Wrestling with Salvation by Faith

1. Read: James 2:24 – “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

2. About the Text:

1) This is the only verse in the Bible where the words “faith” and “only” are together.

2) It says “not by faith only.”

3. What is “faith only.”

1) Commonly used in “the sinner’s prayer.”

2) It is the idea that one only need to say, “Jesus, I believe in you” and he/she is saved.

3) Does the Bible teach this?

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

2. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

3. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).

4. “But 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 diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

5. Notice what is missing in these verses – the word “only” or “alone.”

6. Why is the word “only” significant? – It excludes all others.

7. You cannot find a single scripture that teaches salvation by faith only/alone.

1. Hope (Romans 8:24).

2. The Gospel (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

3. Grace (Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:5,8).

4. Baptism (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

5. Believing On The Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31).

6. The Love Of The Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

7. His (God’s) Mercy (Titus 3:5).

8. Our Faith (Luke 7:50; Luke 18:42).

9. Our Belief (Mark 16:16; Luke 8:12; Romans 10:9).

10. Christ’s Testimony (John 5:34).

11. The Lord (Acts 2:47).

12. The Preaching Of The Cross (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18).

13. Confessing That God Raised Christ From The Dead (Romans 10:9).

14. The Power Of God (2 Timothy 1:8-9).

15. Being In The Body (church) Of Christ (Ephesians 5:23).

16. Enduring To The End (Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; cf. Revelation 2:10).

17. Entering In Through The Door (Christ – John 10:9).

18. Calling On The Name Of The Lord (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13).

19. His (Christ’s) Life (Romans 5:10).

20. Repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

21. Hearing The Gospel (Romans 10:13-14; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Timothy 4:16).

22. Water (1 Peter 3:20; cf. Genesis 7:7).

23. The point is that if we say we are saved by faith “only” that excludes these other things.

1. This is James 2:14-26 in a nutshell – “Faith without works is dead,” “A man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

2. “”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matthew 7:21-23).

3. “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:16).

4. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

1. “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:1-5).

2. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

3. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1-6).

4. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:9-10).

5. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:23-24).

6. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18).

1. While many in the religious world teach salvation by faith only, that is not what the Bible teaches.

1) We are saved by faith, yes, but not “faith only.”

2) We are saved by many things other than “faith.”

3) The Bible explicitly teaches the opposite of salvation by “faith only.”

4) The Bible teaches salvation by obedient faith, not “faith only.”

2. Invitation