Are works necessary for salvation?

Question

I am not questioning whether we should have works or not. I am not saying works are not good. I am just asking if the play any role in salvation. In Romans we are told that one who does not work, his faith is counted for righteousness. This verse clearly states that someone who does not work is considered righteous because of his faith. So why do so many think works are a necessary part of salvation? Please do not quote me James. James is talking to people who are already Christians. He is telling us we should work not that it will save us.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

I am not saying you do not need to lead a good life. I think you do. I am just saying it is not works that save you.

kjv - yes I understand the cross. I understand that Jesus paid the price for my sins. That nothing I do could ever add to that price.

Let me add to clarify in case it is needed. I do not believe works play any role in salvation. The sacrifice Jesus made saved me. Nothing else can.

Marcus R - would you mind providing chapter and verse. I think you are confusing James with Jesus. And James was speaking to saved people. He was telling them that they should have works not that the works saved them.

I love St. Boniface - then why did Paul say someone who does not work can still be counted as righteous?

St. Boniface - You quote Matthew 7:21 in saying that not all who say Lord Lord will enter the kingdom. Go one verse further. These same people talk about the works they did. Did these works save them? The answer is obviously no.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Answer 1

Marcus R. you are mistaken. This is what Jesus Himself had to say about works:

"'Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will GIVE you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.'

Then they asked him, 'What must we do to do the works God requires?'

Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to BELIEVE in the one he has sent.'" -John 6:27-29


Jesus also said that in order to see the Kingdom of God, we must be born again (John 3:1-7). It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates us. How do we know the Holy Spirit lives inside us?

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having BELIEVED, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit GUARANTEEING our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." -Ephesians 1:13-14

We have no power to save ourselves. We cannot add anything to what Jesus already accomplished on the cross. Salvation has absolutely nothing to do with our works because "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." -Isaiah 64:6

For those who say they are saved by their works, they are choosing to stubbornly and blatantly disregard what scripture and Jesus Himself says to the contrary.

That said, as Christians, we should walk the walk and not just talk the talk. We SHOULD want to do good works. The Bible says God even prepared them in advance for us to do. That's why we're here - to let our light shine before men so that they might see our good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven. We're here to share our faith and bring Him glory. And, personally, I don't feel truly fulfilled in life unless I'm striving to do that. But, good works DO NOT save us. Someone can "fake it" and do all kinds of "good works" to be seen and praised by men but not have a heart that's right with God.

Answer 2

A very good example is the thief on the cross...next to Jesus.

LK 23:40-43 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. "
43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

No baptism, no works, no nothing to add to the sacrifice of Jesus....Jesus promised him heaven.

Faith alone in what Christ did at the Cross...no more, no less. If we have to do works then Jesus sacrifice would not have been enough to redeem man. But it was. Thats why its Grace.

EPH 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--
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

God even gives us the faith to believe....not from ourselves.

2CO 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

JN 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus did all the work.

We had a debt we could not pay.
Jesus paid a debt that he did not owe.

Answer 3

Epheshians 2 clearly states that we are saved by God's grace, not by our works so that none can be full of pride. It is God's grace that calls us to Him and gives us faith. As Paul says, if our works could save us, we could be boastful.

Here is a little saying I like to sum it up, and clear the supposed difference between what Paul is saying and what James states:

Works do not produce salvation, but salvation produces works.

James is stating that a Christian's whose life does not shine of their faith, who has no "works" best check to see if they are only having faith in the fact God exists and Jesus saved us. Have they really placed their life in the Lord? For if we do, He will change us.

Answer 4

One of great lies or deceptions against the Catholic Church is that we believed be save by works alone which it is not true. Only most Protestants as example fundamentalist believe by faith alone is enough to be justify or saved by faith alone. Justification, which puts us into a right relationship with God, has been merited form us by the Passion of Jesus Christ. Through Christ, God Freely decided to associate man with the work of his grace. Man therefore, cannot achieve justification by his own natural efforts.

we are save by grace. How do we reconcile Paul’s teaching, that we are not justified by “works of the law,” with James’ teaching, that we are justified by “works and not by faith alone?” James 2:24 appears to be entirely inconsistent with Romans 3:28 and Gal 2:16, until we remember that the Word of God can never contradict itself. This must mean that the “works” (in Greek, ergois agathois) in James 2:24 are different from the “works of the law” (in Greek, ergon nomou) in Romans 3:28 and Galatians 2:16 (which the Greek language demonstrates).

Answer 5

In Titus 3:5 the Bible states. "It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His (the Lord's) mercy He has saved us."

Good works will not save you, however, if you are saved you do good works. The good works those who are saved accomplish in this life will be judged at the judgement seat of Christ. Did our works honor Christ? What was the motive for the works we did? Was it to bring glory to Christ? Or were the works accomplished to receive a pat on the back from people? Did we think we needed to add works to the complete salvation given to us in Christ Jesus? Salvation is a gift. All one has to do is accept it.

Answer 6

God is sovereign and all powerful, so no one can force him to save them, by any means. This is why salvation will always remain a free gift.

But God reserves the right to ultimately judge one's heart, and a soul lacking charity is typically not suitable for heaven.

Faith and works go together. It is not one or the other. It is both.

Works serve to perfect our faith, our hope, and our charity ... and works are how we keep God's law of love.

This is why we find bible verses that appear to conflict with each other, but really do not.

1Co 13:12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

Answer 7

We are saved by grace, not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are saved by grace alone. Recall that in Acts 16:31 the jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved. They responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The jailer believed and immediately became saved.
Close to 200 times in the New Testament salvation is said to be by faith alone - with no works in sight. Consider the following:
John 3:15 tells us that "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
John 5:24 says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
In John 11:25 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
John 23:46 says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
If salvation were not by faith alone, then Jesus' message in the Gospel of John - manifest in the above quotations - would be deceptive, stating that there is one condition for salvation when there are allegedly two - faith and works.
I must emphasize that we are saved by faith for works. Works are not the condition of our salvation, but a consequence of it We are saved not by works, but by the kind of faith that produces works.

Eph 2:8-10 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this: It is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Answer 8

No, they are not. Eph2:8-9 "8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast." However, works will tend to follow those why try and follow God. Telling others about Jesus is works, but not necessary for salvation

Answer 9

Works are done because of the Holy Spirit, which was promised us at the end of John 15, and in the midst of John 16.

It is what happens when we are saved - we become an habitation of the Holy Spirit. It is by trusting God that we began our Christian trip, and it is by trusting God that we continue. When we do this we are a conduit for the Holy Spirit, we are vessels to do His good works through us.

That's why we can truthfully say that the Glory goes to God.

If you picture yourself as a lake, which is fed by the river of God, the out pouring of your faith to the south allows God to keep filling you up. If you stop, he stops, and you become filled with minerals that kill all of the life in you. You become like the Dead Sea.

But those who are active with their life with God are continually flowing with life.

So the works which have eternal implications are those done by the Holy Spirit through us.

I have much more to say about this subject. If you are curious, please e-mail me, and I will answer what I can.

Answer 10

All you need to have salvation, is to believe in Jesus and ask for forgiveness of your sins.. But works are important in the since that, it is by your works that you will be known to others as a Christian.