For Christians: Do you have to have good works to be saved?

Question

There are many points of view about how good works fit into the Christian religion.

However, please look at my question carefully and try to avoid pat answers: Do you have to have good works to be saved? Please explain.

Answer 1

No. Salvation (at the minimum) requires only faith.

*However*, life as a Christian demands 3 things:
faith
obedience (to Christ's teachings)
good works

If someone obtains faith and then dies before being able to act on the 2nd two components, they do not lose their salvation. For example it is necessary to be baptized (an example of obedience) *if* and *when* the opportunity arises. If the opportunity does *not* arise, the lack of baptism by itself will not cause a person to lose his salvation. Other examples are legion.

Jim, http://www.life-after-harry-potter.com

Answer 2

No, salvation comes by faith. If you were to be saved by your good works, it would mean you would be trying to make up for your sins. And you could never do enough good works in your lifetime to pay the debt of sin. That is why Jesus came to save us. He is the only way to salvation. However when you are in Christ, you're a new creature and the Holy Spirit dwells in you, and you begin to bear the fruits of faith (i.e. good works). Nevertheless good works are not a condition to be saved. Look at the thief that was crucified next to Jesus. He believed right before he died, and Jesus told him he would go to heaven. I don't think he had much time to do any good works, hanging there in the cross.

Answer 3

We do good works because we are saved, not to be saved. It is the indicative and the imperative. All other beliefs say do, do, do, to become someone, Christianity teaches you are someone, a saved, redeemed, forgiven, elect saint of God, now go do good works in light of who you are. The book of Ephesians lays this out beautifully. In the first two chapters, Paul explains who we are in Christ, in the final chapters, Paul says now, go be the Christian, go do good works.

Answer 4

Good works are evidence of being truly saved but they can add nothing to the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Is that kind of faith able to save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the necessary things of the body, what is the benefit? 17 Thus also that faith, if it does not have works, is dead, being by itself

18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by means of my works.

Answer 5

You don't have to have anything to be saved. Jesus said that if you acknowledge and confess that He is the son of God, that he died for your sins that he's resurrected and sits on the right hand of God, YOU SHALL BE SAVED. Ephasians 2:9 declares that not by works lest man should boast. David goes as far as saying that the only way you can please God is to have faith. So in essence, you can never work enough to be saved. Jesus said that their are 'false prophets' on earth. He says that when they die they'll, they'll tell god how they cast out demonds in the lords name and things like that, but Jesus says that God will say depart from me you worker of iniquity for i knew you not. Therefore, even if we're doing good works in the Lord's name it still isn't enough to inherit the kingdom of God.

Answer 6

Works don't save ANYONE, as seen here:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


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: when we are working according to God's will, then we see:

Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Answer 7

We are saved by grace. Once your heart is right the good works will follow.

Answer 8

Good works are a witness to sinners and the world of the life you live for God.

Answer 9

we are blessed by our faith to do "good works", we don't have to but one flows from the other and it only stands to reason that by being a chritian we do good deeds, "faith without works is dead". you can profess to be christian but it is another thing to actually be christian. the catechism gives more information should you be interested there are on line versions.

Answer 10

No we do not have to have good works to be saved. The Bible is clear on that. Everyone quotes Ephesians which is good but we tend to stop too early. We are saved by faith and faith alone. However we are to do good works when we are saved. It says we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. So when we are saved we are to have good works but they do now save us or keep us saved.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


Also read the following verse. It says if a man has no works then his faith is counted as righteousness. It clearly says a man who has faith but no works is still righteous.

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