Saving Faith
Here you will find all the important information about God and the Christian faith.
Faith without Works - Page 1
1 What does Faith mean?
2 What does spiritual Rebirth mean?
3 Why did Jesus come into the world?
4 What is Righteousness by Faith?
5 Commentary on Bible verses about Faith
6 Bible quotations about Works
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1 - What does Faith mean?
Faith = knowledge that the Father is the only true GOD and Jesus is the Christ (= Son of GOD)
John 8,24 / John 17,3 / John 20,31
Faith = Believing that Jesus died on the cross and that GOD raised Jesus from the dead
Romans 10,9 f. / 1st Corinthians 11,26
Faith = confession that Jesus is Lord
Romans 10,9 f.
Faith = Trust in GOD'S promises: Eternal life through Jesus
John 3,16 + 36
Faith = decision to follow Jesus
Luke 14,26 + 33 / 1st John 2,4-6
Faith = obedience to Jesus and his commandments
Matthew 7,21 / Luke 6,46 / John 14,15
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2 - What does spiritual Rebirth mean?
It means to be a new creation / a new person
2nd Corinthians 5,17 / Ephesians 4,24
It means to live holy, i.e. to live in accordance with GOD'S word and will and to avoid evil/sin
2nd Timothy 2,21 / 1st John 5,18
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3 - Why did Jesus come into the world?
Jesus came to atone for our sins through his death and to redeem us from death
John 3,16 f. / 1st John 2,2
Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin
John 8,36 / 1st John 3,1-6
Jesus came to reveal to us the whole will of GOD and to call people to repentance
John 1,17 / Luke 5,32
Jesus came to show us how we should live
John 14,6
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4 - What is Righteousness by Faith?
Works righteousness: works → no grace
* Righteousness from obedience to the law
* Salvation as a reward for good living
* The law can be fulfilled through one's own strength (→ no atonement required)
* Repentance is sufficient for forgiveness
False righteousness of faith: Grace → no works
* Righteousness through faith in Jesus
* Faith as lip service to the person of Jesus
* Forgiveness and salvation through grace (→ without one's own works)
* Law cannot be fulfilled (→ atonement required)
* Jesus has done everything for me → I don't need to do anything more
* No repentance, no sanctification necessary
* Grace remains independent of my lifestyle
* Future sins (even willful ones) are forgiven through Jesus' sacrifice
True righteousness by faith: Grace → Works
* Righteousness through faith in Jesus
* Faith = confession + decision to follow Jesus (→ obedience)
* The law can be fulfilled, but not actually fulfilled (→ atonement required)
* Forgiveness and salvation by grace (→ without my own works)
* Jesus has done the most important part → Now I am obligated to follow him
* Repentance and sanctification necessary as a consequence of grace
* Grace remains when I do GOD'S will with all my heart
* Future sins can be forgiven through repentance and penance (except willful ones)
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5 - Commentary on Bible verses about Faith
Hebrews 11,6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
This is not the complete definition of the term faith, but only a part of it. Here, the focus is on trusting that GOD will fulfill His promises to us in His Word. Another equally important aspect of faith is obedience to GOD and His commandments, as is evident from numerous statements in the New Testament. Faith and action are closely linked. Faith that does not influence our actions remains fruitless. GOD wants people to obey His Messiah and follow His words (Matthew 17,5 / John 8,31). Whoever wants to belong to Jesus must be willing to follow His example (1st John 2,3-6). A mere profession of faith in Jesus is not enough. Only those who do what Jesus says truly love Jesus (John 13,35 / John 14,15). Their faith rests on a firm foundation (Matthew 7,24-27). Whoever disobeys Jesus cannot be his friend (John 15,14). James explains that Christians should be doers of the word and that anyone who does not act according to GOD's word deceives himself (James 1,22-25).
