Does Faith Need Works?

This is one of those thorny questions for Christians. The Catholic church teaches that good works are required along with faith in Christ for salvation from hell. Some Protestant sects teach this doctrine too. Are they right?

The confusion comes because people misread James 2:14 (BBE and think "faith" refers to salvation. "What use is it, my brothers, for a man to say that he has faith, if he does nothing? will such a faith give him salvation?"

The evidence of salvation is  proven by a person's works. After we read in this chapter about the uselessness of just saying encouraging words, we read in James 2:18 (BBE), "But a man may say, 'You have faith and I have works;' let me see your faith without your works, and I will make my faith clear to you by my works.

Many people know about God and Christ but that doesn't save them. Check out what James 2:19 (BBE) says about Satan's demons. "You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear."

The fallen angels know God is real and that he has power to cast them and human sinners into hell. But we descendents of Adam lack the sense to fear the Lord.

Human wickedness blinds folks from realizing that genuine faith is proven by our spontaneous acts of kindness and obedience to God. James 2:21-23 (BBE) says, "Was not the righteousness of Abraham our father judged by his works, when he made an offering of Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was helping his works and was made complete by them;" And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, 'And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness;' and he was named the friend of God."

And lest we think that people like Abraham are good enough to be righteous, check out what James 2:25 (BBE)  declares. "And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?"

Just as a magnet passing through a coil of wire generates electricity, so saving faith generates obedient works. This is one analogy I'll use in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many people think that just knowing the facts about God will get them through the pearly gates but it won't. It really is who you know that counts.

On Thursday, I'll explain why such a sinful woman like Rahab was saved.

Will Believing About God Save Us?

As I found out when I was a boy, not every church teaches the full counsel of God. In fact, some denominations are much like the Pharisees of the first century. All they teach is works as a means to please God.

But what does God's Word say about righteousness? If we depend on our own works to save us, we're headed for hell.

Those who assume that believing about God is good enough need to heed the warning in James 2:19 (KJV). "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." In other words, the demons are more orthodox in their theology than those who just believe there's a god out there somewhere.

And if just being good  is good enough, what about what Romans 4:2 (KJV) says? "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God."

Furthermore, the Pharisees kept the law but not out of love for God. But Christ's harshest criticisms were levelled at them because they were inwardly corrupt. He said in Matthew 23:23 (KJV), "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

Paul also pointed out in Galatians 2:16 (KJV) that, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

According to James 2:18 (KJV) righteous works done out of love are proof of one's faith in Christ. "Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works:' show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

God doesn't reject all good deeds but only those done to butter him up. I'll be pointing this out in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many churchgoers depend on their denominational affiliation for their salvation when they should surrender their lives to Christ.

The Belief in a Higher Power Error

Is it really enough to just believe that there is some sort of universal higher power? Many people, including good friends of mine, say that they can't believe in the Bible and Jesus. Then they give me some sort of excuse about bad examples of Christians or of misunderstandings they have of church doctrines.

Look at what James wrote about those who just believe about God. In chapter two and verse nineteen (BBE) he wrote, "You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear."

Beyond mere mental ascent, people must place their trust in Christ. Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) plainly states, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Some people will doubtless be confused at how we can believe in God and Jesus as well. Even so, Christ tells us to do so. John 14:1 (KJV) quotes our Lord as saying, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."

Believing in the Lord means placing one's full and total trust in him and Christ's atonement for sins on the cross. As Romans 10:9 and 10 (BBE) instructs, "Because, if you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and have faith in your heart that God has made him come back from the dead, you will have salvation. For with the heart man has faith to get righteousness, and with the mouth he says that Jesus is Lord to get salvation"

Additionally, we must love the Lord rather than roboticly obeying him. Jesus said in John 14:15 (KJV) "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Christ also explained the benefits of loving God in John 14:21 (KJV) when he said, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

And not only in this world do we receive new life in Christ but in the age to come. Romans 6:23 (KJV) states, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

So mere ascent that there is some sort of divine being somewhere who made the universe isn't enough to give people salvation and save them from sin and eternal torment. This is the main theme of my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven. May the Lord use my writing to guide folks to eternal life.

On Thursday, I'll post about the error of moralism. Just being a nice person won't get one into heaven either.