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"A world of confusion and disappointment results from trying to believe without obeying. This puts us in the position of a bird trying to fly with one wing folded. We merely flap in a circle and seek to cheer our hearts with the hope that the whirling ball of feathers is proof that a revival is under way". A. W. Tozer
Also See
Why The Fire Hasn't Fallen
Christianity is not alive and well in spite of loud declarations to the contrary. We don't seek God because we are quite convinced that we have already arrived.
ON THIS PAGE
Emphasis Mine In All Bible Verses
Introduction
Faith Is Not The Only Requirement For Salvation
In fact, there are...
Five Essential Prerequisites to Salvation
Knowing God And Loving God
What exactly do these phrases mean?
Saul - The Consequences of Disobedience
Good Works - The Criteria By Which We Will Be Judged
Reconciling Salvation By Faith With Being Judged According To Our Deeds
James and Paul
James is often seen as contradicting Paul's teaching that salvation is by faith alone -
an easy conclusion to come to until you examine the context of their writings.
James and Paul and Abraham
Some believe that Paul and James came to different conclusions about Abraham.
To Sum Up
Introduction
Perhaps one of the all time greatest delusions in the Christian world is the belief that in order to be forgiven their sins and inherit eternal life, all someone has to do is believe Jesus died for their sins on the cross. In fact, I have to wonder how much of the modern Christian world believes salvation is a free gift with no price tag attached and nothing to do except believe. This based on three verses in Romans - 6:23 and 5:15-16.
In these verses the word charisma that simply means a gift - is rendered "Free Gift" in several popular translations including the New Living Translation, English Standard Version, NASB 1995 and 1977, Amplified Bible, American Standard Version, English Revised Version, International Standard Version etc
See https://biblehub.com/romans/6-23.htm and https://biblehub.com/romans/5-16.htm
However, and this is CRUCIALLY important - the word free does not exist in the original Greek. Let me reiterate. None of the NT verses that speak about God's gift to us use the word free. Charisma (gift) is used some 21 times in the New Testament - but was translated 'free gift'' ONLY in the three instances that it occurs in connection with salvation. In all other verses charisma is rendered as gift.
The word was inserted on the completely erroneous assumption that a 'gift' has to be free. Just because a gift is unearned - that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation it does not necessarily mean that there are no conditions attached. See Salvation - Part III - A "Free" Gift?
Prerequisites to Salvation
In stark contrast to the idea that a very minimal commitment is required to be saved, Jesus laid down some very stringent conditions for salvation.
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:25-27 NASB) Also see Matthew 10:37-38.
When was the last time you heard a message from the pulpit that even vaguely resembled Jesus' words?
But that isn't all.
Jesus then told them two parables - the first about a man who began to build a tower but ran out of money and the other was to do with a king who weighed his odds before going into battle.
In other words, He was urging them to count the cost before making a commitment.
Why?
Simply because ....
Faith Is Not The Only Requirement For Salvation
At the very outset, let me be very, very clear about one thing. Salvation is a gift from God that we do not deserve and cannot do anything to earn. We are saved by God's grace but we have to trust that Christ paid the penalty for our sins. In other words, faith is an essential ingredient without which it is impossible to please God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)
However, what one never (or very rarely) hears is that anything other than faith is required to be saved. In fact any suggestion that this is the case is not only militantly opposed by most of Christendom, but denounced as an unbiblical, works based, false teaching.
But what does the Bible say?
Five Essential Prerequisites to Salvation
The Scriptures point to a number of things that are essential prerequisites to salvation. Five in particular stand out - Repentance, Holiness, Endurance, Obedience, and Good Works. Without these there is no salvation.
The first three - Repentance, Holiness, and Endurance have been covered in detail in separate articles.
Repentance
defined as a radical change in one's attitude toward sin and God, is presented as an absolute requirement for forgiveness in the Old Testament as well as the New. Jesus, not mincing words said, "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish". (Luke 13:3 NASB) Repeatedly emphasized in the book of Acts, repentance is NOT the same thing as faith, but the Bible presents them as connected... literally two sides of the same coin. Repentance does not earn you salvation, but there is no salvation without it. So why is it rarely put forward as essential to salvation? See Repentance
Holiness
is rarely taught as an essential to eternal life. In fact, the hue and cry would be deafening if someone in a modern church were to preach that you have to attain a certain level of righteousness to be saved. The preacher would be denounced from one end of the Christian world to the other as a false teacher who is teaching salvation by works. Yet, the Scriptures record the Savior as saying
For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven". Matthew 5:20 NASB).
