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What does the Bible say about faith without works?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that true saving faith rests in Christ alone and necessarily bears the fruit of obedient love, while works cannot earn God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 says we are saved by grace through faith, created in Christ for good works. James 2:14-26 warns that a faith with no visible fruit is dead, as Abraham’s faith was shown genuine through obedience. Galatians 5:6 speaks of faith working through love, and Jesus calls His disciples to hear and do His words in Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 6:46-49. Good works therefore do not justify sinners before God, but they testify that faith is living and Christ is at work in His people.

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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.

  • James 2:26

    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.

  • Titus 1:16

    They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

  • Matthew 5:16

    Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

  • Matthew 7:21-23

    [21] Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' [23] Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'

  • Luke 6:46-49

    [46] "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things which I say? [47] Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. [48] He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. [49] But he who hears, and doesn't do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

  • 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 1:22-25

    [22] But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror; [24] for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. [25] But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

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