John 5,24
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The promise of eternal life is contingent upon the willingness to repent and to obey GOD's will. In this way, we are united with Jesus, and the promise of being redeemed from death and judgment remains. Anyone who does not remain united with Jesus by willfully sinning or following another doctrine of salvation does not fulfill the above conditions. Consequently, such a person cannot have eternal life.
John 10,27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Jesus is not saying that it is impossible to lose eternal life, but is simply declaring that no person or external power can separate a believer from him or from GOD against their will. This does not mean that a Christian cannot consciously apostatize from the faith or be lost through willful sinning, as other passages make clear. Furthermore, Jesus emphasizes that only those who listen to his voice and follow him belong to his sheep. Following Jesus means devoting one's whole life to his service and sticking to his teachings. They are promised eternal life and will never perish. People for whom faith is nothing more than lip service or a religious tradition without visible fruit in life are excluded from this.
Acts 16,30-32
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Faith always means trust and obedience. When asked how he can be saved, Paul and Silas explain to the jailer that he must accept Jesus as his Savior. The following verse states that the apostles preached the word to him and his family, which is a central part of faith. This makes it clear that faith goes beyond confession or believing something to be true. The focus of the gospel is 1. the person of Jesus, 2. the redemptive work of Jesus, and 3. the teachings and the following of Jesus. These three things, which are inextricably linked, bring eternal life.
Romans 1,17
17 For therein is the righteousness of GOD revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Paul explains that Christians should not only believe, but live by faith. This means that their confession of faith in Jesus must be followed by works that bear witness to that faith. The Gospel includes not only Christ's work of redemption, but also the call to repentance. In the same chapter, Paul explains that GOD's wrath will fall upon those who ignore His will and exchange truth for lies. This also applies to all who call themselves Christians, because a confession of faith in Jesus alone saves no one (James 2,14-26).
Romans 3,20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The correct interpretation is important here: It does not mean that it is fundamentally impossible to become righteous through the law. After all, every person is created in the image of GOD and thus for a holy and sinless life. Jesus , who is a human himself, has demonstrated it and fulfilled the law. From the beginning GOD expected people to obey His law. However, Paul explains that all people have in fact violated GOD's commandments and therefore cannot be justified before GOD, since every transgression of the law results in death as a just punishment. GOD gave Israel the law to make this fact clear. All people since Adam and Eve have violated GOD's commandments and thus fallen short of GOD's righteousness. There were many pious people like Noah, Job, Samuel, and Daniel. But none of them was without sin. Therefore, they had to die. To be saved, they needed the grace of GOD, which He revealed through the redemptive work of Jesus.
Romans 3,21-26
21 But now the righteousness of GOD without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 even the righteousness of GOD which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 whom GOD hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of GOD; 26 to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
The law is the standard of GOD's righteousness. But because no one had lived up to this standard until then, GOD sent His Son, Jesus, who, through His righteous life and His death on the cross, fulfilled both requirements of the law: 1. righteousness through keeping the commandments, and 2. (substitute) death as punishment for transgressing them. In this way, Jesus could atone for all of humanity's previous sins. In other words, Jesus' righteousness and death are the compensation for our (previous) transgressions.
Romans 3,27-31
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the GOD of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 seeing it is one GOD, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? GOD forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Because all people (except Jesus) have broken GOD's commandments, no one can be saved by keeping the law. This would require keeping the entire law from the beginning. Because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, we no longer need to fulfill this requirement to be saved. However, this does not abolish the law, as Paul explicitly explains. On the contrary: GOD's commandments remain valid and continue to be the standard for our lives.
Romans 4,1-8
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before GOD. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed GOD, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom GOD imputeth righteousness without works, 7 saying, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
Abraham was a sinful man. Like all other people, he broke GOD's commandments. Therefore, Abraham could not be justified by works. In this respect, he was dependent on GOD's grace and forgiveness. Because Abraham trusted GOD and was willing to follow Him, it was credited to him as righteousness. In this sense, Abraham's justification comes by faith and not by works. At the same time, Abraham's obedience testifies to his faith when he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice at GOD's command (James 2,21-24). Without this obedience, his faith would be worthless.
