Faith vs. Works

As you know, there has been much controversy in the centuries since the Reformation about whether our salvation comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ or if good works are necessary as well.

  I think we would all agree that the doors of Heaven were opened through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The disagreement comes in determining what we have to do to get through those doors.

  Since this is a very extensive subject, for reflection today I would just like to offer some passages from Scripture regarding faith vs. works as well as some of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about the subject.

Matthew 7:21:  None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. (works) 

Matthew 5:16:  In the same way, your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father. (works)

Mark 16:15-16:  Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation. The man who believes in it and accepts baptism will be saved; the man who refuses to believe in it will be condemned. (faith)

Acts 16:30,31:  “Men, what must I do to be saved?” Their answer was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved and all your household.” (faith)

Romans 2:5-8:  In spite of this, your hard and impenitent heart is storing up retribution for the day of wrath when the just judgment of God will be revealed, when He will repay every man for what he has done: eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing right; wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. (works)

Romans 3:23-28: All men have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. All men are now undeservedly justified by the gift of God, through the redemption wrought in Christ Jesus. Through his blood, God made Him the means of expiation for all who believe. He did so…to manifest his justice in the present, …so that he might be just and might justify those who believe in Jesus. What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. By what law, the law of works? Not at all! By the law of faith. For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from observance of the law. (faith)

Romans 14:12:  Every one of us will have to give an account of himself before God. (works)

2 Corinthians 5:10:  The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive his recompense, good or bad, according to his life in the body. (works)


Galatians 2:16:  Nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by legal observance but by faith in Jesus Christ, we too have believed in Him in order to be justified by faith in Christ, not by observance of the law; for by works of the law no one will be justified. (faith)

Galatians 2:21:  If justice is available through the law, then Christ died to no purpose! (faith)

James 2:14-26:  My brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? … So it is with the faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless. To such a person one might say, “You have faith and I have works—is that it?” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you the faith that underlies my works! Do you believe that God is one? You are quite right. The demons believe that, and shudder. … You must perceive that a person is justified by his works and not by faith alone. Be assured, then that faith without works is as dead as a body without breath. (works)

CCC 161:  Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent Him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. (faith)

So we see that some passages from Scripture seem to say we are saved by works, others seem to say we are saved by faith alone. Good Bible exegesis involves comparing all Scripture passages on a particular subject, not interpreting one passage alone.