Question from a Site Viewer
Do good works lead to salvation? I don’t think so.
I read some of what you spoke of concerning salvation (including works). This is another gospel Paul warned of. Christians are not saved by works. Salvation is by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and the work Christ accomplished on the cross. John 6:29 says:
Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
Tim’s Answer
I am not sure what you read on the site that would lead you to think we believe that good works lead to salvation or that works are needed before we can be saved. Such is certainly not what we believe (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). See this article.
But good works as the result of salvation is found throughout Scripture (Luke 6:30-35; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12; Titus 3:8, 14; James 2:14-25; 1 John 3:17-18; Revelation 2:5). Jesus argues that by one’s fruit one can be known (Matthew 7:20). John the Baptist told his hearers that they should bear fruit worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8). Those who do not practice righteousness are not of God (1 John 3:7, 10). Righteous works flow from a righteous heart.
So, I read Scripture as strongly affirming that one cannot separate genuine salvation from a transformed life. We are never saved by our works. But if we are truly saved, we will do works worthy of that salvation.
And James (James 2:14-15) and John (1 John 3:7-10) would say that if there are no such works, there is no salvation. I believe that Paul argues the same thing in Romans 2:6-11. In fact, Paul describes those who profess to know God but in their works they deny Him, as being abominable, disobedient and reprobate unto every good work (Titus 1:16).
What we do reveals the one in whom we trust. If we trust in Christ, we will do the works of the Spirit. If we trust in ourselves, we will do the works of the flesh.
Accordingly, we affirm with Scripture that true salvation will show itself in a changed life of good works. But we also strongly affirm with Scripture that we do not obtain salvation by our good works, but solely through faith in Jesus Christ. If there is something on our site that you read that would indicate otherwise, we would like to know about it so we can correct it.
May the Lord Jesus guide you in serving Him.
In His service,
