How does one enter Heaven? For many Christians, the answer is as simple as John 3:16: ”…everyone who believes in [God] will not perish but have eternal life.*” Paul seems to repeat the same message in his Epistles. And yet, passages in Matthew, James and other New Testament books appear to make good deeds an additional requirement. With a little analysis, though, these two schools of thought can be brought under the same roof.
Salvation by Faith
John 3:16 is but one of many New Testament passages that make faith in Jesus the primary requirement for salvation. Paul states that “through faith in Christ, we are made right with God… you are all Children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:24-26) He goes on to say that the Holy Spirit—given to those who believe—“is God’s guarantee that he will give us everything he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people.” (Ephesians 1:14)
None of this language is vague or ambiguous. Paul of Tarsus’ message is clear: once we have faith in Jesus, we are absolved from sin and given new life. (Romans focuses extensively on this theme.) It is no wonder, then, that preachers love to focus on the “salvation by faith” argument; it certainly simplifies the path to Heaven.
Salvation by Deeds?
But a thorough reading of the New Testament reveals an additional twist to Paul’s arguments. James 2:24 seems to dispel Paul’s claim: “…we are made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.” The same chapter mentions earlier that “it isn’t enough just enough to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.” (James 2:17)
Lest one consider James 2 a fringe argument that goes against the rest of the New Testament, Matthew 25 also deserves a close reading.
Jesus, speaking about the Final Judgment, tells his followers, “…[Jesus] will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.” (Matthew 25:33) Michael D. Dent, a pastor at the United Methodist Church of Denver, gave a sermon on this intriguing chapter. He explained that Christ sees the sheep as those who have fed, refreshed, sheltered, clothed, and attended to Him (Matthew 25:34-36); the goats—those cast into “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46) are those who have not. Therefore, Dr. Dent explained, good works are also an integral part of the Christian life—and an element in salvation.
Those interested in this topic should also explore the controversial theory of Lordship salvation, which teaches that one must make God Lord over their lives for them to be saved. For more on the topic, see this article on the Lordship vs. Free Grace Debate.
Salvation by Faith as shown through Deeds
These two arguments seem to create a Biblical conflict: Jesus and James may appear to say that deeds are necessary for one to be saved, whereas Paul stipulates that only faith is required. A closer look, though, reveals that these arguments do not conflict, but instead form two halves of the same message.
Faith, as shown by all New Testament authors, is an integral part of salvation. Jesus and James reinforce this truth by explaining that good deeds, which are carried out by the Holy Spirit within all who believe, serve as the measurement of faith. In other words, one’s good deeds prove that they are faithful to Christ, whereas an absence thereof shows their faith is weak—if present at all.
Paul explains the relationship between faith and deeds in Romans 7, verse 4 “…now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God.” Faith, he explains, leads to the good deeds by which Jesus will judge each individual and measure their trust in Him.
Belief in God is not just a mental concept; it leads to the “good fruit” of which Paul speaks. Those with true faith and love in God can be distinguished—and measured—for the actions they undertake for Christ.
*All Bible passages in this article come from the New Living Translation.
Additional Reading
For both faith and deeds to flourish, one should allow God to lead their lives. The article Giving Control to God has more on that concept.
Faith is important for one to be saved, but is it enough? Are other things necessary as well? This article explores the question.
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