Salvation by Faith and Works

Catholics reject the idea that we can be saved by works alone, apart from faith. But at the same time, we also reject the idea that we are saved by faith alone, apart from works. We believe that our faith and our works go hand-in-hand to bring about our salvation.

James, in the second chapter of his letter to the early Christians, writes about how faith that does not have works with it is dead, and cannot save a person. He uses Abraham as an example and writes: "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works...See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:21-22, 24). James is clear that we cannot separate faith from works. Faith is active along side of our works, and works complete our faith. We are saved by the union of the two.

Many people see good works as simply the result of already having a saving faith, but that is not what the Bible teaches, nor what Christians have taught or believed from the beginning. The truth is that we are saved by both faith and works, and both of these have an essential part in bringing about our salvation.