Are men saved by “faith only?”
The Bible does say something about faith only. James 2:
24 states, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only.” It is quite common to hear theologians
speak of being saved by “faith only” or “faith alone.” The
word “alone” is defined as “excluding anything or anyone
else; sole; only. With nothing further added.” To claim that
men are saved by faith alone is say there is nothing else. In
other words faith is the sole and only condition of salvation.
But, as James affirmed in the above text “faith only” is not
how men are justified. Nowhere in the New Testament does
it teach men are saved by faith only. Instead, there are
other conditions that men must meet in order to be saved.
Gal. 5:6 affirms that faith worketh by love. What does faith
do? It works. Does this sound like faith only? Rom. 16:26
teaches that the gospel has been manifested to all nations
“for the obedience of faith.” Obedience of faith is certainly
not faith only. Note the following from Heb. 11. “By faith
Abel offered” (v. 4). “By faith Noah, . . . prepared” (v. 7). “By
faith Abraham . . . obeyed” (v. 8). Faith in the Scriptures is a
word of action. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys.
Men must also repent of sins (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:
30). But, if faith only is true, then repentance would be
excluded. Men must also confess Christ (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:
9-10). But, if faith only is true, then confession would be
excluded. Men must also be immersed in water for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). But, if faith only is true,
then baptism would be excluded. Where is the example of
anyone being saved solely and only upon the basis of faith
and belief? It is true that many times the word “believe” (or
a form thereof) is used as a comprehensive summary verb to
stand for all that is involved in the salvation process (cf. Acts
2:44). Faith will lead one to comply with all of God’s
conditions for salvation.