What is the path to Salvation? Is it faith or works?

[True Disciple]

Re: I took slight umbrage with Rev. Jim's sermon "Faith vs Works"

Well, Brother Levi, I would think Scripture leaves no doubt, when you look at the following passages:

Ephesians 2:8-9:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 2:16:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

About the Scripture you quoted:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

This one talks about faith possibly having no effect on a person's surroundings, if it is not accompanied by works. However, it doesn't mention Salvation™, does it? It just says: "if you do believe, but not help your fellow man, it will have no effect." This is rather obvious, of course.

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

With "dead" I think James meant: not resulting in other people gaining faith as well. The faith is not visible at the surface, so it is "dead," meaning "not doing anything."

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

This one speaks about the natural result of faith (works). So works can be seen as indicative of the presence of faith. This is because faith in The Lord fills people with Love and Joy. This is why you can show your faith by your works, and it is harder to show it without it.

However, this passage gives no reason to assume that works have anything to do with Salvation™. Problem solved!

[Larry Lee]

Re: I took slight umbrage with Rev. Jim's sermon "Faith vs Works"

Brother, we all love Rev. Jim and the Epistle of James very much. They are both so dear to us. BUT when it comes to the salvation of our very souls (and those of the sweet young girls in Jim's charge), there's only the Apostle Paul to stand on (Romans 3:21-28):

[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.
[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.

Do you hear equivocation in that. I sure don't, Praise God!

[Levi Jones]

I read so often that Christians are saved by faith alone, but doesn't James specifically say in Chapter 2 verses 14-18?

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.