Many people have been taught that a person is saved at the moment he believes in Jesus Christ and that nothing further is required.
The expression commonly used is:
“SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE.”
But there is a question every Bible student should ask:
Does the Bible actually teach that salvation is by faith only?
Rather than beginning with a theological system, we should examine what Scripture says about faith, obedience, and salvation.
BELIEF IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
There should be no disagreement that faith is essential to salvation.
Jesus said:
“…if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
John 8:24
And:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
The gospel itself is:
“…the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…”
Romans 1:16
A person who does not believe in Jesus Christ cannot be saved.
But that does not answer the entire question.
The question is whether belief alone, separated from the response God commands, saves.
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVED BUT WOULD NOT CONFESS CHRIST
John records something that should immediately cause us to examine the idea of faith only:
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him…”
John 12:42
They believed.
But notice what follows:
“…but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:”
John 12:42
Why?
“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
John 12:43
If belief by itself automatically saved at the instant someone believed, what are we to conclude about these rulers?
Their belief had not produced faithful submission to Christ.
EVEN THE DEVILS BELIEVE
James makes the point even more forcefully:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
James 2:19
Clearly, the existence of belief does not automatically equal saving faith.
James continues:
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
James 2:20
And concludes:
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26
A dead faith cannot save.
JAMES DIRECTLY ADDRESSES “FAITH ONLY”
There is only one verse in the KJV that uses the words “faith only.”
It says:
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
James 2:24
Whatever conclusions we reach concerning salvation by faith, they cannot contradict this statement.
James is not teaching that we earn salvation by accumulating meritorious works.
He is demonstrating that genuine faith acts upon what God has commanded.
Abraham believed God, and his faith was demonstrated through obedience.
Faith and obedience worked together.
JESUS SAID WE MUST DO THE FATHER’S WILL
Jesus warned:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven…”
Matthew 7:21
Merely acknowledging Jesus as Lord is not enough.
Who will enter?
“…but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21
Jesus continued by describing people who would call Him “Lord” at judgment, yet He would say:
“…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Matthew 7:23
Faith that refuses to obey Christ is not the saving faith described in Scripture.
JESUS ASKED WHY PEOPLE CALLED HIM LORD BUT DID NOT OBEY
Jesus asked:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46
That question reaches the heart of the issue.
Can a person truly claim faith in Christ while knowingly refusing what Christ commands?
Biblical faith is not merely accepting certain facts about Jesus.
Biblical faith trusts Him enough to follow Him.
THE GOSPEL MUST BE OBEYED
Paul wrote that the gospel is:
“…the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…”
Romans 1:16
But Scripture also describes what happens to those who do not obey that gospel.
Paul wrote concerning Christ’s return:
“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
2 Thessalonians 1:8
If there is nothing involved in salvation beyond mental belief, what does it mean to obey the gospel?
The gospel contains facts that must be believed, but it also demands a response.
JESUS CONNECTED BELIEF WITH OBEDIENCE
Jesus commanded His apostles:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15
Then He said:
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”
Mark 16:16
Notice what Jesus did not say:
He that believeth is saved and may later be baptized.
He said:
BELIEVETH + IS BAPTIZED → SHALL BE SAVED
We should allow Christ’s words to stand exactly as He gave them.
THE PEOPLE ON PENTECOST BELIEVED AND ASKED WHAT TO DO
After hearing Peter preach Christ, the people:
“…were pricked in their heart…”
Acts 2:37
They asked:
“…Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:37
Peter answered:
“…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”
Acts 2:38
Peter did not tell them:
“You believed my sermon, so you are already saved.”
He told believing people how they were to respond to the gospel.
SAVING FAITH OBEYS
Hebrews says of Jesus:
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
Hebrews 5:9
This does not teach salvation by human merit.
It teaches obedient faith.
Paul even described the purpose of his apostleship as bringing people to:
“…obedience to the faith…”
Romans 1:5
And near the conclusion of Romans, he again speaks of the gospel being:
“…made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
Romans 16:26
Faith and obedience are not opposing principles.
Biblical faith produces obedience.
WE MUST NOT ADD “ONLY” WHERE GOD DID NOT
The Bible teaches salvation by grace.
The Bible teaches salvation by faith.
The Bible teaches the necessity of repentance.
The Bible teaches confession of Christ.
The Bible teaches baptism for the remission of sins.
The Bible teaches faithful Christian living.
We should not take one of those truths and use it to eliminate the others.
The biblical pattern is:
HEAR THE GOSPEL → BELIEVE IN CHRIST → REPENT OF SIN → CONFESS CHRIST → BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST → REMAIN FAITHFUL TO CHRIST
None of these actions purchases salvation.
Christ purchased our redemption with His blood.
But receiving God’s gracious gift does not give us permission to rewrite the conditions God Himself established.
Jesus said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:15
The issue is therefore not whether faith saves.
It does.
The issue is what kind of faith saves.
Is it a faith that merely acknowledges Christ?
Or is it a faith that trusts Christ enough to obey Him?
Scripture answers:
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26
Do not accept “faith only” because it is popular.
Do not reject it merely because someone tells you to reject it.
Open the Bible and test it.
Read every passage.
Examine the context.
Allow every inspired writer to speak.
Then harmonize everything God has revealed.
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
The Biblical Pattern 