Salvation: By Works?

James 2:20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
Philippians 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

These two verses seem to show that we must need works in order for us to indeed obtain salvation, or that we have to work for our salvation, to obtain it. However, this is many times simply because the verses are not understood, and out of context.

The verse in James 2:20, can be understood in the following scenario: A man is hanging onto the edge of a rooftop, about to fall. He's crying out for help, for someone to save him. There is also a man two feet from the man in need of help. He's sitting down, relaxed, in a reclining chair, eating a sandwich. Looking at the man about to fall, he says with his mouth full, "I really want to help you, I do." All the while, he sits back and just watches on. The man falls to his death.

Now ask this: Did the man in the recliner really want to help the other man? Will the man in the recliner be believed by Police, and commended as a hero who truly wanted to help a man, but just didn't get to? Most certainly he will not! Why? Because even though the man said he wanted to help, he didn't even make an attempt to help. Therefore, he was a liar.

In the same way, if we say we have faith, but never show our faith by bringing forth good works, then we are liars. If we say we love God, yet we never listen to Him, or even TRY to listen to Him or what He has said in His Word, then we are liars. If we say we are Christians, but we live just like the wicked and lost souls without salvation, we are liars:

1 John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:"

It is a matter of hypocrisy. We can call ourselves Christians all we want, but if we never act like it, then in truth we are no Christians. This is what the entire second chapter of James is speaking of, that if we are to "talk the talk" we must "walk the walk" or else our "talk" is nothing, it is dead. Someone comes to us and says, "Hey! I'm a Christian too!" Then would it be wrong to say, "Really? Show me! Even the serial rapist police just caught, said he was a Christian."

We can say we believe in God all we want. Good for us, but we have to remember that even the devils know that God is real!

Is this to say that salvation comes by works, or that salvation involves works in some way? No, Faith is what saves us. Works are what come after faith shows itself to be true. This is why the Word of God says, after we are saved by grace, that we are created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works, that we should walk in them. Are we created BY works? No, we are created to walk in the works, in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Are we saved by works, or does our salvation need good works in order for us to achieve it? No, if it were, then we could say that Christ Jesus didn't have the power to save us completely, but that we had to chip in and help Him. Then we could also boast to God saying that WE saved ourselves! It would no longer be a gift, but merit and debt.

Another example would be a car, or some other vehicle like it. There is the key that starts the car, correct? Then, once the car is started, there is exhaust (little or much, there is still exhaust). The Key can be considered faith, and the exhaust good works. Does the exhaust start the car? Does the exhaust HELP to start the car? No. It is the turning of the key that starts it all. And if that key really did turn, and the car really did start, it WILL produce exhaust. Likewise, our Faith is the factor that gives us Salvation, and once we have salvation, our good works are evidence of that Salvation because it is naturally produced.

Philippians 2:12, again is a verse often misunderstood out of context. Even the next verse after it, shows that we ourselves are not working, but God is working in us, AFTER we are saved.

Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

The verses in Philippians, are exhorting us to pretty much not be "Sunday Christians" who act Christian-like on Sunday, but then throughout the rest of the week, act like the rest of the world. Also mentioned, is acting good when special people are around, but when they are gone, so is the goodness within us. This shouldn't be done, as it is honestly hypocritical!

But this isn't to say that we are working FOR our salvation, or that we are, by works, saved. This is speaking of not neglecting the good fruit of the Spirit. It is God who stirs us to do good Works, and God who produces the good works. This is what Jesus is speaking of in John chapter 15.

John 15:4-5 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Can the branch bring forth fruit, and then get accepted into the vine? No, first the branch must abide in the vine, BEFORE it can bring forth fruit. It can happen no other way. This is the same with salvation. Our Salvation comes first, then the fruit is produced afterward. Even then, it is not the branch that produces the fruit, but the vine itself which enables the branch to produce the fruit. This is why the branch cannot produce the fruit of itself. Without Christ, without Salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus, we can do no truly good works.

In all this we see, that Salvation does not come by works, nor is Salvation accompanied and helped along, by works. Salvation is by faith and faith alone, THEN once we are saved by faith, we produce good works, as "Proof" that indeed we are abiding in the True Vine! If we love Jesus, we show it!

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Amen, and Praise God for His Grace! Back to the Top