Hebrews 11:6 repeats the message clearly saying that without holiness no one will see God yet
Holiness is NOT a virtue and it is NOT a suggestion - it is the commandment of God, repeated from one end of the Bible to the other. Anyone who professes Christianity without holiness is either as phony as the proverbial three dollar bill or vastly deluded. To be noted is that although holiness implies goodness, the core meaning of Biblical holiness it is not just "good", but "set apart" and therefore good. See Holiness.
Endurance:
Here are a few examples of the numerous verses that clearly state that a person is only saved if they endure to the end. See Jesus' Warning and Parables About Persevering to The End HERE
Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Matthew 24:11-13 NASB).
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, (Hebrews 3:14 NASB)
Obedience = Knowing God And Loving God
Two of the prerequisites to salvation are 'knowing God' and 'loving God' - both of which boil down to obedience. The Scriptures tell us that we have come to know God if we keep His commandments and that the evidence of our love for Jesus is obedience.
This makes it imperative we thoroughly understand what the Scriptures mean by these two phrases
"Knowing" God
In John 17, Jesus' prayer to His Father included the words...
"This is eternal life, that they may know (Gr. ginosko) You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)
Although ginosko in the above verse has been variously translated into the English words recognize (Luke 19:44), understand (Matthew 21:45) be sure (Matthew 24:43), perceive (John 6:15) etc. all of them boil down to the English 'know'.
Obviously, in order to know God one has to possess objective, factual data about Him. However, one can have intellectual knowledge of God's character and laws, yet still not "know" him. However, the Bible tells us that exactly how we can be confident that we 'know' God..
By this we know (Gr. ginosko) that we have come to know (Gr. ginosko) Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know (Gr. ginosko) Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know (Gr. ginosko) that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB emphasis added)
And this is exceedingly important because at the last judgment Jesus tells all pretenders to piety who claim to have done many works in his name that He never knew them
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew (ginosko)you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.' "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:21-24 NASB)
What is interesting about these verses is that Jesus doesn't dispute the claims being made simply because miracles can occur through pretended believers. If he chooses God can give a believer in name only (or even a practitioner of the dark arts) the ability to heal or even raise the dead.
The ability to do these things is not necessarily connected with righteousness and proves nothing.
"Loving" God
A lawyer once asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life. In response to the question, Jesus asked him what was written in the law to which the lawyer replied
"you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself... ".
Upon which Jesus told the lawyer that he had answered correctly and if he did this he would live. (Luke 10: 26-28)
Which brings up the question of what it means to love God simply because when we speak of 'loving' someone or something we usually mean a feeling we have for someone or something that we can see, feel, or experience. For example, we can love our family, children, pets, country, etc. We can also love food, travel, books, a job and so on. However, it might seem impossible that we would have the same intensity of feeling for a Being that we cannot relate to in the same way.
The New International Study Bible footnote to Exodus 20:6 sheds much light on the matter. It says that
"in the treaty language of the ancient Near East the 'love' owed to the great king was a conventional term for total allegiance and implicit trust expressing itself in obedient service."
The apostles, following in the path of our Lord, often reiterated that loving God means keeping His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3 NASB)
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you are to walk in it. (2 John 1:6 NASB)
As Jesus said If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15 NASB)
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21 NASB)
The question the Savior asked those first century believers - ’Why they called Him, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but did not do what He said‘ (Luke 6:46) was a timeless one applicable to all believers everywhere throughout history. How would you respond if f Jesus were to look you in the eye and ask why you insist on calling Him Lord yet disobey His commandments ?
Saul - The Consequences of Disobedience
The 15th chapter of 1 Samuel relates how God told king Saul that He would punish the Amalekites for their treatment of the Israelites on their way out of Egypt (Vs.2). He told Saul to strike Amalek and utterly destroy man and beast (Vs.3). However, Saul did not obey and "spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good" (Vs 9) which caused the Lord to tell Samuel that he regretted making Saul king because he did not carry out His commands (Vs. 11).
