Is salvation in Christianity based on Faith, or Works?

Question

It seems that for every verse from the bible that says that those who believe will enter heaven, there's another one that says that one must follow the Word of God and not sin in order to have salvation. It seems the writers of the Bible couldn't make up their minds. Remember that the only person Jesus personally assured would go to heaven was the thief on the cross next to him, who lived a life of sin and converted in the final moments of his life.
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/faithalone.html for a list of some of these verses (and theres a few I've found that page doesn't account for, I actually have read the bible)

As usual, ad hominem attacks will be considered an admission of your own failure.

Answer 1

Excellent question. When perusing the web page linked to in the question, one cannot divorce Faith from works when reading the citations in the right hand column. I read into the teachings that one can be saved by grace and faith alone, yet not be sanctified.

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20)


"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." Matthew 16:27

Answer 2

OK....I have read the Bible and this is what I believe....I think people make things way to hard for new Christians and that it really turns them off on wanting to be a Christian.....

It is kind of like being a baby all over again....that is why they say you are born again........YES, there are things to learn and Yes it is not always easy, But I for myself, I KNOW without a doubt it was the best deciision I ever, ever made!!!!

You do not have to work to go to Heaven....You do not have do anything but know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God...that HE died for you on the CROSS, he shed his BLOOD for your sins and mine.....we have all been washed in the blood of Jesus, and know that on that 3rd and glorios morning he rose and ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father......and there is he today waiting until it is time to come back and GATHER HIS CHRUCH....which may not be too long away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We must made the decision to receive Him into our Heart and lives and be saved.......and I feel that after we do that, works comes naturally.....you will want to do things for others...and I feel that works are not going out and slaving from someone....a simple smile, you know how much that could just brighten someone's day....opening a door up at a grocery store for an elderly lady....those are you works....being kind.....speaking to someone when you really just do not want to.....those are works and I bet you did not even realize it.......

The other part is when you sin, you must ask for forgivenness and try to sin no more....Jesus knows we are not perfect.....that is why we are FORGIVEN...Praise his name for that....but you know.....He loves us anyway....

Please feel free to e-mail [e-mail]....I would love to talk more about this if you are interested....
AmyLee

Answer 3

It can be confusing, can't it?

The thief on the cross shows that (even if it is possible to 'work' one's way in) entry to heaven can be by faith: no good deeds are required.

In his letter, James puts it this way. Faith may be all we need to enter heaven, but if you ask me to show you my faith I will point to what I do. Or to put it the other way round, "if you have the sort of faith which does not see the need to do anything about the wrongs in this world, you can hardly expect me to respect it".

So my answer would be 'Faith is all you need: the sort of faith which takes action'.

Answer 4

Salvation comes through faith alone. Works are the outpouring of faith and the practice of our faith, but they do not save us. We cannot build a stairway to heaven by our physical purity and righteousness. Unless we are perfect, we cannot enter into heaven. We can only accomplish perfection by recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah and having faith that he has the power to correct and erase what mistakes we have made. No matter what we do, it is our faith in the blood of Christ that saves us.

Jesus said that anyone who believed in Him would have everlasting life. He didn't say "anyone who believes in Me and does a bunch of random stuff". Jesus does say that we should do the will of the Father, that is follow the commandments as best we can, but that is not how we are saved.

Even James, the one who is said by many to claim that salvation comes through works doesn't actually say this. He does say that works are important. He actually claims that works are the evidence that we are saved, not the process by which we are saved.

As for pre-messianic Jews, their works were for naught. Their sacrifices merely covered their sins until Messiah comes to wipe them away permanently. Any good, studious Jew would have, and will tell you this. God repeatedly tells the Israelites throughout the Old Testament that He doesn't want just sacrifices out of coersion. God desires an obedient and faithful heart that loves Him and desires to do His will on its own...not out of fear, but out of love.

Answer 5

i'm no longer able to tell once you're in simple terms attempting to take a punch at God and His procedures or you're heavily searching for an answer to this question... the two way, our of appreciate for the Lord, i'm going that might actually assist you. first of all, God is all- understanding and the only Sovereign Lord of all mankind. God is in simple terms. Why does not that make experience? in case you deny Christ's dying on the circulate, you would be judged rightly and not attain heaven (as salvation is a unfastened present to those that settle for Jesus). We, as believers, do no longer journey the wrath of God in view that we time-honored the dying of His Son Jesus because of the fact the atonement for our sins. i do no longer comprehend what you're actually not getting. Please clarify greater needless to say. i could quite decide to help.

Answer 6

Salvation is by faith in the gospel of Jesus. Bear in mind though, that when being saved, we are baptized with the holy spirit that lives in us and produces good works in us. Our hearts change and we want to live for God and please Him with our lives because we love Him. So we are saved by faith. When saved then God puts the desire to do good in our hearts. We cant save ourselves by works. Note as well that the works of God is to believe in Jesus (John6:29) and we cant please God (by works) if we do not have His spirit (Rom8). Gal 5:6" The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love". But being saved isnt an excuse to sin (2Pet3:16), works are fruit of salvation.
Eph 2:8-9 is good too. If Jesus is in your heart, you will do good deeds, not to be saved, but because you love Him.
Yes the Bible says "will be judged by their works", but also that for those in Jesus "there is no condemnation" (Rom8), so the unsaved will be judged by their deeds, but for the unsaved, Jesus washes them clean before God because of their faith, so they stand pure in Gods eyes and are not judged. They accepted Jesus' gift and are not judged - His blood has cleansed them spiritually.
I do believe that the NT writers share this understanding when the contexts are examined. I hope this helps!
Peace

Answer 7

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.
Ephesians 2: 8-9
Faith in the Trinity yields good deeds and not the other way around.

Answer 8

Once justified in Christ through his grace ... typically by baptism into the church ... works really do matter.

Anyone who tries to prove it's exclusively one or the other, is simply confused.

Jam 2:14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
Jam 2:15 And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food:
Jam 2:16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?
Jam 2:17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Jam 2:18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jam 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jam 2:22 Seest thou that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?
Jam 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
Jam 2:24 Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?
Jam 2:25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers and sending them out another way?
Jam 2:26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead.

Answer 9

Salvation comes from believing in Jesus Christ.

Belief is our work.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, [ Or his only begotten Son] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.


John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

John 5
9You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 6:40
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

Answer 10

You can make the Bible say just about anything you want. That's why there are 3,000+ sects of Christianity.

If you know of some verses that should be added to that list, submit them to Steve. - [e-mail]