Salvation: by Faith Alone?
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Salvation: by Faith Alone? |
Bible Truth Faith or Works? Communion: |
Salvation by Faith Alone was a core doctrine of the Protestant Reformers. Formulated by Luther, it is a controlling doctrine, in that all other doctrines are held to stand or fall by it. So why is it a cause of such bitter disagreement?
REVOLUTION The effect of this doctrine was revolutionary. It appeared to make fourteen centuries of Christian worship and endeavour - even the Christian Church itself - irrelevant. The ethics and morality of people's lives too were less important. The only thing that mattered was the individual's personal act of faith. BUT WHAT IS MEANT BY "FAITH ALONE"? This has caused immense problems and divided Protestants from the beginning. (see Free Will or Predestination?) Many Protestant Churches encourage people to come forward at an evangelistic meeting and "Accept Jesus as their Personal Saviour", either by signing a pledge or saying a short "sinner's prayer". If done genuinely, this is said to at once guarantee Salvation. This may also be done in private, but a precise "moment of decision" is usually called for. Doing good works, obeying the Commandments or living a Christian life are not necessary for salvation. Often an emotional feeling of euphoria is expected, as a "proof" of Salvation. Although many Protestants admit this sort of feeling is subjective and unreliable. SO IS "FAITH ALONE" TRUE? Most Christians outside the Protestant circle would say No. Faith must go hand-in-hand with Hope and Love (1 Corinthians 13:13). This means that a Christian must live the Christian Life, do good, and "Run the Race to the end", in order to be saved. Non-protestants would say that Faith Alone, is a new and dangerous doctrine, unknown to the Early Christians. It is dangerous because "Faith Alone" can lead people to falsely believe that , however they live their lives, their salvation is assured on the basis of one pledge at an emotion-filled meeting. Christianity becomes a sort of celestial fire-insurance. Once you have your policy, you're covered. Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that Faith is of vital importance, but it is not the only thing a Christian needs to be saved. IS "FAITH ALONE" SCRIPTURAL? No. Evangelical Protestants have dozens of "proof texts" for salvation by Faith Alone. These litter their tracts, and many are known by heart. These texts can seem very convincing when presented by a passionate evangeliser to someone who knows little of the Bible. Here are some of the favourite verses: (All NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3.16) For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3. 23, 24) Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 5. 1) 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. (Eph 2. 8,9) Case proven? Not really. None of these texts actually use the words "faith alone". They stress faith, which all Christians would agree with. All Christians would likewise agree that works alone are not enough to save us. But they are necessary to salvation, as an outworking of Faith. What is wrong is that the above quotations have been taken in isolation from the rest of Scripture, which shows that faith must be accompanied by works. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well-fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2. 14-17) You believe that there is one God, Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. (James 2. 19) You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. (James 2. 24) The above text is the only appearance of the phrase "faith alone" in the New Testament - and that is to condemn the doctrine. BUT THAT'S JUST ONE BOOK OF THE BIBLE. SALVATION BY FAITH APPEARS IN MANY BOOKS. But most of the verses used to support salvation by Faith Alone, come from Paul's works. Paul often tended to use rhetorical language to make statements that sounded like absolutes when in fact they were not. In Timothy 2.15 he writes, But women will be saved through childbearing.. Yet no-one seeks to build any doctrines on this verse. In Romans 13.1 he writes Everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities.. Does this mean that the early Christians should have submitted, when the Emperors told them to worship pagan Gods? Of course not. Because this verse is correctly interpreted through the words of Jesus. Jesus said, Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. (Math 22. 21) This produces the correct and balanced doctrine. Protestant theologians often tend to ignore what Jesus taught about this subject. Let's look at some of the things that Jesus said on the subject of Salvation. Matthew 6: 14 “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (NIV). Therefore what we DO (works) is vital to our gaining forgiveness. Matthew 7: 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew19: 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” (NIV). Perhaps that's still not clear enough. Some Protestants will still say, "Yes. Good works are fine, but they are optional. Faith, being 'born again', is what saves." Jesus, however, lays it right on the line in the following text. Matthew 25 :31 “When
the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels
with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. Can anyone read these words of Jesus, and still argue that works count for nothing in salvation? Or that salvation is by faith alone? That doctrine is clearly unbiblical. Even Paul acknowledges this. Romans 2: 6 God will
give to each person according to what he has done. MISLEADING The doctrine of Faith Alone suggests that if we have faith and "accept Jesus as our Saviour" we will be "saved". The Bible actually tells us that this is only the start of the journey. We must persevere, have "persistence in doing good" and build a "living faith" which includes works. Some Protestant groups realise that there is more required than just an act of faith. Calvinist Churches have another, darker, theory of salvation that hides behind Faith Alone - though they often do not tell new members of this (see Free Will or Predestination). ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED? Other Protestants disagree over whether, once "saved", you can lose your salvation by sinful acts. Many say that once you have been "saved" by Faith, whatever evil you do, you cannot lose your salvation. In other words, you can sin as much as you like and still enter heaven! - a possibility that goes against the whole of Gospel teaching. The doctrine of "Once Saved Always Saved" is thus an extremely dangerous and misleading one, since it leads people into a false belief that, whatever they do, they are still saved. Did St Paul believe this doctrine? 1 Cor 9: 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. (NASB) It seems clear then that even the Apostle Paul did not believe that he was assured of salvation. In fact most of the Book of Hebrews is concerned with warnings to Christians not to fall away from the path of salvation. Hebrews 10: 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. SO WHY PREACH "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED"? Because if you CAN lose your salvation through something that you DO or fail to do, then this brings back the need for Good Works for our salvation. This makes a nonsense of the doctrine of "Faith Alone" for salvation. "Faith Alone" therefore necessarily leads to the concept of Once Saved Always Saved. And we know from the many scriptural references in this article and elsewhere, that that doctrine - the notion that you can sin as much as you like and still go to heaven - is false and unbiblical Therefore, far from being "unscriptural", as Protestant apologists say, Works are demonstrably vital for salvation along with Faith. Not to "earn" our way into heaven. We cannot do that. But because believing in Jesus means not just an act of faith or trust, but doing what Jesus said. The Protestant Churches are clearly wrong on this point. Here is another strong scriptural authority, in parable form, which powerfully stresses the need for good works as well as faith for salvation: Matt 22:11-14: But when the King came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, "Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?" And he was speechless. Then the King said to his attendants, "Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth," for many are are called, but few are chosen. So what is so important about these garments that the King (Jesus) regards them as vital for attendance at the wedding (salvation)? The answer lies in the book of Revelation. Revelation 19:7-8 : "Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure," for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. Without the fine linen of righteous deeds, it is clear then that no-one is likely to be welcome at the wedding of the Lamb. Further Bible passages on this subject:
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Simply put, the doctrine
states that Faith Alone is what gains us the gift of
Salvation. To be "saved" all one need
do is accept Jesus, by Faith, as ones personal Saviour.
His Grace does the rest. Neither Good Deeds, Holiness nor
the Sacraments of the Church are said to be of any use to
us in this respect, since we cannot earn our own way into
heaven.