Do Christians Belief that they only need aith to be saved? What about good works & charity!?

Question

James 2 :14 What is the use, my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no good works to show for it? Can faith save?

Answer 1

There are those benighted heretics who claim that there is no need at all for good works. To make such claims, they must throw out part of the Bible, specifically the Epistle of James. This Epistle makes it quite clear that faith without works is "a dead faith". Furthermore, it is "the faith of demons". That is, even demons believe in Christ, but their belief is without works. Belief--faith, all by itself is not enough, and the Bible flatly says that.

Answer 2

I've always been an atheist. People ask what would convince me that there is a god. I'm not sure, but certainly open to any tangible evidence. However, the answer to whether or not god exists is unimportant to me.

Please don't quote me bible passages as evidence. Remember, this is my standard of proof, not yours. However, if proof were provided that convinced me god exists, I would change absolutely nothing in my life or my behavior.

I ask you the counter question: If evidence were provided that convinced you god does not exist (evidence according to your standards of proof), what would you change in your life?

Would you stop evangelizing?

Would you start sinning more?

Would you stop helping those less fortunate than you?

Would you feel that life is meaningless?

People can commit good deeds and attempt to avoid causing harm to others without belief in god. I never claim that god is on the side of America when discussing politics. God does not take sides, does he?

SO...why do you believe in god? I like to live a purposeful life and certainly would not do something if there was no purpose or pleasure. So if god does not exist, what would be the point in believing? Turn that around and so assuming god exists, what's the point? How do you use that knowledge in your life? Do you use that knowledge to affect positive change in the world? Is it not possible to follow the Golden Rule, do good deeds, and affect positive change in the world without believing in god? Please don't quote John 3:16 that ONLY believers enter heaven as that sounds like belief is motivated in some selfish personal reward.

I have no vested interest in god's existence. I do not see existence of heaven or hell as a reward or punishment. If you believe in god because you want to enter the pearly gates or wish to avoid the fires of hell, that seems rather selfish. Isn't the whole purpose of religious belief so you can become a better person?

EDIT:
For all those thumbs down, I ask you to think about your personal motivation for believing in god.

To Lawrence R:
Good works come without faith too. And those good works can be quite fruitful. But you state that good works won't get me into heaven. It sounds like you believe that I have some motivation for performing these good works -- the hope of being rewarded with admission to heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth.That seems to be the faulty premise many Christians make about non-believers.

I don't do good works to get into heaven. I perform good works because it is the right thing to do. I have no expectation and have no desire of any reward for my good works. Why is this concept so difficult for you to comprehend?

Answer 3

Good works and charity are by-products, not reasons for, salvation.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Saving faith is not generated by man but by God. Faith and salvation are not rewards for good works. They cannot be earned nor deserved. Salvation is the free gift from God to the undeserving child of God.

Answer 4

i believe im a Christian,and i believe that there are people saying that they are christians but not a true christians because Mat 24:24.The essence of a true church is charity James 1:17.faith without work is dead james 1 :17

Answer 5

The good works come as an outgrowth of their faith. If good works are done, but they have no faith, then their works are pointless and fruitless. However, they cannot earn their way into Heaven, hence their faith.

Answer 6

Faith is what causes salvation. Good works are the results of salvation.

What James is saying is that anyone who is not showing good works does not have the kind of faith that saves.

Answer 7

Faith without works is no faith at all. But it is true it is the faith in God not the works that saves.

Answer 8

First, a person needs God/Jesus to be saved.
--Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
--Jn 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

After that, a person must have faith and that means belief plus action of faith and not faith alone.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Unless one repents of their past sins, they cannot be saved, so they must repent.
Ac 2:38 Peter replied, “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.

Unless we continue to confess Jesus before men, we cannot be saved. We must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God.
--Rom 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved

We must get into Christ by baptism. When we are baptized, He washes away our sins and that is the way we call on God/Jesus. We must be IN Christ's Church where all blessings are found.
--Ro 6: 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
--Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

Live faithful to the end.
--Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Answer 9

Only by faith are you saved. That's so we can't boast about our works like the Pharisees did. Works will come out of our love of God not duty.

Answer 10

becuase u have faith in Jesus christ, good deeds comes naturally!
i know Jesus was great and did everything for the needed and not needed people.

if anyone needed help he was there with no qustions asked and without any doubt. because u know that Jesus was great and perfact, u would want to follow his footsteps and do watever he did and still does to this day! and also he lives in you and have warm heart im not sayin only christains believers are warm hearted pple diffenatly not but as ur qustion is abt christainity then i will only use them.

anyways hope that answered ur qustion!

God bless in Jesus name Amen.