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Salvation: Faith in Christ Alone

Writer's picture: Michelle HaymanMichelle Hayman

In today’s blog post, we’ll be exploring one of the most foundational and debated aspects of the Christian faith: the means of salvation. Many throughout history have wrestled with this question, and various interpretations have arisen. Today, we will examine the biblical evidence that points to faith alone as the pathway to salvation. This journey will involve a careful look at Scripture, as we uncover what God has revealed about how we come to Him and receive the gift of eternal life.


The Bible itself declares that all Scripture is divinely inspired by God, and this divine inspiration is repeatedly affirmed throughout the Old Testament, especially through the powerful phrase, "Thus says the Lord." This phrase appears countless times as a declaration from God, underscoring that the words spoken are not merely those of men but of an infallible, sovereign God. The Bible, written by holy men chosen by God, conveys His perfect and unchanging will to humanity. It is through this sacred text that we are revealed the path to salvation—by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. This truth, clearly presented in Scripture, is the heart of the Gospel.

If anything is added to or taken away from the true Gospel, it no longer remains the Gospel of salvation. Instead, it becomes a distorted version, one that cannot lead to eternal life. The integrity of the Gospel is crucial—any alteration of its message results in a false gospel that does not carry the power to save.


The Gospel is not something to be taken lightly, as it directly impacts our eternal destiny. We must ask ourselves: If we were to stand before a holy, righteous, and omnipotent God today, how would we fare? Do we simply show up to church, going through the motions, only to return to our regular lives without truly engaging with the message of salvation? How many of us approach the Gospel in this way, treating it as a routine rather than a transformative truth? Do we truly read the Scriptures ourselves and live according to God's Word, or do we instead follow what men in fine robes proclaim will save us?


Do you truly believe that taking part in a ritual—such as swallowing a wafer and drinking a bit of wine—will somehow make you right with God, especially if your life is marked by repeated actions that contradict His commands? How will these rituals help if you continue to gossip, backstab, judge others harshly, lie, cheat, curse, and live as a hypocrite? Can confessing your sins to another sinner or even to a dead person somehow erase these works? The reality is, anyone who believes they can earn their own salvation is still bound by the law. If you are relying on your own efforts to gain God’s favour, you must understand that He requires perfect righteousness, which none of us can achieve on our own. When you stand before Him on judgment day, you will be held accountable for every action, word, and thought. The law requires perfection, and none of us can meet that standard on our own. This is why the Gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, is so crucial—it’s the only way to be justified before God, not through rituals or human efforts, but through faith in the finished work of Christ.


Those who place their faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice receive His perfect righteousness credited to them. Through His death on the cross, Jesus took upon Himself our sins, nailing our iniquities to the cross, and in exchange, He offers us His righteousness. This divine exchange ensures that, despite our imperfections, we stand before God as righteous because of what Christ has done for us.

Justification is not something we can earn or achieve by our own efforts; it is a divine declaration from God. It is an eternal verdict pronounced once and for all over those who believe in Christ, as shown in Romans 8:33-34, where it says, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." This passage reinforces the unshakable security believers have in Christ’s work. Once God justifies, there is no condemnation, no accusation, and no sin that can ever change that eternal status.


The Roman Catholic Church frequently cites James 2:24 to argue that both faith and works are required for salvation. However, this interpretation misrepresents the true meaning of James' message when taken in context. In the passage, James does not claim that salvation is attained by faith plus works. Rather, he emphasizes that genuine faith is always accompanied by good works. In essence, James is distinguishing between living faith and a dead faith—faith that merely exists in name or in intellectual acknowledgment, but lacks the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. This dead faith, he argues, cannot save because it lacks the visible evidence of a changed life.

The apostle James clarifies that true faith is much more than mere belief or verbal confession—it is an active, dynamic force that results in a spiritual transformation. True faith is not a mental exercise or agreement with certain doctrinal points. Instead, it is something that radically changes the heart and mind of the believer, which is evidenced in the life they live. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is what makes this transformation possible. As Romans 8:9 states, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Here, Paul makes it clear that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is essential for a believer’s identity and salvation. Without the Spirit, a person is not truly a follower of Christ.


When a person is spiritually reborn of the Holy Spirit, their entire disposition is changed. This inward transformation, which is the fruit of true faith, naturally leads to good works. These works are not a means to salvation but a result of the salvation already received through faith. Ephesians 2:10 emphasizes this by saying, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." True faith is not just a one-time intellectual acceptance of Jesus as Saviour, but a living, active relationship with Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This relationship will naturally manifest itself in good works, which are evidence of a genuine faith that has transformed the believer from the inside out.

As James 2:26 affirms, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." Just as a body without the spirit cannot live, faith without works is lifeless—it has no vitality and cannot save. Faith without works is not the kind of faith that leads to salvation because it does not reflect the inner transformation that the Holy Spirit brings about. If the Holy Spirit truly dwells in someone, their life will bear fruit—works of love, compassion, and righteousness—not as an effort to gain salvation, but as a natural overflow of their faith in Christ.

