Many Christians believe that salvation is by faith alone and nothing else. They argue that if works play any role at all, then salvation would be earned and not a gift. That sounds reasonable. But is that what the Bible actually teaches?
To answer that, we need to let Scripture speak for itself, and we need to understand the relationship between faith, works, obedience, and salvation the way the Bible presents it. Not based on assumptions. Not based on slogans. Just the text.
The Problem with “Faith Alone”
James 2:14 gets straight to the point:
“What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?”
Notice James doesn’t ask if any faith can save. He’s asking about that faith—the kind that is all talk, no action. In the original Greek, the phrase is hē pistis, meaning “that faith”—the one just mentioned. It’s not real, saving faith. It’s an empty claim.
James continues:
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).
He’s not saying that faith is unimportant. He’s saying that faith that doesn’t do anything is useless. Dead faith doesn’t save.
Faith That Works Is Biblical Faith
James uses two examples to drive his point home—Abraham and Rahab.
Abraham already had faith, but James says his faith was “completed by his works” when he obeyed God (James 2:22). Rahab also believed in God, but her belief was proved real when she hid the spies and risked her life (James 2:25).
In both cases, faith came first. But it didn’t sit idle. It moved them to obey. That’s the kind of faith the Bible calls saving faith. It’s not faith plus works. It’s faith that works.
Paul and James Agree
Some people say James contradicts Paul, who says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But Paul also says in the very next verse:
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10).
Paul and James are talking about two different kinds of works:
- Paul is talking about works of the law, trying to earn salvation.
- James is talking about the obedience that flows from real faith.
They don’t contradict each other. They complement each other.
Paul also wrote in Romans 6:16:
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey… either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
That’s not legalism. That’s the result of saving grace at work.
Faith Is the Root, Works Are the Fruit
Real faith transforms the heart. It changes your values, your desires, your actions. That transformation is what produces obedience and good works.
But here’s the key: that obedience still requires your active cooperation. It doesn’t happen automatically. It’s not like flipping a switch and suddenly you’re holy. God gives the grace, but you still have to choose to walk in it.
Philippians 2:12-13 says:
“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
God works in you—but you still have to respond.
Think of it like this: Faith is the power source. Obedience is flipping the switch. You have the connection, but you still have to act.
Obedience: Gift and Responsibility
True faith brings a new desire to please God, but obedience doesn’t become effortless. It still takes commitment, discipline, and a willingness to act. The New Testament is full of calls to:
- Put off the old self (Ephesians 4:22)
- Run the race (1 Corinthians 9:24)
- Make every effort to grow in godliness (2 Peter 1:5-7)
These are not works done to earn salvation. They are how real faith is lived out.
In John 14:23, Jesus says:
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.”
Love and faith are not empty feelings. They lead to action.
Faith Alone? Not in the Bible
In fact, the only time the phrase “faith alone” appears in Scripture is in James 2:24:
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
That’s not a Catholic interpretation. That’s the plain text.
The Bible doesn’t teach that works earn salvation. But it’s equally clear that a faith that doesn’t act is not the kind of faith that saves.
Even Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father.”
The issue isn’t saying you believe. It’s living like you do.
Conclusion: Living Faith Is Obedient Faith
You’re not saved by your works. But you’re not saved by a dead, inactive faith either. Scripture shows over and over that real faith is never alone. It’s always followed by action. It always results in obedience.
Faith and works are not enemies. They’re partners.
Faith is the root. Works are the fruit. No fruit? Then the tree might not be alive.
The call of Scripture is clear: Trust in Jesus, and then live like you do. That’s not legalism. That’s faith made complete.
Balancing faith and works in the context of salvation is one of the most profound theological tensions in Christianity. I personally see it not as an either/or but a both/and reality; faith is the root, and works are the natural fruit. Genuine faith transforms the heart, and that inner change inevitably expresses itself through action. Reducing salvation to mere intellectual belief without transformation seems to miss the fullness of the gospel message. At the same time, relying on works alone undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. For me, it’s a dynamic relationship, faith brings us to God, and works reflect that we’ve truly encountered Him.
Thank you for such a well-articulated and thoughtful comment! I completely agree—framing the relationship between faith and works as a “both/and” rather than an “either/or” is essential to understanding the fullness of the gospel.
Your analogy of faith as the root and works as the fruit beautifully captures the biblical message. As James 2:26 says, “faith without works is dead,” not because works create faith, but because they reveal it. A living faith bears the fruit of obedience and love—not as a way to earn salvation, but as the evidence of God’s grace at work in us. As Philippians 2:12–13 reminds us, we are to “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling, for God is at work in [us], both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
You also rightly pointed out that reducing salvation to mere intellectual assent falls short. Even the demons believe—and shudder (James 2:19). Saving faith involves trust, transformation, and a surrender that reshapes how we live.
Likewise, relying on works alone would deny the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 2:8–9). But genuine faith and Spirit-empowered works flow together, both animated by grace. As you beautifully put it—faith brings us to God, and works reflect that we’ve truly encountered Him.
