Salvation = faith + works?

Question

I am just curious about people who believe salvation is based upon faith and works. How do you know when you have done enough work? Do you constantly worry you have not done enough and thus are not saved?

I know the verses supporting how we are saved. I am not asking for them. I just want to know how people that believe they have to work for their salvation know they have done enough.

Ben Yeshua (son of our Savior) - I know my salvation is a gift. If I had to work for it I would be out of luck. If I spent every second of my life doing good. I did nothing but good. I still would not even make a dent in the debt I owed. Only Jesus could pay the price.

tebone0315 - I did not ask if salvation was by faith and works. I asked how you know you have done enough works if you believe that.

Answer 1

Great question. Salvation is by grace and mercy of God only, but works will keep our faith alive.

We can never do enough.

Answer 2

Why do people continually mis-interpret James? What James is stating is that if you have true faith, work will be a by-product of your salvation, not the other way around.

If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior you are saved. However, if your life does not change, and bear fruit, you need to look at your heart to see if you truly had faith to begin with.

If this interpretation were not true, then James would be contradicting what Paul stated throughout the New Testament. We know God does not change, therefore, James are Paul cannot be in contradiction to each other.

Many have quoted other scripture as well. These, two are talking to already saved people. They are not speaking to the unsaved. This means they, too, are talking of the fruits of our salvation, not the other way around.

I pray these people will find a church with solid Biblical teaching and come to the Lord.

God bless.

Answer 3

I think it was Melanchton that said: "We are saved by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone!"

Maybe the problem lays in fact that these people read the Bible and see Christ calling people to do good works, but since they haven't heard the true Good News of salvation by faith alone that works is the fruit of faith and that there is not saving faith without producing works, they start calculating and see that 1+1=2 - logical, but not theological! Romans 10 gives the answer as to why (when Paul talks about Jews).

Answer 4

Jesus will be the only judge.

Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.
Mat 16:26 For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.

Grace + Faith+ Works = Hope.

Jesus = Salvation.

Answer 5

I don't. I just try 2 live my life staying on that path. Ok, if u have children & they turn 18, do you stop parenting them? Just because they're now adults. Well, in most cases, no. You will always be there in some compacity 2 parent them. Since i choose 2 b a child of God I choose a life of faith and service, 4ever. Do we fall short? All of us, all the time! I believe we must try to keep our intentions and our hearts in the right place and God will help us with the rest. Remember, he's also merciful. In Peace

Answer 6

Hello, Edge:

We are only saved by Grace, and that grace inspired God to give His only Son for us. And that grace causes Him to dwell inside us.

And it is Christ in you, working His will and His pleasure that gives us a measure of faith and works.

If you think you can earn heaven by your works, and want to enter heaven, the angels would shout "Treason"

A Bible code reveals the plan of Salvation. See http://abiblecode.tripod.com

Shalom, peace in Jesus, Ben Yeshua

Answer 7

There are so many verses in the Bible stating that entrance into Heaven is not as simple as saying "I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior." Let us see what the Bible has to say about salvation:

(Phil 2:12) -…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(Rom 2:5-6) - …the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

(James 2:14) - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

(Mt 16:27) - For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

(2 Cor. 5:10) - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

(Mt. 25:31 46) - (the verse is too long to quote, here is a summary) Jesus states that He will separate His sheep from the goats. Jesus goes on to say; when I was hungry did you feed me? When I was thirsty did you give me drink? When I was naked did you clothe me? When I was sick did you visit me? When I was in prison did you visit me? When I was stranger did you take me in and clothe me? Jesus then states that anyone who has done these things for his brother did so for Himself and He invites the righteous into life eternal. Those who did not help his brother in need, were sent into everlasting punishment.

In the verses above, it is quite clear to see that salvation is not as simple as stating that one proclaim Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. It is a nice thing to say and should be said every day, but there is more to salvation then accepting Christ as one's personal Lord and Savior.

Answer 8

I have thought about this many times.
Where is the cut off line, the point where you can feel secure if salvation is earned by works.
Actually, salvation is said to be a gift, not wages earned.

Answer 9

Edit:
Pastor Art didn't answer your question.


information from Reasoning from the Scriptures published by Jehovah's Witnesses

Reasoning from the Scriptures

Salvation

Is anything more than faith needed in order to gain salvation?

James 2:14, 26, RS: "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." (A person does not EARN salvation by his works. But anyone who has genuine faith WILL have works to go with it----works of obedience to the commands of God and Christ, works that demonstrate his faith and love. Without such works, his faith is dead.)

So faith without works is dead.

Reasoning from the Scriptures

Faith

Are works really necessary if a person has faith?

James 2:17, 18, 21, 22, 26: "Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself. Nevertheless, a certain one will say: “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith apart from the works, and I shall show you my faith by my works.” Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he had offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? You behold that [his] faith worked along with his works and by [his] works [his] faith was perfected, Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Illustration: A young man may court a young lady, telling her that he loves her. But if he never asks her to marry him, is he really demonstrating that his love is thorough? Likewise, works are a means of demonstrating the genuineness of our faith and our love. If we do not obey God we do not really love him or have faith in the righteousness of his ways. (1 John 5:3, 4) But we cannot EARN salvation no matter what works we do. Eternal life is a GIFT from God through Jesus Christ, not payment for our works.---Eph. 2:8, 9.

1 John 5:3, 4: "For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, because everything that has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith."

Eph. 2:8, 9: "By this undeserved kindness, indeed, YOU have been saved through faith; and this not owing to YOU, it is God’s gift. No, it is not owing to works, in order that no man should have ground for boasting."

Answer 10

Salvation = a faith that works
Salvation != a faith in works.