Romans 4,14-16
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
To live by the law means never to break it. Since no human being has lived up to this claim, the promise could not come from the law, since all people (except Jesus) are guilty and therefore deserve GOD's righteous wrath. Instead, the promise comes from faith in Jesus, since Jesus fulfilled GOD's law and bore the penalty for our transgressions so that we could be justified and share in GOD's inheritance.
Romans 5,1 f.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD.
When a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and repents, they are declared righteous by GOD without any merit of their own. They are saved by grace. This means that GOD does not hold their previous sins against them because of Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice. Grace and repentance are closely linked. Or to put it another way: grace must be followed by repentance. Therefore, those who continue to sin despite confession despise Jesus' sacrifice and ultimately forfeit GOD's grace.
Romans 6,15-17
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But GOD be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being under grace means not automatically being lost because one has broken GOD's commandments in the past or might stumble in the future. However, it does not mean we can continue sinning as before. Rather, Paul emphasizes the importance of obedience and a righteous lifestyle.
Romans 6,23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Eternal life is a gift of grace from GOD. This means that it is given to us undeservedly through faith in Jesus. However, this does not mean that our way of life is irrelevant from the moment of our conversion. On the contrary: those who receive GOD's grace are obligated to follow GOD's commandments in order to bear witness to their faith and remain in grace. Whoever undervalues GOD'S grace and does not act according to His commandments denies his faith and reveals himself as an unbeliever.
Romans 8,1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
1st John 2,6
1 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The emphasis in the first verse is on the statement who are in Christ Jesus. To be in Christ means to imitate the holy way of life of Jesus, as the second verse explains. For all who strive for this, there is no condemnation. Even if such a person stumbles, they still remain under grace. However, whoever continues to sin without hesitation cannot claim God's grace. Some translations include the addition who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. This further emphasizes the importance of our way of life for attaining salvation.
Romans 9,30-32
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone.
Some Jews believed they could be justified simply by following the law that GOD had given to His people through Moses. In reality, however, the law was meant to expose their guilt and make it clear that, because of their transgressions, they were incapable of saving themselves. Because they still considered themselves righteous enough, they rejected Jesus as their Savior, who, through His death on the cross, had made atonement for the sins of both Jews and Gentiles. Unlike most Jews, the Gentiles recognized that without Jesus' sacrifice they were lost. Therefore, they could be justified by faith, while the Jews who continued to seek justification through the law did not attain GOD's righteousness.
Romans 10,4-11
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? That is, to bring Christ down from above: 7 or, Who shall descend into the deep? That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
Paul explains that through his work of redemption, Jesus accomplished everything necessary for GOD to forgive our sins. He clarifies that GOD does not require anything supernatural from us, such as bringing Jesus down from heaven or raising him from the dead. GOD wants us to accept Jesus as our Lord and believe that GOD raised him from the dead. Jesus' resurrection is the confirmation that he is the Messiah promised by GOD. The Greek word telos means end or goal. Jesus not only fulfilled the law but also showed how the law is to be fulfilled: through love. In doing so, Jesus deepened the understanding of the law that GOD had given to his people through Moses. Now it is no longer about fulfilling the law according to the letter, but about following Jesus' example. In this way, we automatically fulfill GOD's law.
Romans 11,5 f.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Ephesians 4,8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which GOD hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Here, too, the point is that no one can earn salvation, since all have transgressed GOD's commandments and therefore deserve death. For this reason, good works alone are not enough to be saved. In this sense, eternal life is a gift bestowed by grace upon those who believe in Jesus. At the same time, Paul explains that GOD created us in Christ to do good works, which GOD has prepared for us. This has been our natural purpose from the beginning. Whoever does not do good works falls short of their purpose and proves themselves useless.