When Samuel confronted Saul his excuse was that the people had taken "some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal". To which Samuel replied
Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination (KJV Stubbornness) is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king. (1 Samuel 15:22-23 NASB)
This is a lesson that all Christians need to take to heart. Simply professing Christ as Lord, attending church, reading the latest "Christian" book, attending the never ending "Christian" conferences (whatever those are), or drinking your coffee from a mug marked with a Bible verse, will do nothing for you.
To obey is all important, and takes precedence over everything else. If we do not do so, we will hear the same words that Saul did - "The Lord has rejected you". (Vs. 23 and 26)
Good Works - The Criteria By Which We Will Be Judged
It often seems that the only Scripture we can quote about good works is the one in Ephesians that states we are not saved by them
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
Unfortunately, this has led many to conclude that good works are unimportant and that anyone teaching otherwise is a legalist adding to the finished work of Christ on the cross. Yet, anyone who reads the Scriptures carefully and without bias cannot but be struck by how strongly the Lord feels about the less fortunate and those in need - and the strong emphasis He placed on doing good to others.
Good Works Were Commanded In The Old Testament.
"Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. "At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. "The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. (Deuteronomy 14:27-29 NASB)
"Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? "Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? "Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:5-8 NASB)
And in The New
Over and over again the New Testament instructs believers to not only do good works but to consider how they can encourage other Christians to do the same (Example 5). Believers are instructed to be such a reflection of God's light by their good deeds so that even the unbeliever may be influenced (Example 6)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 NASB)
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:23-24 NASB)
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12 NASB)
Evidence of doing good deeds was essential before widows received church support
A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. (1 Timothy 5:9-10 NASB)
And let us never forget the words of the extremely outspoken James.
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2:17-20 NASB)
From Beginning to End The Bible Tells Us
We Will Be Judged According To Our Deeds
Old Testament
Verses in the Old Testament tell us that God would not only withdraw from people who practiced evil, but He would actually hate them and would neither pity nor feel sorry for them.
Their deeds will not allow them To return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the Lord. Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, and Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also has stumbled with them. They will go with their flocks and herds To seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. (Hosea 5:4-6 NASB)
All their evil is at Gilgal; Indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of My house! I will love them no more; All their princes are rebels. (Hosea 9:15 NASB)
I, the Lord, have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will not relent, and I will not pity and I will not be sorry; according to your ways and according to your deeds I will judge you," declares the Lord God.'" (Ezekiel 24:14 NASB)
New Testament
In the words of our Lord Himself
For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. (Matthew 16:27 NASB)
Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:8 NASB)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10 NASB)
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. (Revelation 22:12 NASB)
To the church in Thyatira: 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; (Revelation 2:26 NASB)
See The Judgment Seat of Christ and Rewards in Heaven
Part VII of What And Where is Heaven?
Reconciling 'Salvation By Faith' With Being Judged According To Our Deeds
Is it possible to reconcile a person will be judged by his deeds with being saved by grace through faith.
The answer is a resounding "yes". Not only can the two concepts be reconciled but they are actually inseparable.
Have we completely lost sight of the Biblical meaning of the word "faith"? The Bible nowhere supports the idea that a mental assent to Jesus having lived, died, and been resurrected is enough to save a person. Nor do the Scriptures ever state (or even imply) that believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins is sufficient to give us eternal life.
Much to the contrary, the Bible unambiguously state that faith is not just a matter of believing but of following through on that belief.
"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB)
A person who believes obeys the commands of our Lord. If they do not obey they do not really believe, much as they might like to think they do. We will be judged according to what our deeds because what we do is clear evidence of what we really believe.
James and Paul
But doesn’t what James said in the 2nd chapter of his book contradict Paul's teaching that salvation is by faith alone. The verses in question are
James:
What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (James 2:14-20 NASB)
Paul:
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (Romans 3:28 NASB)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)
The perceived contradiction between the words of these two apostles has long been a theological battleground leading to some serious error. Critics have been known to point to these verses as an example of the Bible contradicting itself, and cults often use the book of James to support their teaching that works are necessary for salvation.
