Gospel Truth Project

Introduction

Few debates have stirred more division or discussion in Christian history than the relationship between faith and works. Is salvation truly by faith alone, or do works play a role? The Protestant Reformation loudly declared Sola Fide—faith alone—yet passages like James 2 seem to say otherwise: “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Is this a misunderstanding? Is this taken out of context?
While many Christians today live on one extreme or the other, either believing works earn their place in heaven or dismissing obedience as unnecessary, we are called to rightly divide the Word of Truth. For example in 2 Timothy 2:15 it says, “Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” In this post, we will explore Scripture and the writings of early church fathers to answer a critical question: Does true saving faith stand alone, or is it always accompanied by obedience and good works?

The Controversy Defined

Today, there are divided understandings within Christianity regarding how salvation is received. Some claim it is by faith alone, while others believe it is by faith plus works. Humanity has always had an instinct to work for approval—whether from other people, society, or even from God. We see this throughout history, including in the pagan religions surrounding Israel and the early church, where people would perform rituals, offer sacrifices, or take part in ceremonies to earn favor from their gods (Galatians 4:8-10).

These instincts haven’t disappeared. Today, in the name of Christianity, some go to one of two extremes:

Some claim that works have no place at all in the Christian life, as if obedience and holiness are irrelevant. (antinomianism)

Others believe that salvation is earned by what we do—through our deeds, rituals, or pursuit of righteousness. (legalism)

This division has existed for centuries, notably shaping the Protestant Reformation, where Sola Fide (faith alone) was championed in response to what was seen as works-based salvation taught by the medieval church leading up to the Reformation. Yet even within these traditions, people continue to disagree.

When I was younger, I did not understand the division and did not want to learn more regarding it, thinking it may change my views and I was content with the views I had. But here I am, discussing a crucial ideological understanding of the most important thing to humanity of all time, Salvation.

Biblical Foundation: What Does the Bible Say?

Sola Fide (Faith Alone)

Scripture has strong implications and direct commands discussing faith alone in regards to salvation. For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.” The context for this verse is Ephesians 2:1–10 which clearly explains the relationship between our lack of obedience, the grace of God, and our salvation. Those who are saved by Christ do not deserve this salvation. It is only by mercy, and by grace, that God chooses to forgive. In this section, Paul will repeat the claim that human effort has no impact on receiving salvation whatsoever.. No Christian can brag about their ”goodness,” since we are saved entirely by the grace of God, not by our own good deeds.

So in verse 8 we see Paul returns again to his theme of grace in this classic verse. Salvation’s source is grace; the means of salvation is faith. We believe by faith to be saved (Romans 10:9), but would never choose to believe apart from the grace of God operating in our lives. That salvation would never be available, other than as a result of the grace of God. Both parts are important in the discussion of salvation.

So in verse 9 we see here, he continues with yet another reminder that works do not and cannot save us. Good deeds are important in the lives of believers, but they do not provide salvation. It has been said we work as a result of our salvation, not to provide our salvation. Paul’s Jewish upbringing had emphasized devout adherence to the law as the means to please God. He was faithful to his religion, yet did not know God. His salvation came when God revealed Himself to Paul by grace, and Paul responded in faith, believing in Christ and being saved (Acts 9; Galatians 1:15-16).

One reason for Paul’s frequent reminder about the futility of works is noted here, as well. If salvation could be earned, those who earned it would brag about their success in obtaining it. Paul certainly had experience with those who felt that their deeds had earned them a special favor with God (Philippians 3:2–11). The truth is, only He can provide salvation, He alone is worthy of all glory and honor. We exist as His servants, completely dependent upon Him for life and salvation.

Another example used for Sola Fide is Romans 3:28 which says, “For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” Its important to note the context here is Romans 3:21–31 which finally introduces the ”good news” part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Up to this point, Paul has shown that even following the law cannot spare us from being judged by God for our sin. Now Paul announces that, through faith in Christ, we can be made righteous in God’s sight. Entirely apart from the law, we can be redeemed by the atoning sacrifice of Christ’s blood, willingly shed for our sin. This gift of God’s grace instead of wrath is available to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. This is truly good news!

In verse 28 this verse is a summary of what Paul has written in Romans 3:21–27. It also serves as a useful, concise proof that our salvation is not, in any sense, dependent on good deeds, rituals, sacraments, or other behaviors. Prior verses made it clear: we cannot and will not be seen as righteous before God on the basis of our own efforts (Romans 3:10). However, unless God declares a person to be “justified”—righteous, having no sin in need of punishment—that person cannot be with God. The unjustified person has earned God’s angry judgment.

