Is salvation by faith alone?

[glostik88]

Is salvation by faith alone? Give your answer with some scriptural backing.

[Obsidian]

Yes

Acts 10

34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Galatians 3:2

2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[a] 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."[b] 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Romans 3

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 4

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:7)

4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Romans 8

29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...
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38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5

6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

1 John 5

13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 11

24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

1 Corinthians 3

10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Glad to be of help.

[glostik88]

What about this verse?

James 2:24 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

[Obsidian]

"Justified" just means to be declared righteous. It's not a theological term that always equals salvation.

Luke 7

29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Anyone can recognize that our good deeds often have a lot to do with our being declared righteous by men. And besides our assessment from other humans, you should notice my citation of 1 Corinthians 3, where Jesus will reward us based on our service to him. I suspect James may be referring to that assessment (Notice James 2:12-13 and James 3:1).

[Obsidian]

Also, another problem you should recognize is that the translation of James 2:24 you're citing is erroneous. It doesn't condemn the idea of salvation by faith alone. It suggests that there are two kinds of justifications. The KJV does a better job of translating it. The word for "alone" is an adverb. Therefore, it does not modify the word "faith" but instead modifies the word "justifies." It shouldn't be translated "faith alone" or "mere faith" but rather "faith only." It's a small grammatical difference, but it helps drastically clarify the meaning of the verse.

It's saying that a man is not only justified by faith, but also justified by works (two justifications).

James 2:24 KJV

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

[glostik88]

You need to be declared righteous in order to receive salvation from Hell. So salvation does require works.

Look at Hebrews 6 or John 15. It is possible to fall away from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit of Truth. Therefore salvation doesn't come by faith alone. It comes by works of faith. Jesus says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

If you believe in Jesus, then later reject Jesus, and then die will you go to Heaven or Hell?

We must also realize that we do not cause ourselves to do these works of faith. The Father causes us to do these works of faith. Just as Paul says: "Not of works lest any man should boast." We do not cause ourselves to go to Heaven. The Father causes us to go to Heaven. We need to hate our own ego and believe in Jesus.

[glostik88]

Also, another problem you should recognize is that the translation of James 2:24 you're citing is erroneous. It doesn't condemn the idea of salvation by faith alone. It suggests that there are two kinds of justifications. The KJV does a better job of translating it. The word for "alone" is an adverb. Therefore, it does not modify the word "faith" but instead modifies the word "justifies." It shouldn't be translated "faith alone" or "mere faith" but rather "faith only." It's a small grammatical difference, but it helps drastically clarify the meaning of the verse.

It's saying that a man is not only justified by faith, but also justified by works (two justifications).

James 2:24 KJV

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

That doesn't seem very exegetical.

[Obsidian]

How is it not exegetical? All I did was repost an accurate translation of the verse, in response to the erroneous translation you were relying on.

Look at Hebrews 6 or John 15. It is possible to fall away from the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit of Truth.
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If you believe in Jesus, then later reject Jesus, and then die will you go to Heaven or Hell?

Heaven. You're looking at passages which talk about unfaithful Christians and assuming that their unfaithfulness negates God's promise to give them life as soon as they believe. Jesus guaranteed that if you believe in him for salvation, you will live even though you die. Do you believe his guarantee, or do you think he was giving out false hope?

And of course we need to be declared righteous to enter heaven. If I get charged with a crime, but an earthly judge later finds me not guilty and declares me righteous -- is that justification sufficient to enter heaven? There is more than one type of righteousness. Paul specifically brings up the fact (1 Corinthians 3) that some Christians will be praised for their good service whereas others will be saved only by fire.

I've noticed that you basically haven't responded to any of the passages I cited for you in response to your request. Were you just trying to waste my time, or did you honestly want to look at the relevant passages?

[John Goddard]

Is salvation by faith alone? Give your answer with some scriptural backing.

You need faith to do good works, you can know a tree by its fruit, if it doesn't have good works it probably doesn't have good faith to start with. So good works simply show us where our faith stands.

So initially it is faith alone, but to measure the faith, you need to see good works too.

[headheart]

Is salvation by faith alone? Give your answer with some scriptural backing.

Hi glowstick,

Faith Towards GOD

Blessings,
HH.

[RonC]

A friend used to say that he was amazed that on Christian forums often the least cited teachings are those of Jesus himself. This thread supports his contention.

On this issue, Jesus was pretty clear: “as you believe so it done…” as well as “You know the tree by the fruit…” Jesus teaches that belief will manifest in our lives, in our actions and in our behavior. There may be no differentiation in truth between faith (belief) and manifestation (acts) because righteous faith… or right belief will manifest in righteously. Sinful faith (faith that misses the mark) will manifest in sinfully.

[hedrick]

Wait just a minute. Justification is by faith (at least justification as the term is used in Romans and other Pauline letters). And justification is important. But salvation includes God's entire plan to put creation to rights, and to restore our relationship with him and each other. Justification is the basis for our participation in this plan: In justification God forgives those who have faith and calls us his own.

But salvation includes the whole plan to put things to right. That goes beyond justification. For us it involves not just faith but actions and changes that follow from faith. For God it involves regenerating us, and creation of the new heavens and new earth described in the Revelation.

[Obsidian]

A friend used to say that he was amazed that on Christian forums often the least cited teachings are those of Jesus himself. This thread supports his contention.

Duh, that's because Jesus hadn't yet performed the atonement until forty days before his departure from earth. Obviously he couldn't be as clear about it as Paul, Peter, etc. But in my initial response, I did cite Jesus's words to Martha, recorded in the Gospel of John.

[RonC]

But in my initial response, I did cite Jesus's words to Martha, recorded in the Gospel of John.

John,

I did note your reference to Jesus words. I did not comment on it but it did lead me to state that Jesus was the least cited teacher, not that Jesus was not cited at all!

Duh, that's because Jesus hadn't yet performed the atonement until forty days before his departure from earth. Obviously he couldn't be as clear about it as Paul, Peter, etc.

This is a stunning statement for a Christian to make. The Divine Jesus, the one all called the master teacher, the one who was sinless "could not be clear"?!! Why listen to Him at all!!.. I mean we can never tell if He really knew what He was talking about, or was ever really clear. Maybe we had best just ignore Him because He might just be muddying the metaphysical waters for all of us.

[headheart]

John,
Maybe we had best just ignore Him because He might just be muddying the metaphysical waters for all of us.

... my doctor once said, 'If only there as one prescription for evey problem, I would not have to work so hard.'

Sincerely,
HH.