Research: Majority of Americans Believe Works Are the Key to Salvation

From the number of works salvation preachers who are on this website pushing the doctrine that doing works is essential to one being saved, i believe the report.. The only surprise in these stats is that only 70% of catholics believe this.. From my experience being a former catholic raised in a catholic family works salvation was standard teaching there..

One really needs to familiarize themselves with Jesus' teachings on works. There are many reference to His teachings and works in the New Testament. A foremost example is in Matthew's Judgement of Nations Cha 25:

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Jesus teaching on the importance of works is very clear!

Are we saved by faith in Christ or works?

Yes, that is living faith, "faith which worketh by love". Faith that has no works is dead faith, and dead faith cannot save.

"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love." (Gal 5:6)

"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (Jam 2:14-16)

The Bible says faith works together with works, and that by works faith is made perfect. It gives the clear example of Abraham, who not only was made righteous (justified) by faith, but also by his good works along with his faith, became perfect in obedience to God.

"21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? " (Jam 2:21-22)

Our Lord counselled us to be Perfect, as His Heavenly Father is Perfect. And the Bible says, Righteous Works make our Faith Perfect.

God Bless.

Better yet.

According to the law. What is the standard by which one has kept the law?

Has anyone actually kept the law? What was jesus saying on the sermon on the mount, or to the rich man in Matt 19 about that very subject

From what I see. Most people who teach works (including catholics) deny they teach works.

What is your definition of faith in Christ? Is it just believing that Jesus is God and Savior or in believing in all that He taught.

Another teaching of Jesus; He tells us that many will have faith and hope in Him but will not be saved, only those that do the will of the Father in heaven will be saved.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

No one believes that a person is saved by his works alone apart from Jesus, but Jesus demands works as part of a true faith in Him? So, going back to my original question, "What is your definition of faith in Christ? Is it just believing that Jesus is God and Savior or in believing in Jesus as God and Savior and all that He taught."

Don't be just hearers of the Word of God but be doers of the Word of God!

The Americans have had years of dispensational teaching that mankind makes the choice for or against God that in its self is a work. Thinking works work should not be a surprise

I believe Justification is by Grace through Faith. When Hindus or Muslims ask to be Baptized, the Church doesn't ask them to show Good Works, but rather just to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and then they are washed from past sins, by Grace through Faith.

Sanctification, or increase in Justifying Grace, is by Good Works done in Co-Operation with God's Grace. God Himself works in us both to will and to work, and we bear Good Works as Fruits of His Grace. These Good Works increase the degree of God's Grace within us.

Perseverance is a Grace we all should pray for. St. Peter thought he would surely persevere, but he did not. It depends on the Lord's Grace, and we are to "Watch and Pray that we do not fall into temptation" just as they were to but did not. These 3 together give us Salvation.

Salvation = Justification + Sanctification + Perseverance.

How is faith a work?

God said he who believes is not condemned, He who does not believe is condemned already

No one will be able to trust God without his help and his work. Thats why faith is not a work. But we must make a decision.

Did i say faith was a work ?

With a gentle heart I say that you misunderstand the Scripture to which you refer. Jesus is referring to people who did not have faith in Him in this life but will call Him Lord on Judgement Day when it’s too little, too late.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life.” John 6:47

"Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him [Jesus] whom He sent.” [Jn 6:29]

Again I ask, what do you mean by 'believes'. Does that just mean that you believe that Jesus is Lord, God, and Savior. Or does it mean that you believe that Jesus is Lord, God, and Savior and in all that He taught us and commanded us to do?

Can you get to heaven if you don't love Jesus? I don't think so. Jesus asked His disciples a very pointed question at the Last Supper, "How can you say you love Me if you don't obey My commandments?" Obeying Jesus' commandments means doing something.

So, what do you mean by 'believing in Christ'? Is it a truncated/limited belief or a belief in Christ and all that He taught and commanded?

This is God plus us. grace plus works

look at it this way

Salvation (faith plus works) = justification (faith) plus sanctification (works) plus perseverance (works)

Grace and works can not mix..

Again I ask, what do you mean by 'believes'. Does that just mean that you believe that Jesus is Lord, God, and Savior. Or does it mean that you believe that Jesus is Lord, God, and Savior and in all that He taught us and commanded us to do?

Can you get to heaven if you don't love Jesus? I don't think so. Jesus asked His disciples a very pointed question at the Last Supper, "How can you say you love Me if you don't obey My commandments?" Obeying Jesus' commandments means doing something.

So, what do you mean by 'believing in Christ'? Is it a truncated/limited belief or a belief in Christ and all that He taught and commanded?

to answer your question.

Can you love Jesus before he first loved you? No

Can you be saved without Jesus love being applied to you? No

So yes, You can be saved (in fact you must be saved) before you have the capacity to love Jesus

As for faith. It is not mere belief, The demons believe (acknowledge) Jesus, but they never trusted him. Mere belief or personal acknowledgment of jesus never saved anyone and never will

Faith - trust = Assurance

Those who are born again trust what God said about them. What he offers them (personal salvation ) and have an assurance he will do what he promised (eternal life)

If you do not have these three. You do not trust Christ. and in my view have not yet come to saving faith

I was making a point, because I know many who think faith is a work. It usually comes in in the calvin vs arminian debates.

however, I do have a question, You said american dispensationalsim has taugh that faith is a work, where did you come up with this view. I am an american dispensational and I have never heard that faith is a work. Nor does anyone I know teach this..

What Is the difference In believing and faith?

The book of James tells us that 'faith without works' is a dead faith. Jesus also emphasizes that a living faith will be accompanied with works:

John 14:12: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”

Faith is much more than a mental acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. And Jesus emphasizes works many times in the New Testament.

Let it also be noted that nowhere, anyhow, anyway, does the New Testament say we are saved by 'Faith Alone' Sola Fide is not taught in the Bible, through faith yes, but never by faith alone. In fact, of the three virtues, faith, hope, and charity/love, love is the greatest. You can have all the faith in the world, but without applying that faith with love, you are but a clanging cymbol.