Paul has shown that nobody is able to reach this level of being justified by following the works of the law. Human beings can’t do it. We sin. It’s in our nature. Once we have sinned, the price of our sin is to be excluded from God’s glory (Romans 3:23).

Thankfully, God provides a way—but only one way—for humans to be declared “justified.” This comes through faith and not through works of the law. Later, Paul makes it clear that salvation is entirely by faith, with no contribution of works to earn it. (Romans 4:3; 11:6)However, true faith, as we will explore next, is never fruitless or inactive.

Legalism of Works

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who teach or live as if salvation depends on constant works, religious duties, or the pursuit of personal righteousness. This mindset—commonly known as legalism—adds to the finished work of Christ by placing the weight of salvation back on human effort. While this is seen in various forms across Christian history, it became especially formalized in the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, where salvation is often presented as a process of cooperating with grace through sacraments, penance, and works of charity.

Most commonly quoted scriptures for this ideology is important to understand why this is such a strong position. Firstly, a very common Chapter is James 2:14-26 which says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

Another key passage for this ideology is Matthew 7:21-23 which says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’”

Even such verses as John 14:15 which says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” these are strong scriptural references and stand points to support a works based salvation.

So Faith or Works?

So which is it? Are we saved by faith alone, or by works? Both sides seem to have strong biblical arguments. One proclaims Sola Fide, salvation by grace through faith alone. The other points to the seriousness of obedience, fruit, and action in the Christian life.

It’s here that we need to slow down, open our Bibles, and ask: What does true saving faith really look like? Is it passive belief? Is it religious effort? Or is it something far deeper—something that transforms every part of who we are? Let’s take a closer look.

James 2

So lets dig into James 2:14-16 as stated above. James continues with the main theme of his letter: genuine faith in God results in genuinely changed lives. This includes the “works” that we do, which involves our actions and our thoughts. Those who have a saving belief in God, who receive the gift of salvation through trusting in Christ, are expected to act out that trust while making choices about all of their actions. In other words, according to James, belief which leads to no change, or no works, is not saving faith at all. The works do not save us, but they do reveal the character of our trust in God.

What does that look like in our daily lives?

James’s prior words in chapter one were a command to live out the Words of God. He compared the absurdity of hearing the Word, then ignoring it, to a man looking at his face in a mirror and then immediately forgetting what he looks like. Here, in chapter 2, James urge his readers not to show favoritism or partiality. As a specific example, he refers to rich people, including any wealthy people that might come to Christian gatherings. To show more love and kindness to the rich than to the poor is not consistent with our professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

James asks the reader to consider a scenario in which a wealthy-looking man and poor-looking man come to their Christian gathering. Why should the rich man be given a place of honor and the poor man be made to stand or to sit on the floor? This is exactly what would have happened in the typical non-Christian environment of James’s day. Sadly, it happens in various ways even today. James is clear that it must not happen in the church.

Those who trust in Christ should trust God to provide for and protect them instead of hoping they will gain the favor and protection of the rich. After all, as James writes to his mostly poor Christian readers, it’s the rich who are currently oppressing them!

In fact, James writes, to favor the rich over the poor is a sin. It is breaking the command to love your neighbor as yourself. And since breaking any command makes one a lawbreaker, showing favoritism to the wealthy is as much a breaking of the moral laws of God as murder or adultery. We all stand in need of God’s mercy, therefore we should speak and act as people who honestly believe they will be judged by the law that brings freedom. Christians are obligated to be merciful to everyone.

Next, James lays out his case that it is not enough to simply have “belief” in God. In this notorious passage, he questions the value of a “faith” which is mere mental agreement with the truth. Any religious “faith”—or simple intellectual agreement—which doesn’t result in good works is a dead faith. To have biblical, saving faith in God, to really trust Him, is a mindset which invariably leads one to obey God.

As an example, James describes an encounter with someone who doesn’t have enough to wear or eat. Is it enough to simply tell them to stay warm and get something to eat and to go in peace? No, James insists, those words accomplish nothing. What we say in our minds is meaningless if it does not matter enough to influence our actions. More to the point, the actions prove the truth—or falsehood—behind the claimed belief. As Jesus Himself said, ‘You will recognize them by their fruit’ (Matthew 7:16-20). True faith will be known by the fruit it produces.”

