Faith

Are Faith and Works Necessary for Our Salvation?

by Brother Carlton 
11/12/17
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Is saving faith a combination of our faith and our works or is it the sovereign grace of Jesus Christ working in us to do works that are pleasing to Him?

Works that are good always follow those who are united to Jesus Christ by faith which is a gift of God. (Eph 2:8,8)

The purpose for which we are united to Christ is to produce good works. See Ephesians 2:10. We are saved NOT because of our good works (we have none apart from God's grace working in us) but UNTO good works. There is nothing we can do to earn God's favor. No works of merit on our part will ever make us accepted in the beloved. Many religions teach salvation by following certain rules or rituals or by living up to a certain standard of conduct or moral principle etc.  This is a works righteousness which will lead you straight to hell.

Where do works come in and what part do they play in our salvation?  Excellent question.

Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

A person with no good works is a lost sinner full of deception thinking he or she is saved because they have simply said a prayer asking God for salvation or deluding themselves into a false security because they've made a decision to follow Jesus Christ.  However, God will not accept those who practice unrighteouness or bad works just as he will not accept those who trust in themselves that they are good and full of good works. 

Salvation is by faith alone but not a faith that is alone.  According to Revelation 14:13 works follow true believers and disciples into heaven.  NOTE: They follow and do not precede them into heaven.  In other words works are the result of saving faith and without this gift of saving faith, which not all men have,  there can be no good works but only evil works or fruit from a false faith which will only damn a soul in the final analysis. 

 Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos on https://www.YouTube.com/user/LAStreetPreacher CONTACT at [email protected]