What Does The Bible Say?
Question– What does the Bible say about A person being saved by works? Is there anything I have to do to be saved?
Answer– The religious world has confused many due to the fact that they present so many options for someone to be saved. Some teach that we save ourselves; some teach that no action on our part is necessary; still others teach that we were elected before we were born to be either saved or lost, and “whatever is to be will be,” and we are predestined to salvation or damnation. All of these ideas run people away from religion and not towards it. This is a true shame. Let’s look at what the Bible says about works: 1. Works do not nullify faith. James 2:22 tells us that “by works was faith made perfect.” He also tells us in James 2:20- “but will you know o vain man, that faith without works is dead?” Works are essential.
2. In Ephesians 2, Paul points out that we all once walked in sinful ways (Eph. 2:1-3) but God, in His mercy, chose to save us by making us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:4-7). Being made alive in Christ in comparison with Romans 6:3-7 shows us that Paul is talking about the Ephesians becoming Christians through means of baptism (immersion in water for the remission of sins-Acts 2:38).
3. Salvation is based on the sacrifice of Jesus and the shedding of His blood on the cross to redeem men from sin. All of this is through God’s grace. We had nothing to do with the decision, and cannot do anything that merits such an awesome gift. But God wants His people to know that they must act on their faith in order to be one with Christ. Rom. 6 teaches that we are to die to sin, be immersed in water and be raised to walk a new life. Galatians 3:26, 27 says, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ; therefore, as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We are not in Christ until we have been baptized into Christ. Here is a prime example of faith and works not being competing concepts, but very much in agreement.
4. No amount of man’s works of invention can save anyone. But we are bound to be obedient to the works that God commands us to do in order to be saved. No one can be saved eternally without doing the works of God. This is what James and Paul teach. Notice that the same Paul who penned Ephesians 2 also penned Ephesians 4:4-6 which says, “there is one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One Goad and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in your all.” Paul also penned Romans 6:3,4- “Know you not that so many of us as have been baptized into Christ were baptized into His death. Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Salvation does not take place at the point of faith and confession. When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus, He told Saul to go into the city and it would be told to him what he must do. Paul was not saved when he first believed on the road. He was not saved until he was told in Acts 22:16 by Ananias- “And now why are you waiting, arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, appealing to Lord.”
To your question, the Bible clearly teaches that the gift of salvation is done on God’s part. The rules he sets down to enjoy salvation are dictated by God, not men. If we love God, we will keep His commandments (Jn. 14:15). We cannot receive the gift of salvation unless we submit our will to His and do what He has instructed in order to receive the blessing of having our sins washed away in the blood of Christ in baptism. This is done by preceding baptism with true faith (Heb. 11:6) repenting of our sins (Acts 2:38) confessing with our mouth that Christ is the Son of God (Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:26-40) and being immersed in water (Acts 826-40; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 16:25-40). After we do all of these things, we are “in Christ” (Gal. 3:27) and a part of God’s family, the church that He adds us to when we are baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38-47) and we must live faithfully until death in order to receive the crown of eternal life (Rev. 2:10).
Please address all questions and comments to us at What Does the Bible Say? c/o Maple Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website at maplestreetliberty.org