Are we saved by faith alone, or do we need works, too?

[Christalone]

Roman Catholics often mention that the Bible never says we are saved by faith alone and that the phrase “faith alone” occurs only once in James where it says that we are not saved by faith alone. If this is so, then why do the Protestants say we are justified by faith alone and not by works? Because the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith alone, and not by works.

The following is a list of verses about being saved by faith. Please take note that faith and works are contrasted. In other words, we are saved by faith “not by works” and “apart from works”, etc. The point is that there are only two options. We are saved by faith alone or we are not. Since we have faith and works (both conceptually and in practice), then we are either saved by faith alone or by faith and works. There is no other option.

1. Rom. 3:28-30, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.”
2. Rom. 4:5, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,”
3. Rom. 5:1, “therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
4. Rom. 9:30, “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith.”
5. Rom. 10:4, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
6. Rom. 11:6, “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.”
7. Gal. 2:16, “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.”
8. Gal. 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
9. Gal.3:5-6, “Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
10. Gal. 3:24, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.”
11. Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. 9Not by works, lest any man should boast.”
12. Phil. 3:9, “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Again, works/Law is contrasted with faith repeatedly and we are told that we are not justified by works in any way. Therefore, we are made right with God by faith, not by faith and our works; hence, faith alone.

 

[Eleve]

If this is so, then why do the Protestants say we are justified by faith alone and not by works?

Because the Protestants don’t know their Bible. The Catholic claim that you cited is precisely correct: the only instance of the phrase “faith alone” in the Bible is James 2:24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

 

[East_Anglican]

James 2:17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Therefore as Martin Luther said, Good works do not make a good man but a good man does good works.

We are saved by faith and we are justified by faith and because of that faith we also do good works but good works do not save or justify us.

This ends the matter but this thread is still going to go on for at least twenty pages.

 

[Christalone]

Because the Protestants don’t know their Bible. The Catholic claim that you cited is precisely correct: the only instance of the phrase “faith alone” in the Bible is James 2:24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Excuse me! Who made you God? This coming from a fence straddler.

James 2:24, not by faith alone

The scriptures clearly teach that we are saved (justified) by faith in Christ and what He has done on the cross. This faith alone saves us. However, we cannot stop here without addressing what James says in James 2:24, “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.”

There is no contradiction. All you need to do is look at the context. James chapter 2 has 26 verses: Verses 1-7 instruct us to not show favoritism. Verses 8-13 are comments on the Law. Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works.

James begins this section by using the example of someone who says he has faith but has no works, “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14). In other words, James is addressing the issue of a dead faith, a faith that is nothing more than a verbal pronouncement, a public confession of the mind, and is not heart-felt. It is empty of life and action. He begins with the negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17, words without actions). Then he shows that type of faith isn’t any different from the faith of demons (verse 19). Finally, he gives examples of living faith that has words followed by actions. Works follow true faith and demonstrate that faith to our fellow man, but not to God. James writes of Abraham and Rahab as examples of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds.

In brief, James is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence, “Faith without works is dead,” (James 2:20). But, he is not contradicting the verses above that say salvation/justification is by faith alone.

Also, notice that James actually quotes the same verse that Paul quotes in Rom. 4:3 amongst a host of verses dealing with justification by faith. James 2:23 says, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’” If James was trying to teach a contradictory doctrine of faith and works than the other New Testament writers, then he would not have used Abraham as an example. Therefore, we can see that justification is by faith alone and that James was talking about false faith, not real faith when he said we are not justified by faith alone.

 

[phoenix3212]

Roman Catholics often mention that the Bible never says we are saved by faith alone and that the phrase “faith alone” occurs only once in James where it says that we are not saved by faith alone. If this is so, then why do the Protestants say we are justified by faith alone and not by works? Because the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith alone, and not by works.

The following is a list of verses about being saved by faith. Please take note that faith and works are contrasted. In other words, we are saved by faith “not by works” and “apart from works”, etc. The point is that there are only two options. We are saved by faith alone or we are not. Since we have faith and works (both conceptually and in practice), then we are either saved by faith alone or by faith and works. There is no other option.

Again, works/Law is contrasted with faith repeatedly and we are told that we are not justified by works in any way. Therefore, we are made right with God by faith, not by faith and our works; hence, faith alone.

I think you misunderstand the Catholic position. The Church teaches that we are not justified by works, and that anyone who believes such is anathema–outside of it. Rather, we are saved by grace through faith, but that faith has to be active. “Faith without works is dead.”

 

[Christalone]

I think you misunderstand the Catholic position. The Church teaches that we are not justified by works, and that anyone who believes such is anathema–outside of it. Rather, we are saved by grace through faith, but that faith has to be active. “Faith without works is dead.”

Faith comes first then works as in baptism. Baptism does not save. God’s grace through faith is what justifies us. And then we must work to strengthen our faith, most definitely.

 

[Eleve]

Excuse me! Who made you God? This coming from a fence straddler.

You can’t see me, but I’m rolling my eyes here. You don’t need to be God to make an accurate statement about the contents of Scripture.

 

[Christalone]

You can’t see me, but I’m rolling my eyes here. You don’t need to be God to make an accurate statement about the contents of Scripture.

Not surprised at the childish remark, but we know our bible as well as the next faith.
Even though you claim not to be catholic, you most definitely possess the superiority complex that is rampant amongst them.

 

[Eleve]

If Protestants contradict the very true Catholic statement that began your original post, then, yes, they are speaking from ignorance of the Bible. I apologize if I made it sound like Protestants in general are ignorant of the the Bible in general.

