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So, you think your faith in Jesus will save you? If so, you may have been deceived regarding what mere faith can do. Are you aware that in Jesus' day many leaders of the Jewish synagogues believed in Jesus as the Son of God (had faith) but "they did not confess him," which is required (John 12:42; Rom. 10:9-10)? Also, the devils who "believed and trembled" were certainly not saved (James 2:19). So why then do you think that "faith alone" (advocated by many denominational preachers) will save YOU?
A passage that is often thought to teach "faith only" (salvation at the point of faith) is Ephesians 2:8-9. But have you looked at it carefully? It states that GRACE, not faith, is what saves. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Faith certainly has a part in justification that results in salvation, as do works (James 2:2-25); but faith that saves is faith that results in ACTION (see verses 17, 18, 22). Moving from verse 8 to verse 9, note Paul's statement that salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast." Are Paul and James teaching differently, or is it possible to come to a conclusion that will allow these passages to harmonize? Paul's declaration "not of works" simply means one cannot bypass Jesus and be saved by works (namely "works of the Law") apart from God's grace. I might add that many insist that this passage teaches that WORKS have nothing to do with salvation, but in view of the teaching of James (and other writers) that idea cannot be true. Speaking about Jesus, the writer of Hebrews said, "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9). Obedience involves action, which falls into the category of works. Any conclusion that has the inspired word contradicting itself has to be false.
Perhaps the confusion about works is due to failure to understand that when an inspired writer used "works" in a negative way, he was not talking about ACTION to be taken by one who would follow God's conditions for salvation, but was referring to works of the Law of Moses (Rom. 3:28; Gal. 3:2, 5, 11). No man can be saved today by following that Law. "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" (Gal. 2:16). (See also: Gal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 3:6; Heb.10:3, 4; Rom. 9:31-33.)
That salvation is by grace is certain. But it is just as certain that faith has a part in one's being saved. By inspiration, James explained how "faith" and "obedience" go hand in hand:
James 2:17-18 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.
Conclusion:
Salvation is not by faith alone, grace alone, or works alone, but takes place in the mind of God when one hears and believes the gospel; repents of his life of sin; and is motivated by his faith to be "buried with Christ in baptism," after which he rises to walk the new life (Rom. 6:3,4; 17,18). Without one's faith in the operation of God to do what He promised (1 Pet. 3:21 ISV) and without God's grace, baptism would be meaningless. But one who has faith that comes about due to hearing the word (Rom. 10:17) can know the exact moment when he is born again (John 3:5; Rom. 6:3, 4, 17, 18). He can't see the cleansing, like Naaman who was cured of leprosy when he dipped the seventh time in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5), but by faith he has full assurance and hope of heaven.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22).
Additional passages relating to obedience: Acts 5:32; Rom. 1:5, 2:8, 4:16a, 6:16-18, 16:26; Gal. 5:1, 6, 7; 2 Thes. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:7.
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