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Larry Ray Hafley
Many in the religious world preach and proclaim, "Salvation is by faith
only." If that is true, note 1 Corinthians 13:2. Paul said, "If I have all faith
, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." If, as some
allege, salvation is "by faith only," why would one who lacks love be "nothing"
since he has "all faith"? The fact that one who lacks love is "nothing" shows
that salvation is "not by faith only" (Jas. 2:24).
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (1 Jn. 4:8). One may
have "all faith" and yet not know God. Since love is required, salvation cannot
be "by faith only." Only those who have love are "born of God" and know him (1
Jn. 4:7). Hence, salvation is "not by faith only."
If a farmer raises "corn only," he does not also raise cotton. Once he begins
to raise cotton, we may no longer say that he raises "corn only." Likewise, if
we add love to the requirement of faith in order to know God, then salvation is
"not by faith only."
Faith does not work alone. Faith works through love, by love (Gal. 5:6). This
faith working through love keeps God's commandments (1 Cor. 7:19). "And hereby
we do know we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him,
and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But
whoso keepeth is word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know
we that we are in him" (1 Jn. 2:3-5).
Without "faith which worketh through love," a man is "nothing." His faith is
"dead, being alone" (Jas. 2:17). So, salvation is "not by faith only" (Jas.
2:24).
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