What does the Bible say about faith and works?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that sinners are justified before God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and that true faith necessarily bears the fruit of good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 3:28 deny that our works earn salvation, while Galatians 2:16 grounds acceptance with God in faith in Christ. Yet James 2:14-26 teaches that a faith which remains barren is dead, because living faith is demonstrated in obedience and love. Abraham’s works did not purchase his standing with God but displayed the reality of his faith. Galatians 5:6 summarizes this well: faith works through love. Good works are therefore the grateful evidence and purpose of salvation, not its basis.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- James 2:14-26
[14] What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? [15] And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, [16] and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? [17] Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. [18] Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. [19] You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. [20] But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? [21] Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? [22] You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. [25] In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
- Ephesians 2:8-10
[8] for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, that no one would boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
- Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- James 2:17
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
- Romans 3:28
We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
- Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
- James 2:24
You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.
- Galatians 2:16
yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
- Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
- James 2:18
Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
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