One of the most “controversial” questions in regards to Christianity has always been are we saved by faith or are we saved by works. The reason why this question is so important is that there are masses of people that rebelled against a “works based” salvation doctrine that was common among the Catholic Church in the medieval period. As the written Word of God was translated into common languages for people to read it was more and more prevalent to question what was taught by the Priesthood of the Catholic Church and to lean more towards “faith based salvation”. That is a large simplification of what is commonly called the Reformation Period in Christian history. As we simply turn to Scripture and try to uncover God’s perspective on the issue, we find some helpful passages.
Romans 11:5–6, “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
Ephesians 2:4–6, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”
Ephesians 2:8–9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
These passages are just some of many that emphasize that one’s salvation is not based on works that man does, but it is from the grace of God. However, these verses are not the only ones that contribute to the debate.
James 2:14, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”
James 2:22–24, “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
Famously Martin Luther, a leader in the Reformation Period, was at odds with the book of James due to the emphasis on works being required for one to be faithful to God. So what is it then? Are we saved by works or by faith? Commonly the Bible gives us a clear understanding that on topics like these it is not “all or nothing”, it is both. Are we saved by the Grace of God? YES! Are there works that we are required to do to achieve the grace offered by God? YES!
I would recommend reading Matthew 25:31-46. In this passage mankind is divided into two camps, named goats and sheep in the passage. Notice what was different between the two groups. It was not that one side didn’t know what the Gospel of Jesus was, it wasn’t that some had never heard of the one-true-God before, nor was it anything related to their spiritual identity. The reason given for why some were found faithful and others were not was the works that followed their obedience to God’s commands.