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FAQ: Salvation by Faith Alone

This question concerning salvation by faith alone was asked on my evolution vs. creation web site.

Question on Salvation by Faith Alone

[Someone I know] has turned from Christ and creation by God to believing in evolution.  I stumbled on Proof-of-Evolution.com and find that it might be helpful to present to him.

I do need to ask some questions first ...

• Is it your belief that we are saved by good works and believing in God?
• Does salvation come only through recognizing that we are sinners bound for an eternal separation from God?
• Is it only through the shed blood of Jesus that we can first repent and then be able to come to the Father?

Answer Concerning Salvation by Faith Alone

I'm sorry it's taken a couple days to answer. I just got back from a trip, and we train leading men in our church on Friday nights. On top of that, I had to help some brothers work out a problematic issue at home after the meeting. As a result, I've not had time since I got your email late Thursday night.

You told me in your email that you'd like to show your son my evolution site (which is really a creation by evolution site since I'm a believer), but you need to know first if I believe in salvation by faith alone (my wording for what you asked).

A longer answer to your question can be found at https://www.christian-history.org/christian-salvation.html or https://www.christian-history.org/sola-fide.html. Christian-history.org is my site as well, so unless otherwise noted I wrote everything on it.

The short answer is that I believe that we can only be born again by faith in Jesus Christ. That is accomplished by his death on the cross, and thus, by his precious blood. As we live this life, we will find power to obey Christ only by his grace, brought about by the Spirit.

As Rom. 8:13 says, it is by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body.

However, the Scriptures and the early church also teach that we—even Christians—will be judged by our works (Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Pet. 1:17). If we do not live by the Spirit, thus reaping eternal life, then we will reap corruption (Gal. 6:7-8) or spiritually die (Rom. 8:12). As 2 Pet. 1:5-11 puts it, we must add virtue, knowledge, self-control, etc. to our faith. We need to do this diligently in order to ensure our calling and election and gain entrance into the everlasting kingdom.

The Scriptures are very consistent in that way. Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:5, and 1 Cor. 6:9-11 say pretty much the same thing.

Of course, we are dependent on the Spirit to walk as we ought. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 does add that we are delivered from these things by justification, sanctification, and washing by the Spirit of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, Paul has no problems saying that this equates to patiently continuing to do good (Rom. 2:5-8) and not growing weary in doing good (Gal. 6:9).

I hope that helps answer your question. Anyone who tries to live obediently to Jesus Christ soon finds that it is only possible by the wonderful grace of God.

"If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from every sin" (1 Jn. 1:7).

If this page helped you, answered questions, or, perhaps, raised new questions, please let me recommend ... 

• The doctrine page, which addresses what doctrines really matter to God. This presentantion is Scriptural, historical, and unique and powerful as well.
• Those Incredible Christians</a>, which discusses the amazing power of the early Christians who believed that Gospel.