Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works?

Does faith alone save sinners, or does faith plus good works save them? This is among the most important questions in Christian theology. This question was at the root of the Protestant Reformation, as the disagreement led to the separation of Protestantism from Roman Catholicism. The role of faith and good works in salvation is also a key distinction between biblical Christianity and most cults. Is salvation through faith alone or through faith plus good works? Put simply, is trusting in Jesus Christ alone sufficient to save sinners, or must a person trust Jesus and do good works?


The necessity of good works, in addition to faith, for salvation varies across religions. Some belief systems suggest that water baptism is a work that people must add to faith for salvation. Some go even further, saying that a person must be baptized by the right minister, using the right method, saying the right words, to be saved.

Others suggest different rites to be observed for salvation, with the formula always faith + [fill in the blank]. Some would say, “Salvation is by faith + receiving Mass.” Others would say, “Salvation is by faith + going to confession.” Still others would say, “Salvation is by faith + tithing.” Several other examples could be given.

The Bible teaches that salvation is through faith alone, not faith plus works. Ephesians 2:8–9, for example, not only states that salvation is by faith, but it emphasizes that it’s not by works. Paul writes: “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.” The word grace, which refers to God’s favor and blessings on the undeserving, is important in the verse. The basic meaning of grace refutes all attempts to earn salvation in part or in whole through good works. Paul reiterates the point when teaching on God’s selection of the remnant of Israel: “Since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved” (Romans 11:6, NLT).

Other passages that clearly teach salvation through faith alone include Acts 16:31; Romans 3:28; 4:5; 5:1; Galatians 2:16; 3:24; Ephesians 1:13; and Philippians 3:9.

There are a few Bible passages that, at first glance, seem to teach that salvation is by faith plus good works. One such is James 2:24, “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” This alleged problem is resolved by examining the entire argument of James’ epistle. James is refuting the idea that a person can have saving faith without producing any good works (see James 2:17–18). Genuine faith in Christ, James says, will produce a changed life and result in good works (James 2:20–26).

James is not saying that justification is by faith plus good works, but that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in his or her life. The works are an outward show of genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26)—and it’s that outward show that “justifies” the believer in the sight of other people. Paul says those who have true faith in Jesus Christ will be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).

Immediately after teaching that sinners are saved by grace alone, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9), Paul says God created believers for good works (Ephesians 2:10). Salvation comes by God’s grace through faith, and that faith is manifested in good works. This means that good works are the result of faith and are proof of it.

To be clear, saying that sinners are saved by good works is only true in one sense: We are saved solely by the work of Christ on our behalf. His death on the cross for sin and His resurrection from the dead are the good works that save us. Yet people receive God’s gift of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. As John writes, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).