According to the bible there is 3 key doctrines:
1. salvation by works (faith not required, or insignificant, this is our own righteousness)
2. salvation by faith without works (is dead faith, according to book of James, James 2:23 etc)
3. Salvation by faith with works to show the faith - is the correct biblical understanding, as also confirmed by study of early christian non-canonical writings.
Many debates are had as to which of these doctrines is correct.
The answer can be seen more clearly if we discuss the matter in terms of life or death.
That is, salvation is life, life is salvation. No salvation is death, and death is no salvation.
Life is the presence of God within us. Death is the absence of God within us.
Life is a Person - Jesus Christ. "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
"He is our life" - Col 3:4.
The notion of life and death, is sometimes expressed in the bible as the growth of a tree. John 15:1-9. We believe in Him, we bear fruit, and this shows we are His disciples (John 15:1-9). This is related to loving Him and obeying His commandments (John 15:10 onwards).
Let us consider the 3 doctrines as matters of life versus death:
1. salvation by works - is a matter of death, since we have no life in ourselves apart from God.
2. salvation by faith without works - is like a tree that exists, but has no fruit. A tree without fruit or life is a dead tree. Jesus curses the fig trees with no fruit.
3. Salvation by faith with works - a living tree that bears fruit. Fruit or works, is evidence of a tree that is living.
On the basis of life versus death, the Bible only supports 3. salvation by faith with works, or, evidence of God's life within a person shown by their fruit.
James 2:18 "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."
Far too often people define the term works to mean much more than it really means. They attribute it to feeding the poor, healing the sick, etc.
But works is any evidence to show you are a Christian. In includes prayer, reading the Bible, going to church,getting baptised, the ability to confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. These are all basic and essential works that prove salvation.
We are not looking for evidence of souls saved or good deeds as proof of salvation.
An unsaved person who claims to have faith but no works: a) does not pray, b) does not study the bible, c) does not go to church, d) cannot confess that Jesus is Lord. This is like the demons who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but cannot say that He is Lord of all.
In conclusion, faith with work/fruit to show the faith has always been the test by which we judge whether we ourselves are saved or not. Can we confess Jesus is Lord? Can we say that He came in the flesh? Do we call God our "Father", and not just "God". If yes, then we have the Spirit of God and are saved. The reason why these are suitable proofs of salvation, is because they are all related to having experience, personal, intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ, who Himself is our life and our salvation. If we have not encountered God personally we cannot call Him Father, if we do not know or have not met Jesus we will not say He is Lord.
1. salvation by works (faith not required, or insignificant, this is our own righteousness)
2. salvation by faith without works (is dead faith, according to book of James, James 2:23 etc)
3. Salvation by faith with works to show the faith - is the correct biblical understanding, as also confirmed by study of early christian non-canonical writings.
Many debates are had as to which of these doctrines is correct.
The answer can be seen more clearly if we discuss the matter in terms of life or death.
That is, salvation is life, life is salvation. No salvation is death, and death is no salvation.
Life is the presence of God within us. Death is the absence of God within us.
Life is a Person - Jesus Christ. "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
"He is our life" - Col 3:4.
The notion of life and death, is sometimes expressed in the bible as the growth of a tree. John 15:1-9. We believe in Him, we bear fruit, and this shows we are His disciples (John 15:1-9). This is related to loving Him and obeying His commandments (John 15:10 onwards).
Let us consider the 3 doctrines as matters of life versus death:
1. salvation by works - is a matter of death, since we have no life in ourselves apart from God.
2. salvation by faith without works - is like a tree that exists, but has no fruit. A tree without fruit or life is a dead tree. Jesus curses the fig trees with no fruit.
3. Salvation by faith with works - a living tree that bears fruit. Fruit or works, is evidence of a tree that is living.
On the basis of life versus death, the Bible only supports 3. salvation by faith with works, or, evidence of God's life within a person shown by their fruit.
James 2:18 "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."
Far too often people define the term works to mean much more than it really means. They attribute it to feeding the poor, healing the sick, etc.
But works is any evidence to show you are a Christian. In includes prayer, reading the Bible, going to church,getting baptised, the ability to confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. These are all basic and essential works that prove salvation.
We are not looking for evidence of souls saved or good deeds as proof of salvation.
An unsaved person who claims to have faith but no works: a) does not pray, b) does not study the bible, c) does not go to church, d) cannot confess that Jesus is Lord. This is like the demons who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but cannot say that He is Lord of all.
In conclusion, faith with work/fruit to show the faith has always been the test by which we judge whether we ourselves are saved or not. Can we confess Jesus is Lord? Can we say that He came in the flesh? Do we call God our "Father", and not just "God". If yes, then we have the Spirit of God and are saved. The reason why these are suitable proofs of salvation, is because they are all related to having experience, personal, intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ, who Himself is our life and our salvation. If we have not encountered God personally we cannot call Him Father, if we do not know or have not met Jesus we will not say He is Lord.
Last edited:
