We cannot just pick random verses, we have to look at the whole counsel of God. True faith is shown by our works, our works is not what saves us. This will be my only post in this thread, I do not want to argue over the meaning of the Bible. We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, so I am not going to argue over who is correct. This is just stating what I believe the Bible is saying and what the Lord has revealed to me.
Galatians 2:16- "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."
Belief in Jesus is what saves us, we have to accept his gift. There is more to it than that though, because even the demons believe. We are called to build a relationship with God.
James 2:18-20 clearly says that true faith contains works. Our actions will show that we are truly believers. I like the example of the disciples after Jesus' death and resurrection. They preached what they believed, and were even willing to die for it. This shows that they truly believed what they taught.
1 John 1:8- "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." Jesus' blood cleanses us from our sin and if we confess, He will forgive us.
James 5:19-20-"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Where does this say that they are a true believer? Even the demons know the truth. There is a difference between true believing and knowing the truth. We are called to bring people to the truth that have fallen from it. From there, they have to make the decision to truly follow Christ.
Ephesians 1:13-14- "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,who is the guaranteeof our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory."
1John 2:19- "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
We are given the seal of the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus' gift. If we are not true believers, we can depart, for if we stay, we are believers.
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
John 10:27-28- "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
If we leave God, we were never truly of Him and living for Him. We will be known by our fruit if we are truly Christians.
Galatians 5:13-15- "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...."
If we truly believe in God and live for Him, our actions and fruit will show it. But the Bible also makes it clear that nothing can take true believers from God's hands. If we truly believe in God and live for him, we will stay with God and our actions will show this. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and is our seal.