Faith alone or obedience: What does the Bible really teach about entering the kingdom of heaven?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
AshleyJoyce

AshleyJoyce

New member
Sep 5, 2025
7
10
3
I’ve been reflecting on the question of salvation: is it faith alone that brings us into the kingdom of heaven, or is obedience to God’s will also required?

The Bible seems to present both aspects:

  • “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
  • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

But then there are also verses that emphasize obedience and doing the will of God:

  • “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
  • “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
  • “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

These passages sometimes feel hard to reconcile.

👉 Do you believe faith alone is enough for salvation, or do we also need to live out God’s commands to truly enter the kingdom of heaven? How do you understand the balance between grace, faith, and works?
 
AshleyJoyce said:
I’ve been reflecting on the question of salvation: is it faith alone that brings us into the kingdom of heaven, or is obedience to God’s will also required?

The Bible seems to present both aspects:

  • “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
  • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

But then there are also verses that emphasize obedience and doing the will of God:

  • “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
  • “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
  • “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

These passages sometimes feel hard to reconcile.

Do you believe faith alone is enough for salvation, or do we also need to live out God’s commands to truly enter the kingdom of heaven? How do you understand the balance between grace, faith, and works?
Click to expand...

We are saved by grace through faith, period. However, our works are a gauge of our faith. James says: "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:18 And: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:26

The scriptures are full of passages about the testing of our faith. If anyone was saved by faith, it was Abraham; yet his faith was tested when God told him to sacrifice Isaac.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ," 1 Peter 1:6-7

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3

In 2 Corinthians 13:5 were even instructed to test ourselves: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified."

The bottom line is, we're saved by faith, but the only real proof of faith is our works.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Edify
In fact, the whole reason for our faith and our salvation is for good works: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
 
AshleyJoyce said:
But then there are also verses that emphasize obedience and doing the will of God:

  • “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
  • “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
  • “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)
Click to expand...


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

I say -------This is referring to False Christians --unbelievers -people who just call themselves Christians who are not saved ----

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

I say
This is for believers ---Jesus speaking to His Disciples who sometimes do not follow what He says ----now here you need to know the the Disciples were believers but not saved yet -----

I say
Jesus came under the Old Testament ---and Salvation was not in place yet ---so the Disciple are learning to obey Jesus and sometimes did not apply what he was telling them ----

Believers do this today ----to ----we don't always do as Jesus who is the WORD --tells us to do and we end up in a mess -----Jesus tells us to learn to control our emotions ---but we don't always do as He wants us to do -----


“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

I say
So Christ's Faith always requires a Positive response ------

Peter walking on the water is a good example ----Jesus calls Peter to step out of the boat and come to him -----Christ is imparting His Faith to Peter by speaking out to him ---

Peter is putting action to Christ's faith call to step out of the boat and Peter walks on the water till the wind takes his Focus from Jesus and he falls -----but is recused by Jesus from the water ---

now you need to know there are 3 kinds of Faith ---

Intellectual or Human Faith ----when your born you have faith in your parents to look after you ==

Demonic Faith ---the demons have Faith in who Jesus is and they are very scared of Jesus ---

These 2 Faiths are dead faith ---they do not produce anything ----this faith relies on what you--- see --hear --feel --taste and touch

Christ's Faith ---or as the Book of James calls it Dynamic Faith is the only Faith that produces ----this Faith bring God's promised to pass in your life ----this faith brings you Salvation ----

This faith Receives what God's Grace has made available to you -----

James 2:14-26 describes the 3 Faiths
 
By grace through faith, free, however, you've just joined God's army. You have to obey. You have to be disciplined, that's all there is to it. Obey in what? Read the handbook you have. Have works, do good for people. So I can show you my faith with my works, and all that stuff is fine and dandy but that's technically company stuff for the hire ups and bosses (Boss) We are servants and so must obey, follow orders. What's so hard about that?

The flip side is to be disobedient. You don't want to witness or help people or do good works? Ok so you will then be, the disobedient servant. Who thinks they get to keep the job when they constantly disobey instructions? It's not rocket science guys.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Edify and AshleyJoyce
AshleyJoyce said:
I’ve been reflecting on the question of salvation: is it faith alone that brings us into the kingdom of heaven, or is obedience to God’s will also required?

The Bible seems to present both aspects:

  • “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
  • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

But then there are also verses that emphasize obedience and doing the will of God:

  • “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
  • “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
  • “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

These passages sometimes feel hard to reconcile.

👉 Do you believe faith alone is enough for salvation, or do we also need to live out God’s commands to truly enter the kingdom of heaven? How do you understand the balance between grace, faith, and works?
Click to expand...