Thank you again for your thoughtful contribution to the conversation!
A very thoughtful article and it is true what you say, what is the use of having faith, but not putting in the good works to go with it. I think just having faith is akin to sitting on the fence and watching life go by, whereas there is so much good you could be doing to help fellow man. I hope I understood this article correctly by saying this?
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! You absolutely understood the heart of the article. Faith is meant to be alive and active—it’s not just a passive belief but something that moves us to love, serve, and obey. Like you said so well, having faith without acting on it is a bit like sitting on the sidelines while there’s good to be done.
The epistle of James really drives this home: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). We’re called not just to believe but to live out that belief through charity, mercy, and obedience. Faith is the root, but works are the fruit—and when both are present, it shows that the faith is real and alive.
Thanks again for engaging so sincerely! God bless you on your journey.
The biblical relationship of faith and work, challenge the common beliefs that salvation comes by “faith alone.” Using some examples from James, Paul, and Jesus, the article emphasizes that real, saving faith naturally results in obedient (divine) action. It’s not just about earning salvation through works but understanding and allowing yourself to Be that person, which then fosters the Do (works), that allows us to Have (experience salvation), demonstrating genuine belief through how one lives.
In my view, the piece does a strong job of merging perceived contradictions in scripture and calling readers to examine whether their faith is truly alive—because living faith always results in action.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and encouraging comment!
I really appreciate the way you summarized the article’s key message—especially your point about being the kind of person whose faith results in obedience. That inner transformation is what both Paul and James are getting at, and I love how you phrased it: Be → Do → Have. That’s a great way to illustrate how grace works in us, not as a checklist of works to earn salvation, but as the life of Christ bearing fruit in our lives (John 15:5).
It’s also encouraging to hear that the article helped clarify what sometimes feels like a tension in Scripture. When we understand that Paul was addressing legalism and James was confronting a lifeless faith, the harmony between their teachings becomes clear. Both affirm that saving faith is never passive—it moves, it loves, it obeys (Galatians 5:6; James 2:26).
Thanks again for reading and taking the time to comment. I pray the Holy Spirit continues to deepen your understanding and walk of faith!
One of the most powerful and thought-provoking sections of this article is the exploration of James 2:14–17, where the distinction between “that faith” and true saving faith is unpacked. The article does a remarkable job showing how James challenges a passive understanding of belief by asking a piercing question: “Can that faith save him?” It becomes clear that James isn’t dismissing faith, but confronting a version of it that lacks evidence in one’s life. The explanation of the original Greek phrase hē pistis adds crucial depth, helping readers understand that James is not contradicting Paul but emphasizing that authentic faith is never idle.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and encouraging comment!
I’m especially glad you found the section on James 2:14–17 meaningful. That distinction James makes—between merely claiming to believe and actually living out that belief—is often overlooked or misunderstood. And you’re exactly right: James is not rejecting faith; he’s clarifying what saving faith really looks like. When he asks, “Can that faith save him?” he’s pressing the reader to reflect deeply—not just on what they say they believe, but whether their life bears witness to it.
I also appreciate you pointing out the Greek phrase hē pistis—it’s such a small detail, but it really helps illuminate the intent behind the passage. James and Paul aren’t at odds; they’re tackling two sides of the same coin. Paul is warning against trying to earn salvation, while James is warning against pretending to have faith.
Thank you again for engaging so deeply with the content. It’s readers like you that make writing this blog so rewarding!
There’s a lot in this post that challenged the way I’ve thought about faith and salvation. I grew up hearing “faith alone” and never really questioned it until now. But the way you explained James’ words gave me a lot to reflect on. It’s not that works save us—it’s that real faith produces something. The story of Rahab stood out the most to me. She could have just believed in her heart, but her actions proved her belief.
Also, your point about obedience not being effortless was refreshingly honest. We don’t become perfect overnight. But we are called to act. Reading this made me want to slow down and ask—does my life reflect what I say I believe?
Thank you so much for your honest and heartfelt response. I really appreciate you sharing your background—because I grew up hearing “faith alone,” too. It wasn’t until I started digging deeper that I realized something surprising: the only time the phrase “faith alone” actually appears in Scripture is in James 2:24, where it says that we are not justified by faith alone. That shook me, because it challenged how I’d always understood salvation.
Like you pointed out, it’s not that we can earn our salvation—it’s that real, living faith acts. The story of Rahab is such a powerful example. She believed, and that belief moved her to take a risk, to obey, to step out. Her faith wasn’t hidden in her heart—it was visible in what she did.
And yes, obedience isn’t effortless. That’s a great insight. We’re not called to be instantly perfect, but we are called to cooperate with God’s grace and take those steps toward holiness. I love how you put it: asking whether your life reflects what you believe. That’s a question we should all ask regularly—and not with fear, but with hope, trusting that God will keep working in us as we walk with Him.
Thanks again for reading and sharing. Your comment really added to the conversation!