Some read James’s arguments as a contradiction to the teachings of Paul. It’s not a necessary disagreement, as this passage actually complements the message of Paul very consistently. The reason for confusion involves a mistaken view of the biblical definition of “faith.” Saving faith is not merely agreement; it is trust. James makes it clear that the “faith” which he says cannot save is mere intellectual belief. True saving faith alone saves, but it is never alone—it produces works as evidence..

Paul was eager to make clear that salvation cannot be achieved by human effort. Freedom from the eternal penalty of sin is available only to those who trust in Christ. It is not something we can earn by keeping of the law (Ephesians 2:8–9). But those saved through faith and by God’s grace will, without fail, step into the good works God has prepared for them to do (Ephesians 2:10).

James agrees. In fact, he is saying, theologically, exactly the same thing as Paul. However, while Paul emphasizes the “cause,” which is trusting faith, James emphasizes the “effect,” which is good works. James stresses that so-called-“faith”, which is merely mental agreement and does not produce good and loving works, is not a genuine, saving faith. He points to the Old Testament examples of Abraham and Rahab to show that their faith saved them—and we know this because their “faith” resulted in obedience and courageous good works for God and His people.

James summarizes this with the explicit comparison to a dead body. A body which exhibits no spirit or breath is not alive. In the same way, a “faith”—in this case, meaning “intellectual belief”—with no resulting works is also dead.

In short, James is not teaching that works save us, but that true saving faith is alive, active, and evidenced by works. Without works, faith is exposed as dead—not because works make it alive, but because living faith naturally produces them.

Matthew 7:21-23

This verse is deeply challenging, and the subject of many debates. Scripture is clear that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, and not earned by good deeds (Titus 3:5; Galatians 2:16; Romans 11:6; John 6:28–29). The Bible also strongly reminds believers that all people—even those who are born again—have sin which needs to be addressed (1 John 1:9–10; Hebrews 4:14–16). However, God’s Word also indicates that those who are truly born again will see that salvation reflected in their attitudes and actions (James 2:14–17; John 14:15). A similar tension exists in this passage—emphasizing that Christ, not deeds, is what saves (John 14:6), and yet submission to Christ is an expected result of salvation (Luke 6:46).

Those words are often misapplied and misunderstood. Mostly, this happens when someone assumes Jesus is requiring that good works are a condition for salvation. Not only would such an interpretation conflict with the rest of Scripture (Titus 3:5; Romans 11:6), it ignores what Jesus goes on to say here. In this verse, He specifically says that it’s possible to fool yourself into thinking your actions are in service to God, when in reality, they’re not.

Having warned His listeners to beware of false prophets, Jesus made it clear that it’s possible for other people to “put on” a show of faith and fool us. Christians should be aware of false leaders, and other people who claim to represent God when they do not (Matthew 7:15–20). Here, He offers the other side of this two-part alert: beware of false followers. Specifically, Christ is warning those who hear Him not to fool themselves into thinking they are true believers, when in fact they are not.

Jesus declares that not everyone who refers to Him as “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. The title of “Lord” implies a master, a leader, and someone to whom the speaker submits. In prior teaching, Jesus indicated that mere words and actions are not enough—they must be motivated by sincerity and truth (Matthew 6:1, 5, 16). In that same way, Jesus states in no uncertain terms that merely referring to Him as Lord is not enough. Neither are acts of supposed righteousness. Entrance to the kingdom of heaven is limited to those who truly, fully do the will of His Father in heaven (2 Corinthians 13:5). That starts with sincere faith in Christ (John 6:28–29) and extends to humility in how we live our lives (John 14:15).

Jesus’ words may sound harsh to us, but they also contain great truth. Great works will not earn a person entrance into the kingdom, even astounding good works like those listed (Matthew 7:21–22). Jesus has said that on “that day,” when He comes to establish His kingdom, some will point to their good works of prophesying, casting out demons, and doing other powerful works in His name. Those people will claim that their performance has earned, or at least proven, a place in Christ’s kingdom. Yet Jesus makes it clear that their failure was not in the lack of works, but in the lack of knowing Him personally. This is why He says, ‘I never knew you.’ Their trust was in their performance, not in Christ Himself. This reveals that even the most impressive religious acts are meaningless if they are not rooted in true faith and relationship with Jesus.

It’s important to notice that Jesus is making an enormous claim in this verse about His role in the kingdom of heaven. He is the One who will declare whether someone can enter the kingdom of heaven. He is the Judge who will grant entrance or condemn those who have not placed their faith in Him alone. They will be separated from Himself and the Father.

