Scripture says both that salvation is not earned by works and that living faith is expressed through works. Paul rejects works of the law as the basis for justification; James rejects “faith” that has no works. Reconciling these passages is the editorial conclusion, provided below and identified as such.
What does the Bible say about this?
- Paul asserts that a person is justified by faith, not by works of the law (Rom 3:27–28; Gal 2:16); Abraham was justified by faith, and faith was credited as a reward, not as a debt (Rom 4:1–5).
- God saved us not because of righteous works, but according to His mercy (Titus 3:4–7); salvation is not from works, so that no one may boast (Eph 2:8–9).
- Believers were created in Christ for good works, which God prepared in advance (Eph 2:10); in Christ, faith working through love has power (Gal 5:6).
- James says that faith without works is dead, and that Abraham was justified by works (James 2:14–26).
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the verse texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
7 Scripture Passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
Ephesians 2:8–10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God: 9 not by works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand for us to do.
Romans 3:27–28
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? The law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
James 2:14–26
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no works? Can such faith save them? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does not give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone may say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble. 20 But do you want to know, foolish person, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made complete. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the spies and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.
Titus 3:4–7
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Romans 4:1–5
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered? 2 If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Galatians 2:16
Nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the law but only through faith in Jesus Christ, we also have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; because by works of the law no flesh will be justified.
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power, but faith working through love.
