Does Faith Alone Save You? - Answering Christian Questions
Short answer, yes. Faith alone saves you, but claiming to have faith and not following God's word is not true faith.
For the long answer, read further.
The Long Answer
Salvation is by faith alone
The Bible is very clear that we don’t earn salvation by being good people or doing good works, but is received by grace as the gift of God.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.- Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.- Romans 3:28 (NIV)
What does it mean for salvation being received by grace?
It simply means that salvation is a gift given to us by God, despite us being undeserving of it.
(What does this mean? Does it mean that even if I do or had done wicked things, I can still be saved by faith alone? - you probably)
So yes, it is true that we are saved by faith alone, even if we have done very sinful deeds. The question now is what constitutes "real faith"? In other words, what does "having faith" mean?
True faith produces fruit
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.- James 2:17 (NIV)
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?- Matthew 7:16 (NIV)
This means works reveal salvation, it reveals true faith. If someone says they have faith but never obeys God, then is their faith even real?
Also, for those who are concerned, James 2:17 isn’t contradicting Roman 3:28, this verse is clarifying what true faith looks like. Real faith isn’t just saying, “I believe.” It shows up in your life.
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.- 1 John 2:3 (NIV)
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.- 1 John 2:4 (NIV)
Copyright ©2025 by Marshall Vulta
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