Jehovah's Witnesses, can you provide me all scriptural support that works are needed for salvation?

Question

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' ANSWERS ONLY PLEASE.

Provide me all scriptural support that you must do works to be saved.

Anybody wanting to respond to the answers, please be patient and wait for a link I'll provide where you can enter your responses. It will be a parallel question. Thank you.

Non-JWs please respond here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjZv48oaLjF2iUXNJFxwQKbsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071211092332AANABlx

JWs you can also go here to see the responses, but please refrain from answering on the page.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe as this questioner pretends. It seems rather obvious that newborn children and the infirm may be barely conscious or coherent!

It is preposterous to suggest that Jehovah's Witnesses do not consider their hope to be an undeserved gift, and preposterous to suggest that Jehovah's Witnesses think they can somehow EARN salvation.

While Jehovah's Witnesses understand faith to be the primary thing for a Christian, they also understand that professed "faith" is not a license for a sinner to continue to indulge his sin.

(Matthew 7:20-23) Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize... “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.


One's faith must have SOME effect on the individual's personality and lifecourse. The Scriptures quite plainly explain that humans can disqualify themselves from receiving everlasting life; it is only the faithful COMPLETION of a life course that assures salvation. [Emphasis added to citations below.]

(Zephaniah 2:3) Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. PROBABLY you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah's anger.

(Amos 5:15) Hate what is bad, and love what is good, and give justice a place in the gate. It MAY be that Jehovah the God of armies will show favor

(Matthew 7:13-14) Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.

(Matthew 24:13) But he that has endured TO THE END is the one that will be saved.

(Philippians 2:12) Keep WORKING OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling

(Hebrews 10:26-27) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, 27 but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment

(Hebrews 5:9) [Jesus] became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those OBEYING him

(James 2:14,17) Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? ...17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19960201/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_15.htm

Answer 2

I'm not JW, but I believe a lot the same way that they do about Christ and God, so I'll give it a shot. Try Matt. 3:17- Why would God's voice be heard if Christ is part of God? Acts 7:55-56- Christ standing on the right hand of God. If they were the same, Stephen would have only seen one being. Mark 15:34- Why would God need to cry out to himself? Or a better question: Why would God need to abandon Himself at a time of great suffering? John 5:19- Talks about Christ learning what the Father knows. Wouldn't He already know it if they were the same? John 8:28,54- The same as above on 28. He wouldn't need to honor God if He was God. Matt 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Again, why would He need to pray to God if He were God? Also, wouldn't His will be not His own if He were God? There are many others, but I will leave it at that.

Answer 3

"Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself."—James 2:17.
" Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. (Galations 5:19-20)
"How much more will the blood of the Christ . . . cleanse our consciences from [the older] dead works that we may render sacred service to the living God?"—Hebrews 9:14.
"A man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone." (James 2:24)
"Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you."—Matthew 28:19, 20.

Many people have been told that "believing on Jesus" is a single act and that our faith does not have to be strong enough to prompt obedience. But the Bible disagrees. Jesus did not say that people who begin the Christian course are saved. Instead, he said: "He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved." (Matthew 10:22) The Bible likens our Christian course to a race, with salvation being the prize at its end. And it urges: "Run in such a way that you may attain it."—1 Corinthians 9:24.
the Bible lists immoral practices that are common among some people who think that they are "saved." Regarding one who continued in such ways, it instructed Christians: "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." Surely God would not want wicked people contaminating his Christian congregation!—1 Corinthians 5:11-13
"Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able."—Luke 13:23, 24.

Answer 4

Epistle of James 2:20

Answer 5

James 2:24.
YOU see that a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone

James 2:
14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? 15 If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it? 17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.

Answer 6

I hope this may help you somewhat, but I do not have time now to give as full an answer as I would like too, email me if you need more!
The Scriptures are plain in showing us that faith is essential to salvation, but is it sufficient for salvation? “Without faith it is impossible to win [God’s] good pleasure.” (Heb. 11:6) But faith is valueless by itself. It is valueless without works, and the works must be of the right kind to make it valuable. “Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.” (Jas. 2:17)

In order to keep ourselves in God’s love we must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (Jas. 1:22) One who is merely a hearer and not a doer is likened to a man who builds a house upon sand and which, when the storm comes, just crumbles to pieces. (Matt. 7:26, 27)

Christians are “‘a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” In fact, their salvation depends upon it, as we are further told: “For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation”; a statement, incidentally, combining Paul’s stress of righteousness by faith and James’ emphasis on works consistent with one’s faith.—1 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 10:10.

The Bible makes the point very clearly.

Answer 7

Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned. See W96.
If we work hard to get that gift, we still cannot get it unless God gives it to us.

But to be declared righteous, we need WORKS OF FAITH, Faith in Jesus and his Father (John 14:1) , and FAITH. (James 2:24)
24 YOU see that a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone. 25

17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself. – James 2

We have to take care of the GIFT of life and salvation that God gives. But if we don’t take care of that, and we don’t have a fine fight of our Christian faith then we can lose it.



10 Salvation is a gift from God, but it does not come automatically. (Romans 6:23) There are certain basic conditions that each individual must meet to qualify for that gift. Jesus said: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” And the apostle John added: “He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life.” (John 3:16, 36) Clearly, God requires faith and obedience from each individual who hopes to obtain everlasting salvation. Each one must make the decision to accept the ransom and to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. W00, 6/1


Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned . W96 2/1


How do we “render sacred service to the living God”? Among other things, the Bible tells us to combat the works of the flesh, to resist the world’s immorality, and to avoid its snares. It says: “Fight the fine fight of the faith,” put off “the sin that easily entangles us,” and “run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus.” And the Bible urges us not to ‘get tired and give out in our souls.’—1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:1-3; Galatians 5:19-21.

We do not earn salvation by doing these things, for no human could ever do enough to merit such an astounding blessing. We are not worthy of this magnificent gift, though, if we fail to demonstrate our love and obedience by doing the things that the Bible says God and Christ want us to do. Without works to demonstrate our faith, our claim to follow Jesus would fall far short, for the Bible clearly states: “Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.”—James 2:17.

Answer 8

Luke 2: 24-26 says: YOU see that a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone. 25 In the same manner was not also Ra´hab the harlot declared righteous by works, after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? 26 Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

So Faith is not all that is needed in order to be saved.

Answer 9

The gift of everlasting life is just that- a gift! No one can earn salvation. But faith in itself is valueless if not supported by actions. A person who claims to have faith in Jesus should prove it by what he does. An inactive faith is a dead faith and will not lead to 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.”

We show that we have faith by our obedience
Heb. 5:9, RS: “He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”

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. These works do not mean he earns salvation.

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.”

There are certain actions a person must take, according to one's beliefs.

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.’”


The idea that just believing in God is enough is wrong. A murderer can say he believes in God, so can a prostitute or a thief. Are they saved, even as they keep on doing these bad things? Someone who seeks to receive everlasting life will act accordingly, showing that they REALLY appreciate the gift of everlasting life.

The apostle Paul was in full agreement with this, and he often mentions the kinds of works that Christians should engage in to demonstrate their faith. For example, to the Romans he wrote: “With the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” Making a “public declaration”—sharing our faith with others—is vital for salvation as it says at Romans 10:10.

Some other works are found at 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 5:15, 21-33; 6:15; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 10:23-25.

Answer 10

This is an elemental logic matter!

Let's see, you need to have faith to reach the salvation, right? Ok.
Now, you know that if the faith does not have works is dead, right? Ok.
So if your faith is dead... how could it save you or help you in any way?

"Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? ...faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself." (James 2:14-17)

A.