As for your uncharitable remarks against me and Catholics in general, I have nothing to offer but prayer.

 

[johnshark]

i was taught in rcia that we were save by grace…the grace of god

 

[ferdie]

Not surprised at the childish remark, but we know our bible as well as the next faith.
Even though you claim not to be catholic, you most definitely possess the superiority complex that is rampant amongst them.

Where’s the charity? No good fruit comes out with this kind of attitude.

 

[Christalone]

Where’s the charity? No good fruit comes out with this kind of attitude.

Same place Eleve places his/hers by claiming that protestants do not know their bible

 

[Eleve]

Please consider my apology in my previous post. Actually, let me strengthen it:

My statement was that “Protestants don’t know their Bible,” which was inaccurate and uncharitable. I apologize for characterizing Protestants as ignorant. I meant to say that any particular Protestants who do not think that the only Biblical instance of “faith only” is the negative statement in James 2:24 are indeed unaware that this is the objective truth. I know that there are a great number of Protestants with an impressive understanding of Scripture, and I am also sure that any who are unaware of this particular fact do so more from lack of information than from stubbornness or malice.

 

[SyCarl]

Because the Protestants don’t know their Bible. The Catholic claim that you cited is precisely correct: the only instance of the phrase “faith alone” in the Bible is James 2:24, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

We are saved by grace through faith.

As for James 2:24, rather than repeat a lengthy reply in another thread, I will just post the link to those posts.

[POST]5299511[/POST]
[POST]5299516[/POST]
[POST]5299525[/POST]

 

[geometer]

i was taught in rcia that we were save by grace…the grace of god

I was taught that also, by presbyterians…

 

[Eleve]

I didn’t mean to criticize Sola Fide (I don’t really have a firm belief on any Christian doctrine at the present) so much as to defend the specific claim that the only instance of the phrase “faith alone” in the Bible occurs, in the negative, in James 2:24.

 

[Christalone]

Eleve, apology accepted, forgiven and forgotten.

The Gospel for Roman Catholics is the same as for anyone else and it is obtained by grace through faith in believing and trusting in Jesus alone, who is God in flesh, for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is not found in a true church. Salvation is not found in being good. Salvation is not found in good works. Salvation is not found in a sincere heart. Salvation is not found in making up for past sins by efforts of restoration, or penance, or indulgences. You can never do enough to please God.

Because God is so infinitely holy and righteous, and because we are sinners, we are incapable of pleasing God by anything that we do. In fact, our righteous deeds are considered filthy rags before God (Isa. 64:6). You can do nothing to earn forgiveness or keep forgiveness. Salvation before God is not administered to us through an earthly priest in the Catholic church by the sprinkling of water, or giving of penance, or recitation of formula prayers. Salvation for the Christian is not kept through the effort of the person who hopes and tries and worries about being good enough to stay saved.

Such error can only lead to despair and hopelessness and a desperate and unwarranted dependence on the Roman Catholic Church as the only means by which salvation can be distributed and maintained. In this error, people far too often seek to work their way to heaven by being good, by doing what the Catholic church teaches them to do, by prayers to Mary, by indulgences, by the Rosary, and by a host of other man-made works. Remember, in the RCC, salvation is through the Church and its sacraments, not through Jesus alone, by faith alone. This is exactly how the cults of Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses work who both teach that true salvation is found only in their church membership and in following the revelation and authority of their church teachers and traditions.

 

[geezerbob]

Why don’t you settle this by reading what Jesus has to say in Mt. 25:31-46. This is getting to be like the chicken and the egg argument. Regardless of which came first, works or faith, Jesus says works are necessary to enter the pearly gates and that’s good enough for me.

 

[McDonough]

Wow!! The pot is being stirred.
The issue is very simple, and I believe we Protestants have been sold a bill of false goods on this issue. The Roman Catholics have it right because they uphold the teachings of Jesus and Paul. One does not need to be theologian to see that the Bible is very clear: we are made righteous by Christ and Christ alone. There is no hope of being made right with God apart from Jesus and his atoning death on the cross. If you don’t believe that you are not a Christian and certainly not a Catholic. The catch is that having been made right with God through Jesus you will LIVE like Jesus. If you don’t, you are neither Christian nor Catholic. Even a child can grasp that. The only reason there has ever been a big controversy is that humans are selfish and proud. We either want to be saved and live in sin or be saved on our own merits. Neither of these positions have ever been part of the Catholic Christian faith no matter what you were told. World without end AMEN!!
Blessings,
McDonough

 

[Christalone]

Wow!! The pot is being stirred.
The issue is very simple, and I believe we Protestants have been sold a bill of false goods on this issue. The Roman Catholics have it right because they uphold the teachings of Jesus and Paul. One does not need to be theologian to see that the Bible is very clear: we are made righteous by Christ and Christ alone. There is no hope of being made right with God apart from Jesus and his atoning death on the cross. If you don’t believe that you are not a Christian and certainly not a Catholic. The catch is that having been made right with God through Jesus you will LIVE like Jesus. If you don’t, you are neither Christian nor Catholic. Even a child can grasp that. The only reason there has ever been a big controversy is that humans are selfish and proud. We either want to be saved and live in sin or be saved on our own merits. Neither of these positions have ever been part of the Catholic Christian faith no matter what you were told. World without end AMEN!!
Blessings,
McDonough

we are made righteous by Christ and Christ alone.

Exactly! But I do not see catholics following this as they believe that one must be baptized in order to obtain salvation.

we Protestants have been sold a bill of false goods on this issue

.
Sounds like a cop out to me.