Faith-alone Christians: Does faith that can move mountains save you without works of love?

Question

Now before you type in "Faith always leads to works of love," let's try to get St. Paul's point by gathering the context:

St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

"A faith that can move mountains" refers to one of Jesus' favorite figures (see Matt 17:20 and 21:21). That would obviously be great faith, but St. Paul is saying you could have great faith and be "nothing." You might prophesy and drive out demons in Jesus' name, which are great works of faith, but be turned away from heaven (see Matt 7:21-23).

Answer 1

Short answer: No.

Our evangelical friends are playing word games with "faith." Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb 11:1). Faith is a necessary virtue for Christians, but it is not the complete response God requires.

CDF

Answer 2

I struggle with this question myself. I think works of love are very important since scripture contains a lot on the subject. I do think, in this case, that there is some mis-understanding on both sides of the Protestant/Catholic divide. Catholics don't believe that you must earn heaven, but Protestant teaching, if not general practice, is not that you just mentally assent to the bare facts of the gospel and then you're in. "The demons believe and tremble". I can say this much and expect to get an amen from most Christians; the claim to have faith is far less important than the evidence of faith. I think that is a pretty good distillation of all the biblical data on the faith/works problem that we all keep arguing about.

Answer 3

Yes, initially faith saves you without, works of love having been done yet OBVIOUSLY because the guy on the cross who would "be with me (Christ) TODAY in paradise (heaven)", had no time to do good works.

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, but have not love, I am nothing", is fair criticism for some one who will not be generous with others.

Yet he stops short of saying "I am lost" or "I will go to hell" because that is a bit much. God offers heaven to all who will obey His house rules for heaven.

But the fact that the Holy Spirit blesses you with Spiritual gifts is not a badge of character. You show what kind of a Christian you are, by your behaviour including good works.

Thoughtless, uncharitable, hard hearted believers lose out regarding rewards in heaven, but the worst "punishment" they will get is the self recrimination for not loving others in the love of Him who loves them best!

Salvation is not by works, although I can't explain why. The bible says it is a gift of God to those who seek Him. I believe the bible.

A lot of people, even Christians, believe in God, yet doubt the Word of God, that we find in Holy Scriptures, like John 3: 3..

It is easy to see, by the world's very existance, that God MUST be there although we can't prove it.

People who believe in salvation by good works are not believing that the Bible is proven to be inspired. I disagree!

Those biblical prophecies, that have already come true throughout history, prove to me that all the others will come true too, including salvation by faith, not works!

Answer 4

The second verse is James 2:26, there is no 4:26. It is simply a semantic matter of emphasis. Salvation must be of grace, accepted by faith, since no one can earn it, but only God can know the heart and the reality of a profession or faith. But the reality of that faith can only be demonstrated to others by good works.

Answer 5

I would like to point out that this whole discussion is on words originally spoken in Aramaic and Greek, written in Greek, translated into English. Words spoken in different situations and concepts we don't have in their original context.

I believe that "faith" and "belief" are not synonymous. Belief precedes faith but I belief faith is an action word. Belief is passive and faith is active. The C.S. Lewis quoted is right on the mark. These discussions of faith vs. woks are interesting intellectual games but don't reflect a real conflict.

Answer 6

Without both faith and good works you're pretty much screwed. I think that one of the most tragic things is being a "Christian" but not helping out those in need.

As to faith that can move mountains - I doubt that truly many of us have that.

Answer 7

Sometimes I have a problem with Paul. One time he says that we can only be saved by grace through faith; another time he says that Good works is that which saves us.
However, Jesus says clearly that the New Commandment is one of love of God and each other. Another time, he says..'Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me. This shows that when we do good works we are doing the will of Jesus.
I have had fights with many Christian preachers who seem to believe that good works doesn't matter..but then again some of them drive the latest model cars and giving a homeless man a $5.00 may reduce their car payments.

Answer 8

Bruce,
Please remember also that James 2 says, Faith without works is dead. I believe that faith causes works and the works are a part of faith. There are many things that we are directed in the Bible to do (New Testament scriptures). We can not believe ONLY and get to heaven in my opinion. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks,
Eds


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Answer 9

I think that Paul is talking about motive here.

BTW, the word translated as the English word "love" in this passage is actually the Greek word "agape". Agape is not an emotion as such, but is rather a benevolent attitude toward others. The Hebrew (Old Testament) equivalent seems to be the word "hesed", which is often translated into English as the word "mercy", but it seems to imply someone who is patient with the shortcomings of others.

One cannot please God if he or she is merely religious, but lacks the proper attitude towards others, if that is what you are asking.

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Hosea 6:6 (NIV)
For I desire MERCY, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Micah 6:8 (NIV)
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love MERCY and to walk humbly with your God.

Answer 10

If I might offer you my opinion here, I'd like to suggest something to you. "faith alone" as you say is just faith, that's like knowing the sun will rise in the morning as opposed to the evening or afternoon. Through Jesus christ we are saved, not through good works or throguh gifts of the tongue or the language of angels or men of old and reknown. Your bible still tells you the quote from Jesus that states, "no man comes to the Father but through me, and "that it easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven by purchasing a ticket to heaven. Each of us has a purpose in life and a set of guidelines we can choose to adhere to so that we can interpret our faith and the regulations, rules,ordianances,etc. The new testiment is not the Old testiment and while it is a good thing to know your bible front to back, it is more neccessary to understand the sacrifice God made by dying in the flesh and rising in the spirit as flesh and thereby we are forgiven our sins if we only ask to be forgiven and admit that we do "in fact believe in Christ's death and reLife upon and after the cross.........And yes, anyone can cast out a demon, in fact it is sometimes more easy to cast out a demon if you arent a christian but that only opens you up for habitation by evil and makes you a hypocrit. The bible also tells us another one of my favorite things which is as follows and can be interpreted in several ways, perhaps more than any passge or verse and it goes as follows : "study to show yourself approved of God". Now does that mean to study so God can give you a test when you get to heaven?.....No,....does it mean to study so that you can get into heaven?.....No,....Does it mean to study to show yourself to God "that you tried your best".....well, thats more likely the case but it really means,...."dont be a follower of men, believe what some other man teaches unless your faith is really that strong in that one man, it means,.....if a man teahces you soemthing from God,.....question it and then study what he said and compare it to the bioble and your situation alone and then the situation around you so that your knowlege is a bit better than it was before,.....because practice will ake you more learned!. I hope this has helped you and that I havent pushed my beliefs down your throat.......I am nobody to teach My Father's words exactly to you or any man, I am just offering you my slightly educated opinion.........God bless you and merry christmas to you and yours.