Does Ephesians 2:8 mean we can be saved without good works?

Question

Eph 2:8: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Does Paul refute the consistent teaching of Jesus that we will be judged by our works?

For example, Matt 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

See also Matt 21:28-31; Matt 25:31-46.

I'm hoping that the faith-alone faithful will at least consider what Jesus taught in the three scriptures I provided.

Shaolt2002, good observation. The works of driving out demons and performing miracles don't save you. But Matt 25 describes works of charity by which we will be judged: Did we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, show hospitality to strangers, provide warm clothes for the underdressed, and care for the sick and those in prison?

Answer 1

I think that our Lord Jesus makes it very plain and so does his disciple, James, that not only must you have faith, but that good works are essential.

For example, when Jesus' family came to see him and a crowd was in the way, he was told that his mother and brothers wanted to see him. He made two things clear here: a biological relationship doesn't save you (so being born a Jew won't do it) and salvation requires two conditions: "My mother and my brothers are those who HEAR the word of God and PUT IT INTO PRACTICE." Luke 8:21

In the parable of the good Samaritan, it wasn't the priest and Levite who were commended for their faith, but the Samaritan who went out of his way to love his enemy.

In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), the guy who buried his was thrown into the darkness to weep and nash his teeth. Sure doesn't sound like salvation or heaven to me!

In the verses following that parable, the Lord speaks of the final judgment. What is he judging? The works, not the faith!

James makes it plain without a parable: James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

You are deluded if you think it is just faith. Faith merely opens the door. You must enter and serve. That takes works.

Answer 2

Ephesians 2:8-9 Refers to the fact that there is nothing we can do by way of any good works to earn salvation, it is a gift, not merited. The same goes for Titus 3:5 Romans 4:4-5 States the same thing but from the opposing point of view. People think that by doing penance, spiritual pilgrimages, acts of charity etc will gain them some merit with God but God sees them and describes them as filthy works of unrighteousness

Answer 3

Oh my,

You err once again in exegesis. Let me help you with a little Greek. The phrase you have been saved comes from the Greek participle σεσῳσμένοι. This is a perfect passive 3rd person.

Now what this means is that as a passive, it is something that has been done to you without your assistance. The perfect means that it is in a perpetual state of being true. Furthermore, it means that this state of being cannot be reversed.

Your "proof text" in Mt. 7 is saying precisely the opposite of what you are reading into it. Jesus tells you himself what he means. Who are the ones he sends away? The ones who he did not know. Now the word knew in 7:23 is ἔγνων and is a second Aorist which means a completed action.

The word is is a Hebrew idiom for the most intimate of relationships. The verb tense is telling you that this relationship was never consummated in the intimate way that happens when we accept his sacrifice and acknowledge him as Lord.

He is sending away those who foolishly believed they could be holy enough without him.

Answer 4

there is a difference between:

* doing a particular work - man's effort unto salvation... (john 6:63) .. it cant be done... if any group could it would have been the Jews. but they could never get righteous by keeping the law. (galat. 3:11)

so such works is out of line with the message of grace. (ephes.2:8)

the passage of matt.7:21-23 is an example of an unbeliever thinking that he'd butter up Jesus to let him in on the basis of his supposed good works.

i say that he was an unbeliever because says, 2 tm.2:19, "God knows those who are His.."

while Jesus told him, "depart from me, I never knew you."
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and

* doing the works that God has ordained you to do because you are saved. (see all scriptures on good works)
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matt.25:31-46 has to do with all nations .. are put into one of two groups according to how they treated the Jews.

the sheep nations group.
the goat nations group.
.

Answer 5

I agree with Paulo's scissors analogy.
This really is a worn out discussion that's been going on since long before Luther. You're all arguing over something that neither Catholics nor Protestants believe.
They all preach salvation comes as a free gift from God.
Nothing in the New Testament says a person is saved by their works and neither do mainline Christians.
They all teach that a person expresses their faith by their works. Some believe that ones reward after salvation depends on how they live including Methodists, Catholics and the Orthodox.

Answer 6

Good works are the effect of saving faith. The faith that saves is an application oriented faith. It's not a faith in works which saves, but a faith that works which saves.

For example - if you have come to faith in Christ, then you should get baptized as a believer (no - infant baptism doesn't count). That's a work, but it's a work which is the effect of saving faith.

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

Likewise with repentance. "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Ac 26:20

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." Is 55:6,7

Answer 7

This concept is troubling to many people, especially new Christians. It is the foundation of the doctrines of grace, which are, put simply, that salvation is not a reward. It is neither earned nor deserved. It is a gift from God to those He chose to give it. Good works are a by-product, not a cause, of receiving the gift of salvation. As to being judged by works, that refers to the level of eternal rewards one receives in heaven.

Answer 8

SALVATION is by GRACE ALONE. So in answer, yes, you are saved by faith in Jesus by his grace given to us ALONE.

You can not do the will of the Father unless you are saved.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that howsoever believeth on him shall not parish but have everlasting life.

Matt 7:21-23 is talking about those who are in modern day terms, posers. They preach but do not practice what they preach. They put on a show but do not believe. It is for personal gain not for God.

Good works are a RESULT of your salvation, which is were faith without works is dead comes in. If you are really saved and have faith, you will be producing the works as a result.

Judged by our works is a different judgment than the judgement of sinners. There will be a judgemnet of those SAVED as to rewards. You have read of receiving crowns and rewards in heaven, this is that judgement. One is still in heaven, yet there are rewards for those who produced more fruit.

You have two saved people.

One receives salvation and really doesn't do Gods will by going out and preaching the gospel and HARVESTING others. That person loves God but is, for lack of a better word, lazy. The person is still saved, but on judgement, rewards will not be as plentiful.

Then you have the other person who is saved, this person also loves God, but this person goes out and shows his love by their actions as well. They help the needy, they go to far away lands to spread the gospel, they live in poverty for the exchange to serve the Lord, this persons rewards in heaven will be greater. Again, equally saved, different levels of rewards in heaven though.

These are example of one extreme to the other. Of course, there is inbetween, all will be judged according to what they put forth. You reap what you sow.

Answer 9

The rest say's "Not of works, lest any man should boast" eph 2:9

Just doing good isn't enough you must hear the word, believe the word, confess that it is true and Jesus is Lord, and be baptized.

God knows that people would do good things just to make themselves look good and to brag. To do this is selfish. You should do good works because it's right not because it will make you look good to others.

Answer 10

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

Eph. 2:8, 9, RS: "By grace ["undeserved kindness," NW] you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-not because of works, lest any man should boast." (The entire provision for salvation is an expression of God's undeserved kindness. There is no way that a descendant of Adam can gain salvation on his own, no matter how noble his works are. Salvation is a gift from God given to those who put faith in the sin-atoning value of the sacrifice of his Son.)

Heb. 5:9, RS: "He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him." (Italics added.) (Does this conflict with the statement that Christians are "saved through faith"? Not at all. Obedience simply demonstrates that their faith is genuine.)

Jas. 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.)

Acts 16:30, 31, RS: "'Men, what must I do to be saved?' And they [Paul and Silas] said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.'" (If that man and his household truly believed, would they not act in harmony with their belief? Certainly.)