If you do a word search in your Bible for the words "faith only", the only verse you will get is James 2:24 which reads "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Ephesians 2:8,9 says "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." This passage was written to the Gentiles during a period when many Jews were still trying to be justified by the Law of Moses (See verses 11-15). Consider the parallel passage in Romans 3:28 "a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." These passages do not exclude the necessity of us doing anything to receive from God the gift of salvation. They simply state that we cannot save ourselves solely on the basis of our own good works or by trying to follow the law of Moses which has been abolished.
| James 2:24 |
You
see then that a man is justified by works, and not by
faith only. |
| James 2:14 |
What does it profit, my brethren, if
someone says he has faith but does
not have works? Can faith save him? |
| Romans 3:28 |
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (KJV) |
| Ephesians 2:8-16 |
For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of
God, not of works [of the law] , lest
anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that you,
once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by
what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands
-- that at that time you were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He
Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken
down the middle wall of separation, having
abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is,
the law of commandments contained in
ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
|
| James 2:26 |
For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also. |
| James 2:18 |
...Show me your faith without
your works, and I will show you my faith by
my works.
|
| Romans 2:4-8 |
...do you despise the riches of His
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the
goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance
with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of
God, who "will render to
each one according to his deeds
": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek
for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking
and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath.
|
| Luke 13:3 |
...unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
|
| Romans 10:10 |
For
with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
|
| Acts 2:38 |
...Repent, and let every one of
you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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