A religion that requires faith and obedience is the religion of the Bible. Heb. 5:9 says, "And
having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him..." The
whole system of faith-only religion is condemned by one simple statement of our Lord, "But why
do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Jesus often
taught that we must believe and obey. "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15),
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me..." (John 14:21). Rev.
22:14 says, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the
tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city."
There is a world of difference between being saved by faith and being saved by faith alone. Faith
is absolutely necessary. We are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1). Without faith it is impossible to
please God (Heb. 11:6). Faith is everywhere taught in the Scriptures. However, faith only is
nowhere taught. The only time that "faith" and "only" are together in the Bible is in James 2:24
and it says, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."
Peter said, "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with
us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Pet. 4:17). Paul
said, "And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven
with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on
those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thess. 1:7-8). Rom. 10:16 says,
"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?'"
Jesus said, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a
wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matt. 7:24). Consequently, beyond any doubt, we
must not only believe the gospel, but must obey it as well.
If one is saved by "faith alone," it cannot be by grace. When one teaches "faith alone," he
excludes everything else. The truth is that many things have a part in our salvation. Faith, grace,
obedience, works of God, etc., all play a part in our salvation. Even the grace of God teaches us
godly behavior (godly conduct) as shown in Titus 2:11-12, "For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age." The Bible nowhere teaches grace
alone, faith alone, or works alone. Heb. 11:7 says, "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of
things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by
which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."
Heb. 11:8 says, "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he
would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." Also,
please examine the rest of Hebrews 11 which shows how the faithful were moved by faith to
obey.
Some will say, "What about the jailer who was told, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you
will be saved, you and your household'?" (Acts 16:31). The jailer was told those words because it
is the starting point for every unbeliever. The next verses show (Acts 16:31-34) that the jailer and
his household, after believing on the Lord, obeyed the Lord. They responded to the things
commanded by the Lord. Remember, Heb. 5:9 says, "And having been perfected, He became the
author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." James 1:25 says, "But he who looks into the
perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this
one will be blessed in what he does."
People often say, "You can't trust in your good works to save you." I don't know of a single
Christian, and have never met one, who trusts in his good works alone, or his good life alone to
save him. True Christians simply trust in the Lord and do what He commanded. Jesus Himself
went about doing the works of God. He said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while
it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." (John 9:4). "I have glorified You on the
earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do." (John 17:4). When Jesus did
the works of God, did He trust in His works? Likewise, we do not trust in our works to save us.
We simply do the Lord's works, trusting in Him to save us as He has promised. 1 Pet. 4:19 says,
"Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing
good, as to a faithful Creator." Gal. 5:6 says, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." Eccl. 12:13-14 says, " Let us
hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the
whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing,
Whether it is good or whether it is evil."
Furthermore, people often say, "We are saved by the blood of Christ, and if one adds some kind
of works, including baptism, he defeats salvation by the blood." According to this, one could not
add faith because it would defeat salvation by the blood. Jesus said, "This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He sent." (John 6:29). Thus, according to Jesus, faith is a work
which God ordained. Jesus Himself added many works to His teaching; i.e., faith, repentance,
confession, baptism. He said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does
not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16). Paul added works by saying the grace of God
teaches them (Titus. 2:11-12). Peter added works (Acts 2:38), and so did John (1 John 2:3).
Jesus said, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." (John 15:14). Thus, one
can teach that one is saved by the blood of Christ, and then add the works which God ordained,
which includes baptism.
Additionally, people often cite Eph. 2:8-9 and Rom. 11:6 to teach that we are not saved by
works. However, neither of the passages teach that the works of God are not required. When it
says, "not of works" which works are under consideration? There are at least four kinds of works
mentioned in the Scriptures: (1) Evil works, works of the flesh, or works of the devil (Gal.
5:19-21); (2) Works of the Law of Moses (Gal. 2:16; Rom. 2:16); (3) Man's own works, or
works of man's own choosing - "not according to our works" (2 Tim. 1:9), "not by works of
righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5); and (4) The works of God--the works which God
ordained in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We are to abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).
We are to be ready to every good work (Titus 3:1). We are to be fruitful in every good work
(Col. 1:10). We are to provoke to love and good works (Heb. 10:24). We are to work
righteousness (Acts 10:34-35). If we, from our own devising command a work; i.e., if we had
originated baptism, we could not be saved by it. However, if it is a work of God, it is required,
and we are saved by it. 1 Pet. 3:21 says, "There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism
(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God),
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Thus, baptism is a work of God, not a work of man.
Luke 7:30 says, "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not
having been baptized by him." The same is true for those who reject the baptism of Christ today.
The "works" under consideration in Eph. 2:9 are the works of man's own devising that he could
boast in. We are not saved by those. Eph. 2:8-9 is not referring to the works of God because the
very next verse says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10).
Paul is showing in Rom. 11:6 that the source or means of the election is not of works. In other
words, the election (the origin of God's choices) came as result of grace, not works. Paul is not
teaching in Rom. 11:6 that works are not required. He taught obedience to the faith (Rom. 1:5;
16:26). He taught that one must be buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in newness
of life (Rom. 6:3-5). He taught that one must present his members as instruments of
righteousness (Rom. 6:13). He gave many commands and exhortations to godly living, i.e., Rom.
12:6-21. Also he said, "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from
sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Rom. 6:17-18)
Surely, the "faith alone" religion is a do-nothing religion. It cannot be the religion of Christ.
Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he
who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matt. 7:21).
In closing, I encourage and exhort you to carefully and honestly consider all that the holy Scriptures teach regarding obedience. Many think they trust and love the Lord. Indeed, they think they know God. However, in reality they do not love the Lord nor do they know God. Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15). "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3). "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." (1 John 2:4-5).