i can support all of the above in the scripture, but will not do so here... email me if you really want it

Answer 6

the expression "faith alone" only appears once in the Bible—in James 2:24—where it is rejected.

Matt. 5:2-11 - Jesus' teaching of the beatitudes goes beyond faith - being pure, merciful, and peacemakers are all good works. They are acts of the will that are necessary for a right relationship with God.

Matt. 5:16 - Jesus confirms this by teaching, "let your light shine before men that they may see your 'good works' and give glory to God." Good works glorify God and increase our justification before the Father.

Answer 7

Hi Bruce,

Jesus most certainly did not teach that faith alone is sufficient for salvation. It is certainly necessary for salvation, but it is not sufficient. We are saved by grace, as many have said, and a saving response to that grace is faith in God and good works motivated by that faith. But don't take my word for it; listen to Jesus instead:

(Luke 19:8-9 KJV) {8} And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. {9} And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Here, Zacchaeus tells Jesus about what he has done out of love for God; he tells Jesus of his *works.* What does Jesus promise in return? Salvation. If faith is sufficient and works are irrelevant, why does Jesus respond in this manner? Wouldn't a more appropriate response be a rebuke?

What’s illustrated here is not that we can somehow earn heaven. We all fall short of the glory of God, after all. What’s shown here, and confirmed in James 2:14-24, is that faith without good works to back it up is not the kind of response to saving grace that God wants us to have.

We can even see from Martin Luther's own writings that the idea of sola fide (faith alone) is something that he invented, not something he took from Scripture. This excerpt is from the preface to his collected works in Latin:

“I had certainly wanted to understand Paul in his letter to the Romans. But what prevented me from doing so was not so much cold feet as that one phrase in the first chapter: "the righteousness of God is revealed in it" (Romans 1:17). For I hated that phrase, "the righteousness of God," which I had been taught to understand as the righteousness by which God is righteous, and punishes unrighteous sinners. Although I lived a blameless life as a monk, I felt that I was a sinner with an uneasy conscience before God. I also could not believe that I had pleased him with my works.”

This quotation shows us that Martin Luther did NOT, in fact, return the Church to its early doctrines with sola fide. He was uneasy in his own conscience after breaking with the Catholic Church. He did not believe his works would be found pleasing by God, and so he decided that faith alone would have to be sufficient if *he* were to attain salvation.

Sola fide is clearly unscriptural, and it is just as clearly a human fabrication. These being the case, I would say that a gospel that denies the necessity of good works is false, not the other way round.

Answer 8

We are saved by Grace. Which is a gift from God. If you have to pay for it, it no longer is a gift. As for "works" in Romans it teaches that when we are born again, there is a transformation and renewing fo the mind. We become a better person. We no longer live be the desires of the world but seek to please God and follow his Word. It is a phenomenal feeling everyone deserves.

Answer 9

Depends are whether you are talking "cause or results".

Christians are saved through faith. Jesus talks about that often, such as in John 6:28 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

But once they have been saved by the faith (which is the "cause" of their salvation), the "results" will be good works. It will be the fruit which follows their salvation, not the cause of it.

Answer 10

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are you saved, through FAITH, and that not of yourselves. It is a GIFT from God, NOT of works less any man should boast.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Read Matthew 6

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.


So, our eternal life is through our faith in Christ and his defeat over death...he lives. However, he says that if we love our God then we will keep His commandments. So, our works do not get us into heaven, our faith does. But, our faith along with our works (if they are for God and not man) will earn us rewards from our God...as stated in Matthew chapter 6.


God bless :-)