John 14:15

For this passage, it is important to note that the context is John 14:15–31 which contains a prediction about the Holy Spirit. Jesus refers to this as the Spirit of Truth, and promises that the Spirit will arrive to help the disciples carry on after Jesus is ascended to heaven. Throughout this section, a person’s love for Christ, their obedience to His teachings, and the indwelling of the Spirit are intertwined. As in prior statements, Jesus is focused on comfort and encouragement. He will continue to highlight the need to maintain faith, based on all He has said and done so far.

This verse, for such a simple statement, is often exaggerated or ignored. Jesus has been reassuring the disciples as He approaches His impending death and resurrection. Part of that included encouragement—their knowledge of Him was their way to God (John 14:4–6). Those who believe in Him have the opportunity to do “greater works” than even He had done (John 14:12). The phrase immediately before this verse was a conditional promise that Jesus would do anything, provided it was asked “in [His] name.” This condition prevents interpretations that make God into a robotic servant of men.

Following directly from that, Jesus connects a person’s love for Him with their obedience to His teachings. There are two possible extremes to which this verse can be subjected. One is something like legalism, or works-based salvation. The other is to brush the statement aside as if a person’s behavior says nothing about their eternal destiny. Both are wrong. Christ has just made it clear that He, not His followers, is the One responsible for their salvation (John 14:5–6; Titus 3:5). He has also pointed out that legitimate followers still need some level of “cleaning” from sin (John 13:10; 1 John 1:9–10).

Jesus pointedly taught that those who follow Him are obligated to show love for others (John 13:12–15, 34). That is the primary sign of faith to the outside world (John 13:35). Here, He indicates that obedience to His commands is the primary sign of our love for Him. A person cannot claim to know Christ and hate other Christians (1 John 4:20). Nor can someone claim to know Christ while disregarding His teachings (1 John 2:4).

In most earthly situations, this idea is non-controversial. True “pacifists” don’t start fights. True “vegetarians” don’t eat hamburgers. Incredibly, some object to the suggestion that truly born-again “Christians” don’t make a habit of ignoring the teachings of Jesus. The point is not that believers are perfect—far from it (1 John 1:9–10). Nor is the lesson here that good behavior earns or keeps one’s salvation (Romans 11:6). It’s that a self-labelled “Christian” who lives contrary to the message of Christ is like a meat-eating warmonger who claims to be a “pacifist vegetarian.”

The connection between behavior and love for Christ clearly made an impression on John, who echoes it in his letters (1 John 2:3–6; 2 John 1:6; 3 John 1:11). The guidance of the Holy Spirit is key for this obedience (John 14:16).

Obedience to Christ is not something we do to prove ourselves worthy, but something we are empowered to do because the Spirit of God now lives within us. It is the evidence of a transformed heart—a heart that loves Christ and desires to follow Him, not out of fear or duty, but out of love and trust in who He is.

Putting it all Together

After looking at both sides of this long-standing debate, it becomes clear that Scripture holds both faith and works in a tension that is not meant to be broken. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That much is clear from Paul’s writings in Ephesians 2 and Romans 3. No amount of effort, law-keeping, religious duty, or personal righteousness can make us right with God. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

And yet, the Bible is equally clear that true saving faith does not stand alone. James challenges us to examine whether our faith is alive or dead, reminding us that a faith without works is useless and powerless to save. Jesus warns us that many will stand before Him pointing to their good deeds, only to hear Him say, “I never knew you.” And He makes it unmistakably clear that those who truly love Him will obey His commands—not to earn His love, but because they have already received it.

The balance is not faith or works, but faith that works. True saving faith will always produce fruit, not to earn salvation, but because salvation transforms the heart. Works are not the root of salvation—they are the fruit. We are not saved by our obedience, but true salvation will lead us to a life of obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.

Conclusion: A Living Faith That Works

So, where do I stand? I stand on the firm foundation of God’s Word, which declares that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. But I also stand on the truth that real faith is never fruitless. True saving faith changes us. It leads us to obey, to love, and to live for Christ, not because we are trying to earn our way to heaven, but because we have already been adopted as sons and daughters of God.

Legalism tries to add to the finished work of Christ. Lawlessness tries to strip away the call to holiness. But the Gospel calls us to neither. It calls us to believe—and because we believe, to live lives that reflect that belief.

Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone.

God bless you brother or sister and may God strengthen you through this time.