In reality, James' statement has been both misunderstood and misinterpreted. (Apparently even Martin Luther didn't follow what James was saying since he called the book "an epistle of straw". But why am I not surprised? Contrary to the deified position Martin Luther holds today, he held numerous wrong beliefs. (See Martin Luther)
Context, Context, Context
The Bible is an integrated whole with but a single purpose. It does not contradict nor reverse itself. Since each verse is an integral part of a particular point the author was trying to make, no one should read, much less base their beliefs on stand alone verses - one has to read the immediate surrounding verses, the entire chapter, or even several chapters. See Context is CRUCIAL
Reading James and Paul's words in the context of each apostle's overall message makes it clear that each of them was addressing different situations, and had different objectives.
Paul was concerned about people adding good works and/or observance of the law to faith which they believed to be necessary for their salvation. And he was explaining how the Gospel works - how someone becomes a Christian through faith rather than the keeping of the law. He was teaching justification by faith to the Jews who were accustomed to keeping details of the law such as circumcision (Romans 3:1) and the Sabbath.
Perhaps more than any other New Testament author Paul held equally firmly to the belief that unless people led holy lives they were "abominable" and "reprobate"- destined for damnation. In fact, Paul's statements were almost as strong as those of James when he said God's wrath would fall on those who did not obey the truth. (Emphasis Added)
They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (Titus 1:16 NASB)
James, on the other hand, was emphasizing the nature or practical outworking of true faith. He was concerned that people who professed faith but showed no signs of following through on their professed beliefs had a lifeless, intellectual assent to Christ, not saving faith. In other words James was speaking of the works necessary after conversion.
What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ... In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:14, 17-18 NASB)
Author Alexander Ross perfectly expresses the situation in his book The Epistles of James and John ...
They are not antagonists facing each other with crossed swords; they stand back to back, confronting different foes of the Gospel" (p. 53).
James, Paul, and Abraham
Abraham is often cited as the most outstanding example of faith. However, the Scriptures only record his actions as evidence of his faith. Thousands of years later, we know how great his faith was because of what he did, not what he said, what he felt, what he thought, or even what he believed.
Some are of the opinion that Paul and James came to different conclusions about Abraham. Not true. Early in the book of Romans Paul cited Abraham as the archetype of faith telling us that his' faith was counted as righteousness.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:2-3 NASB)
James on the other hand is often quoted as saying... Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21 NASB). Perhaps we need to read all of what James said...
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:21-24 NASB)
In other words, Abraham put his money where his mouth was. When God told him to leave his country he did not sit back and say, "God, I believe in you, but I do not know what dangers I will face by leaving the area I know so well. I cannot subject my wife to the unknown, so, I am sorry, but I think it is best that we stay here".
The Bible tells us that Abraham went.
Similarly, the strength of his faith was is evident from the fact that he told the young men who had accompanied him and Isaac to the mountain, to wait there with the donkey. He said that he and Isaac would go further, and "we will worship, and come again to you". (Genesis 22:5). Abraham was obviously confident that both of them would return.
He proved his faith to God, which is obvious from God's words to him. (Emphasis Added)
He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Genesis 22:12 NASB)
Both apostles say that Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness, but James stresses that Abraham showed his faith by doing.
It is exactly the same with Rahab whom James mentions as an example of faith in chapter two saying, "In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" (James 2:25).
Had she just claimed to believe she and the rest of her family would have been just as dead as the other inhabitants of Jericho.
It cannot be denied that all three of the apostles were commanding readers to live their beliefs?
To Sum Up
The Bible unambiguously shows that we are not saved by any one thing but each condition is intrinsically entwined with all the others. Condensing the entire New Testament message into a single doctrinal belief means we have to throw a number of other New Testament passages out of the proverbial window, thus trivializing the word of God.
Yet, the most common dirge heard from many a pulpit today is... all a person has to do to be guaranteed a place in heaven, is believe. (I call this false message a dirge, because it is exactly that... a funeral song for those that hear and believe this fake gospel). Belief alone is not what the Word of God teaches but makes the Gospel more palatable to the masses with a terrible result - believers have been lulled into a false sense of security.
In summary, it doesn't matter how much you move your mouth, or how much emotion you stir up, it's your actions that count - if you do not obey and bear fruit the Bible does not consider that you believe.
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