Who believes that Faith without works will still get you into heaven? and why?

Question

Isn't it true that you must have both and not one or the other?
The Bible makes it clear that there must be a balanced relationship between our faith and its expression in good works.

James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

Heb 6:10
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones

Rev 2:2
I know your works, your labor, and your endurance ...

Mt 5:16
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

I am reading for the KJV. Our works will be judged saved or unsaved. Should we as christians allow our bro's and sis's to be blinded by this? It's not by faith alone that we into heaven. It's by faith in God (loving him with all of your heart & soul). also doing his word.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.


Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.


Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.


Mat 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:23

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Mat 7:24 ¶

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

Answer 1

If faith without works is dead, how can anyone expect to be rewarded?

Our works are the evidence of our faith.

Without works we have but mere lip service.

Answer 2

James 2:14-18 The question "Can that faith save him?" is referring to the person that needs help. That is why James continues with a person who is naked or hungry and asks for help and all you say is go with God give them nothing then how can that faith save him. If you have faith your works will follow.

Ephesians 2:8,9 Says "For ye are saved by grace through faith. And not of yourselves, It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

Also, the version of the Bible you are using seems to be corrupted. I would advise getting a King James version which has not been corrupted.

Answer 3

James didn't understand something. He thought that works were deeds which are described by the Law. He was convinced that the Law was something to adhere to in order to do God's will. Now as Jesus explained and Paul explained and Peter explained, the Law could be done without ANY salvation. They were a part of an old system which did not save anyone. In fact, it only condemned us as we are sinners, and by definition fal to uphold the Law.

The works that is part of the Christian come from God; through the trust that a believer has for God, and the Spirit of God living in the believer. According to Paul, only those works which are inspired by God are those which stand the test of the fire:
1 Corinthians 3
12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

So there are works done capable of being performed for the wrong reasons, even with good intentions, but not of the Spirit. And there are those works which are done because the believer is in step with God, and He puts them up to it. They are the ones with eternal implications, and all of them are rightly placed to the credit of God.

Answer 4

I believe Faith without works is indeed dead, However, Grace with works is dead also. So the way I see it by working your faith, you believe God for things He promises you to come to pass even though it looks totally contrary to what your believing for. But God wants to give us what we need because Jesus is the LORD of Hosts.
So if we try to obtain these things on our own ability GOD resists us. But I feel that ties in with the fact that we are saved by FREE Grace and not of ourselves.
Eph:2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph:2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

And if we try to keep the law we are trying to be self-Righteous.

Take care and may God bless you spiritually.

Answer 5

"Works" ought to be the natural outworking of our Faith. When we act (works) out of sincere love for God we show our faith in His existence by having love toward Him. Additionally, I believe that, if you read the quote from James 2 carefully you'll see that he doesn't say that the person has faith without works but simply that they SAY they have faith without works. A person can say anything. Words count for little without action.

Answer 6

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Contradicting? Nope.

Paul was telling people that we can be justified in God's sight by faith and Abraham was an example. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness.

James made Abraham an example too by sacrificing Isaac, but justification was addressed towards men. James is saying he believes that a saving faith works, and would be fruitful of good deeds...

Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Additional:

If you will be justified by faith and works you have something to boast about in Heaven but not before God...

Romans 4

1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Answer 7

I wonder if there might be a difference between salvation and the kingdom?

I believe that chapter 2 of James is misinterpreted by those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. (II Tim 3:5)

I apologize for thew attitude, but I like to use strong statements as attention getters. You see, I believe in John 14:12.

E.W. Kenyon wrote a book on two kinds of faith. There is saving faith, and there is the faith that heals. Personally I believe that it is both the same faith, but heals only if it is fully grown. Saving faith is a seed. Faith that moves mountains is a mighty tree.

That I believe that James was talking about was that our faith needs to be combined with works in order to move mountains. I don't think that he was talking about salvation at all. Eph 2:8-9 tells us that works have nothing to do with salvation.

What James was talking about was showing mercy on those of lesser substance. If we do not do this, our faith is dead in the respect that they are not going to see Christ in us, because it doesn't chow on the outside, and we are not going to have power to lead them to Christ. Dead faith has no power.

Through faith in Christ we have the power to heal, but if someone comes to us with an ailment, if we do not tell him to raise up and walk, our faith in that respect is dead, and has no power, because it was not combined with the corresponding works.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

According to my understanding of this verse, it is not our sins that were nailed to the cross, but the law itself.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1Cor 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1Cor 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

This tells me that nothing is sin to us anymore, but those things that were when we were without Christ are still harmful to us. We are free from the law, but we still have a responsibility.

I was taught that salvation is free, but crowns are earned.

1Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Even if our salvation is secure, that doesn’t mean that we are free to live like hell. We have a job to do, and that is to bring God glory, and we are to do the best that we can at it. We don’t do it to keep our salvation, though. We do it because we love the Lord.

Answer 8

Abraham believed God, and was accepted as righteous.

One of the thieves hanging on the cross with Jesus was assured of Paradise, while unable to do any works.

Read Hebrews 11.

Answer 9

What are works? Is going to church a work? Reading the Bible? Loving people? Praying? What are works?

Answer 10

our faith is proven and shown by our works. Jesus commands us to feed the poor, help the sick, visit the homeless, etc. If we have FAITH in Christ's teaching then we will DO what he asks us. GOd bless!