The Great Debate That’s no Debate at All

There is an ongoing debate among Christian denominations about how salvation is obtained: Is it through faith or through works?

There are many verses in the bible that clearly answer this question, but I’ll point to the popular Ephesians 2:8-9 for simplicity:

“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.”

Salvation comes through faith alone and that is the answer that should end the great debate, however this subject often requires clarification. Simply saying you have faith is not evidence of salvation.

This would be the same as a Jew claiming to be saved through the mark of circumcision, but then he goes on to disregard the prophets and God’s laws.

We can say we have faith by physically altering our flesh or receiving the Catholic sacraments, but doing these things is not what saves our souls. Salvation starts with faith alone and then becomes evidenced in our works, the intentions of which only God can know.

This concept is clarified, not contradicted, in James Chapter 2:

Verses 17-19: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James points out here, that believing in God is a good start, but lots of people believe this, even devils! We would not say these devils’ souls are saved, would we?

So, what is the evidence of salvation?

Verses 20-24: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Would Abraham have offered his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice if he did not have faith in the Lord? What would faith be worth if we did not obey the commands of the Lord? It would be toothless!

Verses 25-26: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Rahab the harlot could have easily given up Joshua’s messengers to the king of Jericho, but she proclaims to them, “…for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11) and through her faith, she protects them.

So the confusion about James 2 comes from misunderstanding in WHOSE eyes you are trying to be justified in. Paul says that “by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh justified in his sight...” Romans 3:20. But in the eyes of other people, like the Hebrew spies in the book of Joshua, Rahab’s statement that she believes that their God is the true God does them no good if she betrays them to their enemies in Jericho.

Yes, faith is meaningless and dead if works do not follow, but there are no works you can do to save your own soul. That comes by faith alone.