Is One Saved by Faith ONLY?

I have never met a religious person who would argue that we are not saved by faith. I believe completely that we are saved by faith. However, there is a real problem when people claim that we are saved by faith “only.” When you think about it, doesn’t it sound strange when some say that we are saved wholly by grace and then contradict themselves by saying that we are saved by faith only? That would beg the question “which way is it?” Well, the truth of the matter is that neither is true. The TRUTH is that we are saved both by God’s grace and by our faith which is fully demonstrated by our obedience to God’s Holy commands.

Our faith must not be a dead faith or a faith that is incomplete. God’s word says “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:20, 24). Some men teach that we are saved by faith only but God says we are not saved by faith only. Who will one believe — God or man?

It is also admitted that Naaman was saved from his leprosy by faith through obedience when he dipped seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman had faith and as a result of that faith he carried out the command to dip seven times in the water to be cleansed from his leprosy. Therefore, why not “by faith” obey the command of God to be baptized to be saved from our sins? Jesus said “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). In Acts 2:38 we are commanded by God to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” Have you “by faith” obeyed Jesus for remission of your sins? He is your Savior only IF you obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).

Yes, based on God’s word, faith without works is dead. This is so because God said so! Only a living faith that causes us to obey God will save us. The Poudre Valley church of Christ in Fort Collins, CO believes God and teaches that one must have faith which leads them to obey all of what God has said.