We ought to begin with the argument found in Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is by faith alone so if it was by works, it appears people would have fallen into boasting and even more, perhaps into pride. Which is a sin and that may raise more questions, making salvation questionable. Therefore, if we are questioning something that is guaranteed by God, we should reconsider what we believe and the works we do because of our beliefs.

Though I am more than convinced that Salvation is by faith and the Bible says so also. I was thinking that there must be something more to it. Recently I was listening to different people who were declaring that Salvation is by faith and works. Or others who claim that Salvation is by works alone. Obviously, both claims are untrue and tend to fall into heresy, rather than being a Biblical point of view. I would also like to add, that the above statements are man-made ideologies, therefore, we should be careful when hearing such apostasies.

Salvation by works only

I have a problem with this statement because it does not align with the Bible, first of all. Secondly, I found it to be logically inconsistent with itself. That is because it does not assure that someone can be saved. It does not provide the security of salvation and that because it points to the man and not to Christ. It sits in contradiction with the cross. The Bible clearly states why Christ died on the cross, and yet people now say, “That is true, but we must do good works to be saved”. This statement is, indeed, an abomination. And whoever claims it, has fallen into heresy, unfortunately.

So, how many good works someone should do, to be saved? What type of good works? How many and what kind of good works would outweigh the bad works? Who is doing the weighing? If Salvation by works alone was true, we should be able to find these answers in the Bible. But nowhere can they be found. They can be produced by using the Bible, but not found in the Bible. Somehow, I have a glance idea of who can provide an answer to them. It is the man who does the works, and since there is no objective truth to this Salvation, it is false.

If the weighing of the works for salvation is done by the man doing the works, then this is not salvation at all. Moreover, this excludes God from Salvation, and the human being is the standard to measure. If that is so, why do I need Salvation? If I am the standard, then why can I not make the decision to be saved, without doing anything, including belief? If we say: “the Bible says we need to be saved to go to Haven”. Then, I would raise the question: Are you doing the works to go to Heaven, or to be saved? And there is where the confusion and the contradiction.

The Bible, throughout its entire narrative, claims that Salvation is by faith alone and the result of that is to be in Heaven. I have not put my trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for Heaven. I did that in order to be saved from the damnation of my sins.

Besides being a false and heretic claim, it is logically inconsistent and again, amazed by those who say it is true.

Salvation by faith and works

This has struck my mind when I was meditating on it. Because the question I had was, “Faith in who, or more precisely in what?”. Perhaps, not such an obvious answer, but after munching on it I have concluded that those who claim that Salvation is by faith and works, put their faith in the works they do, rather than in Christ. Though they claim that it is by faith and works, it is again not an honest claim. Because if faith was in Christ, it would cancel the works. Since faith is joined by works, somehow, I get the feeling that their faith is in the works they do and align them to the cross. But a distorted image of the cross. And since the faith is based in the works, salvation becomes, as above mentioned, subjective to change.

So, the emphasis on works is wrapped in by the joint claim of being through faith as well. A false claim which wants to be true, by stating a lie covered by a truth. A method used for thousands of years and even from the beginning of the world. When Adam and Eve were deceived, Satan brought doubt in their mind and heart. This is what the claim of salvation by faith and works does as well. People who seek to be saved so, are doubting is by faith alone or by works alone. Therefore, they do both, and lean on the most tangible which is works. But comfort themselves, with the thought of belief as well.

To believe is not work and to do works is not belief. So, this deception is such a lean-sliding path into heresy. The purpose is to destroy faith in the One who sacrificed all for the Salvation of our sins.

Salvation by faith alone

Before diving into the truth, we ought to establish a few things about Salvation.

1. Salvation was commissioned before the foundation of the world

2. Salvation was commissioned by God who is Holly

3. Salvation was justified before the foundation of the world

(John 17:24, Ephesians 1:4; 1:13, 1 Peter 1:20,21)

4. Salvation was completed by God after the foundation of the world (John 3:16)

5. Salvation is the evidence of God’s abundant love John (3:16)

6. Salvation’s purpose is beyond the foundation of the world

   
   

I would like to begin my argument with the statement, “Salvation is by works, but not the works of man.”

I was rather amazed to understand that the answer to my premises question, “Why is Salvation by Faith alone?”. Is because someone else did all the work and the works required to fulfil all the requirements for a perfect salvation. And that someone else is GOD.

First of all, I would like for this to be an established principle, that God does not do anything without being justified first. So, our salvation had to be justified before the foundation of the world so that it could be fulfilled after its foundation. I hope this is not seen as a wild idea. I strongly believe it is not even equal with the claim of Calvinists who say we were predestined unto salvation before the foundation of the world. Because my question then would be, “How was that justified?”. I am rather inclined to the claim that salvation was justified before the foundation of the world. If it has not been, it would not have been prophesied. Throughout the Old Testament, there is a plethora of prophecies of Jesus, the Messiah coming on the Earth, and dying for humanity’s sins. From Adam and Eve to the last prophets, Jesus was prophesied.

God is the one who commissioned our salvation and that was done before the foundation of the world. We ought to understand this to its fullness. God is love and justice at the same time. Probably hard to understand them both together. But if we take them separately, we might be able to grasp some of God’s greatness.

In God’s foreknowledge, when Salvation was commissioned, justice came in and made the rules for it to be done. Justice required for a price to be paid in order for Salvation to be done. And that price was only possible to be paid by God and because God is love, he could not refuse the justice’s requirement. After all, God is both, justice and love. The asked price was for a blood sacrifice, which could only be the Lamb of God, which we know now, that it is Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:5-8). So, when God justified our Salvation, imagine God reasoning with Himself. His foreknowledge, love and justice played a great role in justifying it. What the foreknowledge knew, and the justice requested, was what love answered and then, did, through Jesus Christ on the cross.

John 3:16 depicts the fulfilment of the Salvation. This was done after the foundation of the world, after many prophecies, and it clearly states that people can only be saved by faith. Faith in the works that God did unto our Salvation. The cross is God’s proof of love, but also the proof of his justice and evidence that He knows all things before they even happen.

The works of salvation were done by God, some before the foundation of the world and the most part was Christ on the cross. I strongly believe that there is no deed that we could do to at least balance that. Moreover, remember that we said in the beginning that Salvation was commissioned by God who is holy. Therefore, the works were all pure and holy. Nothing sinful, can be found, in all the work God put into Salvation. The work God did unto Salvation was not for His escape. But for our redeeming from sin. God does not need to be saved from sin. We are the one who need this Salvation. Then, how can a sinful creature, by doing good works and believing that they can save him from sin, can be saved from sin and go into Heaven?

I hope we can all understand by now, that it is impossible. For a deed to be even considered as worthy for something, must be done by a righteous being. And we can only have that through the faith in Jesus Christ, that He died on the cross for my sins. All my works are a dirty rug, moreover, how filthy are they if done for my own salvation.

Salvation by works cancels God’s love. Because the claim is that the works saves, and not God. Whereas the cross is the love showing God’s infinite character and the abundance there is in Him.

The works we do should result from the faith we have in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Not for salvation. Because the same God did. Salvation is the result of God’s love and justice, not the work for God’s love and justice. The Bible clearly states that God loved us before us knowing Him (Ephesians 5:2; 1 John 4:10-11). Before any human answered His great love, He commissioned and justified the Salvation of every inhabitant of the earth.

Once again, I hope that it is clearer that Salvation is by faith alone in the works that God did on the cross and for the cross through Jesus Christ.