If salvation is by faith alone, what do these verses mean?

When I was a Christian, a Protestant which believed in faith alone, I never considered this verse to deeply. But I must admit it makes no sense to believe in faith alone when you have a verse practically staring you in the face that says you need lots of works.

Don't quote on this yet cause I have been reading for a while now trying to get you the answer. I understand what you are saying, but I believe that in scriptures goats are refered to the lost and the sheeps are always refered to as the saved.Even tho the sheeps are the saved, it would make someone think that it takes work, but he is talking about inheriting the Kingdom, and that is where a lot of Christians get it wrong. Salvation to heaven is by faith, but the kingdom that Christ is talking about here has to do with the bride. I have been saying this for a long time, not everyone that is saved and is going to heaven is going to be his bride. Christ here is talking about the kingdom not heaven. To get into the kingdom, it is going to take righteous works. The Christians that don't have righteous works will still be saved and go to heaven, but there are going to lose the greatest reward that God has for them which is being his bride and going into the kingdom. This is why so many verses do make you think " wait what are they talking about? I thought all I had to do was have faith and believe. And that is right, but it is wrong when it comes to rewards. Whenever you come across a verse that has to do with works, that is the prize which we have to work for it, but when you run across a verse that does not require works, that is the gift, which is free. Salvation is by faith, but rewards has works. I hope I didn't confuse you too much. I will get in touch with you when I find what I'm looking for. but I'm almost sure that as I said Goats stand for the lost, and Sheeps for the saved.

O.K. Can I use another scripture in conjunction with yours to help answer this question. I have given some thought about it and this is what I decided. Salvation is not by faith alone. Faith and works are required.

In James 2:17 it says, "Even so, faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone." (I recommend going to read that chapter to put it in context) but that tells me that faith is not the only requirement. Works are also necessary.

A different look at faith causes the "saved by faith" statement make sense. There are some things that we need to do (works) in this life. Jesus says we need to feed, give drink and cover. I personally would include baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost as other works that we must do, but no matter how many good things we do in this life, there are going to be bad things that we did too. That is where faith takes us and saves us. Faith can save us, after all that we can do. Faith in Jesus Christ allows him to make up for the mistakes we haven't repented of. That is why faith is also necessary for salvation. So "Faith without works is dead," and Works without faith is dead also.

Considering Jesus' teaching in Matt 25, it makes no sense to argue that salvation is by faith alone. As Jesus' teaching here emphasizes, charitable works are essential: Without them, we will be driven from God's presence into everlasting punishment.

Our Protestant friends reflexively counter with the claim that with faith, good works come automatically. If this were true, there would have been no need for Jesus, Paul, and the other writers in the New Testament to urge us to act in charity. They would have simply counseled us to have greater faith, much like the Gnostic heretics of the early centuries, who thought Christianity is something you can do in your head.

The only time the New Testament considers claims of faith alone, in James, it is rejected:

James 2:24: You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Given the explicit rejection of the faith-alone heresy in the Bible, it is difficult to fathom why our Protestant friends continue to believe it. Apparently, they cling to an extra-biblical doctrine, in contradiction to their claim that we know God's plan from scripture alone.

In fact, there is much more to the Christian Way than faith alone. In addition, there is baptism (Mark 16:16; John 3:5), self-renunciation (e.g., Matt 5:3, 10), repentance (Matt 3:2; 4:17; 18:8-9; Mark 9:42-48), obedience to God, doing what is charitable and just (e.g., Luke 10:25-28; Matt 19:17; Matt 25), adopting the humility of a child (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14), eating the bread of life (John 6:51, 53-54), and endurance to the end (Matt 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-18).

Cheers,

Bruce

I came here for your question and I believe you are very advanced over me but I will tell you what the verses .mean to me . I am glad I have been given the gift to have faith in God and Christ.It keeps me going daily.I think if you don't do the things he requests then your faith is not that strong.when you ask the Lord to be your savior It would be only natural to know you have to be as much like Jesus as you can.doing the things you mention .feeding the hungry,cloth thee naked visiting the prisoners and ministering to them about the Gospel.The judgment I believe is the great white throne judgment The angels have come back with the Lord and they are reaping the harvest of the souls that belong to him and dividing those that did not follow his teaching.he was complaining about the Hebrew priests because God had told told them were to always take care of the widows and orphans ,the poor. There is also the mention of the lambs book of life .Your name must be there alsoSay I have faith and believe in my faith but I will also have to answer for those things I did not do.I am encouraged to follow the teaching in the Bible.I want to share something that scares me say you have tried to live a righteous life. Not like God s righteousness and i testify how many people I lead to the Lord and he says depart from me you worker of eniqiety I never knew you.I could go on forever but I think you are already finding fault with my rambling.I do respect your opinion and I am or shall I say I never was aware so many people hated Christians.Christ was abused and paid the ultimate sacrifice in his Crucifixion.This holy blood from Gods only begotten son.that is the blood that washes your sins away.You may sin again and I think if all the nasty words come out of your mouth or losing your temper etc.God will not be mocked. We are always supposed to be uplifting to each other ,someone could be inches away from suicide and if I said something to drop them farther I believe I will answer for those. In a way we are our brothers keeper.

Rightly divide the word of truth. There are more scriptures that explain this. Gal. 3:11 The just shall live by faith. Eph. 2:8 By grace are ye saved through faith. { By grace } { through faith } key words. James 2:14 What profit if a man say he hath faith, and have not works ? v.17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.v. 18 I will show you my faith by my works.Do you believe there is a God ? You do well the devil fear and tremble.

salvation is not by faith alone. You must work at it. Jesus says it all right there. if you need more proof go read about his cousin in the book of James. You must have works with faith, just faith will not get you into heaven.

A Christian life, means suffer as Christ suffered, do what Christ did. help the poor, feed the hungry, bring the good news to poor and lame who couldn't walk.

If someone takes your shirt, give them your coat, someone takes food, give them drink. if a man has no shirts and you have 2 give one to him. if they ask for anything else, give it to them.

it means, Do on to them as they would on to you. treat them as you are treated. Follow the Golden Rule.

Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jam 2:18 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.

Jam 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Jam 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jam 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jam 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jam 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Jam 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

............Should this not make it clear? Faith without works is dead.

***

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

..........Works can not save us!

***

Luk 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

***

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Salvation is by faith alone. True faith produces fruit in a person's life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, etc. (Gal. 5:22). So good works is visible proof of a true and living faith (faith without works is dead - James 2:17). But good works alone will not get you to heaven (For by grace are you saved through faith ... not of works lest any man should boast - Eph. 2:8-9).

I think that faith and deeds go hand-in-hand. How can you consider yourself a Christ-follower if you're not reaching out to people in need and sharing the Good News with them? I am a believer and I try to live my life according to Jesus' teachings because I love Him and that is the least I can do. He died for us!~ :)