Salvation By Faith Alone?

John 3:15-16 (NKJV)

          For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes                   in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

          Almost everyone who can quote any Bible verses can quote John 3:16. And if you are a Baptist, a Methodist, or a member of almost any denominational church, you have a special connection to this verse. Without properstudy of the context of this verse, it seems to confirm a long held doctrine of almost all denominational groups that “Salvation is by faith alone”.

          First off, let me make it clear that everything the Bible says is absolutely true.

          That also includes the statements found in John 3:16. It is absolutely true that we are saved by “faith in Jesus Christ”.Without faith, we are told, “it is impossible to please Him”.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

          6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe                 that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

          So, there is no doubt that faith is needed for salvation.

          But the problem comes in when we add something to this Scripture that is just not there.What this Scripture does not say is, “we are saved by faith alone”. There is no doubt that we are saved by faith, but no where in the Bible does it say that we are saved by “faith alone”.Go ahead and try to find this “faith only” concept in the Bible if you think the Bible authorizes this method of salvation. I can tell you right now that this concept of “Salvation by faith only” is not supported by any Bible Scripture. In fact, it is just the opposite. The words “faith only” are found only one time in the Holy Scriptures and that is in James 2:23-24 (NKJV.)

          23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was              accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

          24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

          The context of this Scripture in James 2 is telling us that the heroesof the Old Testament, like Abraham, showed their faith in God by their “obedient works” done by their great faith; and it was accounted to them as righteousness. They were saved by a combination of “faith” and “works of obedience”.

          See how that concept is explained by James in;James 2:14 (NKJV)

          14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?              Can faith save him?

          James 2:17-20 (NKJV)

          17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

          18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without               your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

          19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble!

          20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

          So, there you have it. The Bible is perfectly clear. We are not saved by “faith only”.

          We are told by James, that in addition to faith we also need “works of obedience”.  No, this is not saying that we can “buy our salvation” with “works of merit”. There is a major difference in being obedient servants by doing God’s bidding by “obedient works” versus trying to “earn salvation” with “works of merit”.Could Noah have been saved had he not obeyed God by building the arc? And Abraham obeyed God by offering his only son, Iaasic, on an alter as God commanded him to do.

          But let’s go back to John 3:16. We need to understand the context of this section of Scripture if we are going to understand what it means. And in order to understand the context, let’s read John 3:14 to help us understand.

John 3:14-15 (NKJV)

          14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be                  lifted up,

          15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

          Now just about everyone skips right over verse 14 when they read this Scripture. And the reason they do is because there is already a “bias” concerning what verse 16 means. And, oh what a mistake this is. Verse 14 tells us about the type of works that are involved in the salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

          Do you remember the story of “Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness”?It is found in Numbers 21. It was during the travel in the wilderness as Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt and the people sinned against God. What a rebellious people they were. To punish the people for their sins, God sent “fierySerpents” among the people. The serpents were biting the people, and they were dying from the bites of the snakes. The people cried out to God for salvation and forgiveness for their sins. God heard the people’s cries and had mercy on them.

          By God’s grace he instructed Moses to erect a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole for the people to look at if they were bitten by a fiery serpent.

          Now that sounds easy enough, right? But let’s look at the actual mechanics of obeying this command from God for them to receive salvation from the bite of this poisonous snake.

          First off, do you realize that these people numbered from 1.5 million to 2 million people?  The Bible tells us that 800,000 adult men left Egypt. And in addition to this number were the children and young men below fighting age as well as all the women and girls. Most commentaries place the number between 1.5 to 2 million people in their traveling group.

          So how big was their community when they camped? That is more people than live in the entire county where I live.

          Now just suppose that a bronze snake was placed on a pole in the center of their city. Now if you were bitten by a poisonous snake and you knew you could be saved by looking at the snake what would you do? In a town this sizeit might be several miles for you to get to the bronze snake. Would you be rebellious and say, “I don’t need to do anything. I have faith in the serpent, and I will not be saved by works”.

          I don’t think you would. I think you would be willing to travel to the snake in order to obey God and look at the snake.

          So, as you can see, some “works of obedience” were required to obey God and be saved. This is the context of John 3:14-16. Not only is proper faith required but this properfaith will lead you to obey God and do what He commands you to do. These works of obedience done because of your faith will be counted to you as righteousness just as they were to Abraham.

          So, faith alone is not enough. Salvation also requires obedient works because you obey God out of a faith in Jesus Christ.

          Now this is not the end of the story, there is more to know about salvation.

          Just what are these works of obedience that God expects us to do in order to be saved?

          Have you understood what you just read about the context of John 3:14-16? I think you have. This is not hard to understand at all. And now we know, the long misunderstood doctrine of “saved by faith only” is just not true. So, what do we need to know and to do in order to be saved? Well, we know we need faith, that part is clear. And we also know from John 3:14 and James 2 that “works of obedience” are required as well. What else?

          How about repentance? What does the Bible say about repentance. Can you be saved if you don’t repent? Look at what the Bible says about repentance. Here are the very words of Jesus.

Luke 13:5 (NKJV)

5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Does this leave any doubt that repentance is required for salvation?

And what does the Bible say about “confession”? Is confession required for salvation? Now I am not talking about the type “confession” you see in the Catholic Church. No, the Bible does not recognize this type of practice at all. I am referring to what the Bible tells us to do. I am talking about a public confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Romans 10:9-10 (KJV)

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

          Any doubt? The Bible says it ant that makes it clear. Confession that Jesus is God’s Son is required to be saved.

          And here is the one requirement that makes denominational people squirm. The Bible says it, but denominations have been denying it for almost 1,000 years.After this much “advertising” of a false doctrine like “salvation by faith alone”, people have been led to believe what they have been told so many times that they won’t look at the Scriptures and they fight to defend what they have been told. Where do you stand with that mindset?

          Look at this Scripture and see what Ananias said to Saul when Saul was saved.

Acts 22:16 (NKJV)

          16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, “and wash away your sins”,                   calling on the name of the Lord.’

          Is there any doubt? In order to be saved do you need your sins washed away? According to this Scripture, what is the purpose of baptism?

          There is much more that could be said about the requirement to be saved. But the purpose of this article is to educate everyone about the meaning of John 3:14-16.

Carl O. Cooper