Born new by God Father and Son for you! Is no more self, first born self in the way to love all as are called to choose to do or not. For the first born person is not perfect ever as proven to me in Romans 8:3. Start at verse 1 and read the whole chapter, asking Daddy, Father, PaPa to reveal the truth
Father, PaPa, Daddy, is the only interpreter, who by Son Won for you and everyone else too. Father knows best. I saw, see to ask and remain in trust to hear truth as I go out and bout in this world
Daily, having new to learn, even from adversities that happened priorly.
Nevertheless, Father not my will, but your will, and Jesus went to that cross willingly, never denied Father. Now risen where new life is given, to let go of past and stand in the present given by God Father, even if in another trouble.
to me at least, standing in thanksgiving and praise no matter what. God will let me know and has always, not always at first, going through another lesson to learn new from
Will you, I and other stand in trust anyways, Col 1:21-23
 
I agree with most everything that has been said and would cite John 6:29 as indicating the impossibility
of divorcing genuine saving faith (= love for God/GW) from godly/good works (Rom. 1:17, Phil. 1:6, Eph. 2:8-10).
 
Faith without works is dead so by that logic faith without obedience is dead.
Faith is the saving point works are the fruits of that salvation saving faith naturally produces works and thus obedience
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2ndTimeIsTheCharm and homwardbound
James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ...

Could,God say no to you, me or you to not do, what James is saying here?
Is it always good to give? Can you be throwing pearls to swine?
I think to get informed not by self or anyone else, but Father himself, you think?
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Now there are works, which works are these to be? Of self or of Father in the done work of Son for us. In the love and mercy offered to us to love and hear Father over self and others first and foremost?
For Matthew 10:16-20, and Luke 221:14-15 stand out to me. I see it is not to be my works, it is to be God Father's done work of Son as risen for me to do as led. To discern when or when not to as spoken in Ecclesiastes.

A time to and a time not to, when, where, and how. Not needing to know why? I am learned, learning to listen to God, not self or anyone else thank you
 
AshleyJoyce said:
I’ve been reflecting on the question of salvation: is it faith alone that brings us into the kingdom of heaven, or is obedience to God’s will also required?

The Bible seems to present both aspects:

  • “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
  • “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

But then there are also verses that emphasize obedience and doing the will of God:

  • “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
  • “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
  • “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

These passages sometimes feel hard to reconcile.

👉 Do you believe faith alone is enough for salvation, or do we also need to live out God’s commands to truly enter the kingdom of heaven? How do you understand the balance between grace, faith, and works?
Click to expand...

“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.3.23.ESV

Belief/Faith is commanded. Belief/Faith is obedience.
 
The man on the cross said, "LORD. remember me WHEN(not if) you enter your kingdom'
He may not have known Jesus" name, but he knew & confessed that He was LORD & that the kingdom belonged to Him.
Jesus recognized real faith.
 
  • Like
Reactions: God-fearing and 2ndTimeIsTheCharm
Aussie52 said:
Faith and obedience are like Siamese twins, you can't separate them.
Click to expand...
You would be surprised how some people try to seperate them. I was in a debate with a catholic about this very subject last week and basically they are all for obedience but they do not believe faith is what saves you but more importantly that keeps you saved.

They believe in a works for salvation approach obedience+ works=salbation.
Faith is not in the formula with this person. then some believe that faith is all that is needed and that works are more of guidelines saying works don't save you which is true but without works are you even saved?
 
Is believing in God the simplest thing in the world? I believe faith in God isn't merely acknowledging His existence, but actively obeying His will upon that foundation. If someone who claims to believe in God fails to follow His will and instead lives in a cycle of sinning and confessing, such a person cannot enter God's kingdom. God's kingdom is holy—corrupt and defiled individuals cannot enter. Only those who obey God's will and completely shed sin can enter His kingdom. Do you agree?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2ndTimeIsTheCharm and Aussie52
AshleyJoyce said:
Is believing in God the simplest thing in the world? I believe faith in God isn't merely acknowledging His existence, but actively obeying His will upon that foundation. If someone who claims to believe in God fails to follow His will and instead lives in a cycle of sinning and confessing, such a person cannot enter God's kingdom. God's kingdom is holy—corrupt and defiled individuals cannot enter. Only those who obey God's will and completely shed sin can enter His kingdom. Do you agree?
Click to expand...
I believe that no true believer would purposely live a life of sin and yes they would naturally desire to obey him as the spirit in us always leads us to do this like a second nature however there is also his love and mercy for when we fall short. I used to always be worried about my sins about every flaw or weakness I had I felt filthy compared to him and compared to other saints

But I found rest in his love and mercy I began to see myself as he does and understand how he felt about me and there is nothing I could ever do to make him love me any less no amount of sin no flaw no imperfection could make him see me any less

Our sins are on the cross it is finished no if and's or buts so while yes obedience comes with it and we should try to live a holy righteous life there is also the other side of the coin and that involv3es his love and grace for us
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back