The Importance of Faith and Works

By Jeremy Kapp (Revision 001)

This is a scriptural study showing the importance of Works, used together with faith. If
Jesus tells you to do something “Go and do likewise,” is it good enough to close your eyes
and think, “I believe Jesus died for my sins.” ??? Protestants, among some others believe
faith alone will save you. The Eastern Church, Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and some
others believe Works are necessary, together with faith to bring salvation.
The Bible defines sin as any transgression against the Law, or commandments given by
Moses. Jesus said if you love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself
you will uphold all of the commandments. You will not murder a person if you have love
for them, you will not steal from a person if you love that person, you will not commit
adultery if you truly love your wife, etc… Jesus said my sheep know my voice and follow
me; this study will explore whether faith is enough, or should we follow the orders of our
Lord Jesus Christ as well.
This study will display verses used by “Faith-only Churches,” as well as verses used by
“Faith and Works Churches,” as an effort to come to a sensible conclusion. Nearly every
book and every author of the New Testament says Works are needed, even Paul.
Let’s take a look…

The Bible seems clear on the saving role of good works in the
lives of the faithful.
1 Peter 2:12 (New King James Version)
12
having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as
evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of
visitation.
Revelation 2:2 (English Standard Version)
2
"'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those
who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to
be false.
Matthew 5:16 (English Standard Version)
16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and
give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16:27 (New King James Version)
27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will
reward each according to his works.
Matthew 25:34-36 (English Standard Version)
34
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave
me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was
naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Matthew 25:41-46 (English Standard Version)
41
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty
and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did
not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, saying,
'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did
not minister to you?' 45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it
to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal
punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Romans 2:6-13 (English Standard Version)
6
He will render to each one according to his works: 7to those who by patience in well-doing
seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8but for those who are self-
seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9There
will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the
Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the
Greek. 11For God shows no partiality.
12
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have
sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are
righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
Luke 10:25-37 (English Standard Version)
25
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?" 26He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" 27And
he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." 28And he said to
him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."
29
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30Jesus replied,
"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him
and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that
road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came
to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came
to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his
wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn
and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper,
saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
36
Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the
robbers?" 37He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do
likewise."
2 Corinthians 5:10 (English Standard Version)
10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is
due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Revelation 20:12-13 (New King James Version)
12
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And
another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to
their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were
in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each
one according to his works.
Revelation 22:14 (New King James Version)
14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life,
and may enter through the gates into the city.
Mark 16:16 (English Standard Version)
16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned.

The Bible also shows there must be a balanced relationship

between our faith and good works.

James 2:14-18 (English Standard Version)

14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that
faith save him? (The implied answer is No!)15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking
in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without
giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does
not have works, is dead.
18
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your
works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (English Standard Version)
58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Hebrews 6:10 (English Standard Version)
10
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his
name in serving the saints, as you still do.
James 2:20-22 (English Standard Version)
20
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not
Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see
that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
1 Corinthians 3:8 (English Standard Version)
8
He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his
labor.
Colossians 3:23-24 (English Standard Version)
23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

The Bible indicates that it is wrong to disturb the balance of

works expressing a life of faith. Man is not saved by faith
alone.
James 2:24 (English Standard Version)
24
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
James 2:26 (English Standard Version)
26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Hebrews 6:1 (English Standard Version)
1
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again
a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 9:14 (English Standard Version)
14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without
blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

There are also verses that say we are saved by God's grace...
God gives us salvation, by giving his only son; no works
caused this generosity, but works are needed.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (English Standard Version)

8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of
God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Faith in Jesus was never a part of the Jewish Law; our
works as a Christian come only after true faith, and they
prove our faith is right.

Romans 3:28 (English Standard Version)

28
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Good Works are certainly encouraged…

John 14:12 (English Standard Version)

12
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater
works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
John 15:5 (English Standard Version)
5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much
fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Acts 9:36 (English Standard Version)
36
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Gazelle. She was
full of good works and acts of charity.

James 3:13 (English Standard Version)

13
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in
the meekness of wisdom.

Hebrews 10:23-27 (English Standard Version)

23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet
together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the
Day drawing near.
26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer
remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will
consume the adversaries.
Romans 10:9 (English Standard Version)
9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Matthew 5:20 (English Standard Version)
20
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven.
John 5:29 (English Standard Version)
29
and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done
evil to the resurrection of judgment.