Catholics and Saved By Faith Alone

by Matt Slick

Roman Catholics often mention that the Bible never says we are saved by faith alone and that the phrase "faith alone" occurs only once in James where it says that we are not saved by faith alone. If this is so, then why do the Protestants say we are justified by faith alone and not by works?  Because the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith alone, and not by works.

The following is a list of verses about being saved by faith.  Please take note that faith and works are contrasted.  In other words, we are saved by faith "not by works" and "apart from works", etc.  The point is that there are only two options.  We are saved by faith alone or we are not.  Since we have faith and works (both conceptually and in practice), then we are either saved by faith alone or by faith and works.  There is no other option.

If we see that the scriptures exclude works in any form as a means of our salvation, then logically, we are saved by faith alone.  Let's take a look at what the Bible says about faith and works.  Then, afterwards, we will tackle James' statement about "faith alone".

1. Rom. 3:28-30, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. ²⁹Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith [no works] and the uncircumcised through faith [alone] is one."
2. Rom. 4:5, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith [alone] is reckoned as righteousness,"
3. Rom. 5:1, "therefore having been justified by faith [no works], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
4. Rom. 9:30, "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith." [ no works ]
5. Rom. 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."  [faith alone]
6. Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."

Pastor Mike Gendron  says on p.28 of his book - Preparing Catholics for Eternity - that trusting any  work or sacrament from any religious liturgy or ceremony  from Mormonism or Catholicism for any Religion will actually NULLIFY  any faith in a Catholic Jesus who is not able to save you without meritorious works of the sacrament.--  You have NOT believed the correct GOSPEL of faith alone in Christ ALONE  --  Galatians 1:8 " But if  we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." [ anathema ]

1. Gal. 2:16, "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."
2. Gal. 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the [good deeds of the]Law, then Christ died needlessly.
3. Gal. 3:5-6, "Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? ⁶Even so Abraham believed God [by faith alone] , and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
4. Gal. 3:24, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." [without any works ]
5. Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. ⁹Not by works, lest any man should boast."
6. Phil. 3:9, "and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [ doing good deeds from ] the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith." [Alone]

Again, works/Law is contrasted with faith repeatedly and we are told that we are not justified by works in any way.  Therefore, we are made right with God by faith, not by faith and our works; hence, faith alone.

James 2:24, not by faith alone??

The scriptures clearly teach that we are saved (justified) by faith in Christ and what He has done on the cross.  This faith alone saves us.  However, we cannot stop here without addressing what James says in James 2:24, "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."

There is no contradiction.  All you need to do is look at the context.  James chapter 2 has 26 verses: Verses 1-7 instruct us not to show favoritism. Verses 8-13 are comments on the Law. Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works.

James begins this section by using the example of someone who says he has faith but has no works, "What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" (James 2:14).  In other words, James is addressing the issue of a dead faith, a faith that is nothing more than a verbal pronouncement, a public confession of the mind, and is not heart-felt.  It is empty of life and action.  He begins with the negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17, words without actions). Then he shows that type of faith isn't any different from the faith of demons (verse 19). Finally, he gives examples of living faith that has words followed by actions.  Works follow true faith and demonstrate that faith to our fellow man, but not to God.  James writes of Abraham and Rahab as examples of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds.

In brief, James is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence, "Faith without [eventual ] works [after true saving faith] is dead," (James 2:20).  But, he is not contradicting the verses above that say salvation/justification is by faith alone.

Also, notice that James actually quotes the same verse that Paul quotes in Rom. 4:3 amongst a host of verses dealing with justification by faith.  James 2:23 says, "and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" If James was trying to teach a contradictory doctrine of faith and works than the other New Testament writers, then he would not have used Abraham as an example.  Therefore, we can see that justification is by faith alone and that James was talking about false faith, not real faith when he said we are not justified by faith alone.

Good deeds and works are a natural result of "True Saving Faith" in your heart -- that is what James is saying.

Good works to glorify our Savior will naturally follow when you are Born Again spiritually and therefore in THAT sense  Any faith that doesn't eventually result in good works to glorify GOD is a DEAD faith -- so good works will in that sense PROVE that your faith was Alive and was a True Saving Faith..  but good works will NOT prove anything unless  you are TRUELY Born Again.  There are many Professing Protestants and Catholics doing good deeds but are headed for HELL because they have NEVER been converted by the Holy Spirit.  I don't pretend to know anyone's heart but the Holy Spirit inside the Born again believer will testify over time and through conversations where a person is spirtually. 

Also consider  Ephesian 2:8 - 10  "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, [after our Salvation] created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.