Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Works Are Necessary For Salvation?

Christ requires that we MUST DO certain things before God will save us. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). Many verses, John 16:12-15; Hebrews 11:6; Acts 17:30; Acts 2:38 and a host of other verses show things we MUST DO before God will place us in a saved state of initial forgiveness of sins.

These are a part of the WORKS in which we will be judged as stated in II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12, 3; 22:12. If we have not done these works, we will be lost regardless of what Christ did for us. Both Paul and James wrote about works. Paul was speaking of works of the law (law of Moses) and says that these works (works of the law) will not save us (Eph. 2:8-10).

James says, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). James is speaking of our working God's will in doing what God has assigned, so that we may be saved initially and also what we must do to maintain salvation. We cannot do works to merit salvation or boast that God owes us the right to be saved. Paul rightly protests against the possibility of performing such works (Rom. 3:28; Eph. 2:9).

James points out that these are WORKS that God commands us to obey in order to have access to the grace of salvation which comes through Christ. Contrary to standard denominational teaching, James makes it clear that we are NOT saved by "faith only," that faith alone is dead (James 2:17, 26). "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2: 24).

Salvation is a state of being justified, being declared not guilty of sin, because of the merit of Christ's blood. God has given us His grace (Titus 2:11), works are by the grace of God, and it is by the grace of God that we are saved. We must believe, repent, confess and be baptized in water, for these are the WORKS that God has commanded us to do, and these are His WORDS and His WORKS that we will be judged by (John 12:48; Rev. 20:12, 13: 22:12).