The true essence of salvation is not works-based. It is faith in Christ and the redemptive work He accomplished on the cross. Yet, that genuine faith will always be followed by good works, not because we need them to be saved, but because we have been saved. This is the key difference—good works do not save, but they are the undeniable evidence of a heart transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. When we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, He equips us and empowers us to do the works of God, and these works become the testimony of our faith. Faith alone saves, but genuine faith is never alone—it will always be accompanied by the works that God has prepared for us to walk in.


When someone posits that salvation is achieved through both faith and works, they are not merely adding an additional condition to the process of salvation—they are, in essence, dismissing Christ's complete and final act of redemption in favour of their own efforts. This is where the contradiction lies: such a belief does not simply complement faith with works but replaces the reliance on Christ with a reliance on self.

If someone were to argue that salvation requires both faith and works, they are essentially saying, “Christ’s work on the cross is not enough; we need to contribute our part to it.” Logically, this makes no sense. If Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price for sin, then why is additional effort required? To add works as necessary for salvation implies that the cross was incomplete, that Christ’s death was insufficient, and that God’s grace in Christ needs to be supplemented by human effort. In rejecting the finality of Christ’s sacrifice, they are not simply augmenting the process of salvation—they are undermining it. They are saying, "What Christ did was not enough, and we must add to it with our own works."


At a deeper level, this view reflects a spiritual self-reliance—a belief that human beings can earn or merit their salvation through their own actions. This shifts the focus away from Christ’s grace and places it squarely on the individual’s ability to perform. The introduction of works, implies that the individual does not fully trust in Christ's finished work but instead believes they must complete or augment it with their actions. When Christ said, "It is finished" on the cross, He meant that His sacrifice was complete—it was the full and final act to redeem humanity’s sins and restore peace between God and man.

When someone chooses to place their trust in their own works or adherence to rituals, they are, in essence, saying, "I believe I can contribute to my salvation." They are rejecting the foundational Christian principle that salvation is not about what we do, but about what Christ has already done.

This self-reliance at its core is idolatry. It replaces the ultimate dependence on Christ with dependence on human achievement. The Bible warns us about this, calling it a form of self-righteousness that is unacceptable before God. Isaiah 64:6 declares that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Our works, no matter how good they may appear on the outside, are tainted by sin and cannot merit salvation. Yet, when someone believes that works contribute to salvation, they are effectively placing their trust in something imperfect (their own actions) instead of in the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.


Catholics believe that participating in the Eucharist, by eating the wafer, grants them God’s grace. However, in doing so, they deny the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work by not fully placing their trust in Him. Instead of relying entirely on Christ, they place importance on performing rituals, good works, and even confessing to fellow sinners. In doing so, they inadvertently reject the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which comes only through complete faith in Christ. This creates a vicious cycle where their actions, meant to seek grace, ultimately hinder them from receiving the transforming power of the Spirit through a full and complete reliance on Christ alone.


Roman Catholics are called to adhere to Catholic doctrine, but that doctrine differs significantly from the true Gospel. Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to follow anything other than God’s Word.

Jesus clearly teaches that true faith involves more than just intellectual agreement or ritual observance; it requires active discipleship. As He states, we are to pick up our crosses and follow Him—a call to embrace His sacrifice, live in obedience, and align our lives with His will. This is the essence of living out faith, and it is rooted in adherence to God's Word. Nowhere in the Bible does it instruct us to pray to Mary or adopt other man-made doctrines that stray from the clear teachings of Scripture. These traditions, no matter how deeply rooted in church history, do not align with the biblical teachings on salvation and faith.

The New Testament consistently agrees with the Old Testament that justification is a gift granted on the basis of faith, not works. This is an act of God's grace, one that occurs independently of any human effort. In Romans 4:5-6, Paul writes, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Here, Paul emphasizes that righteousness is imputed by God through faith, not earned by works.

Romans 5:1 affirms, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Justification, the act of being made right with God, is a result of faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through any external rituals or actions.

Finally, Romans 3:28 states, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." This makes it clear that salvation and justification are by faith alone, apart from any works of the law. No doctrine, no tradition, no man-made ritual can substitute for the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ.


Salvation is not a lifelong process under the control of the Church, but rather a final verdict pronounced by God, based on faith in Jesus Christ. It is a completed work, settled by God’s grace, and not something that can be earned or manipulated by human effort or church authority. The Bible consistently teaches that faith alone is the means of salvation, and several key passages highlight this truth in a profound way.

In Romans 3:20, Paul declares, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." While the law reveals our sin, it cannot make us righteous or save us. It simply exposes the reality that our efforts are insufficient and points us to the need for something greater: salvation by grace through faith.

In Romans 3:21, Paul explains, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." This righteousness, which is essential for salvation, comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not something achieved by following the law or by human effort, but something that is given freely to those who trust in Christ.

Then in Romans 3:22-24, Paul continues, "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." This passage is pivotal, showing that righteousness comes by faith, and is available to everyone who believes in Jesus. It is free—not earned or obtained through any works or rituals, but through God's grace alone.

In Romans 3:25-26, Paul explains that Christ's atoning sacrifice was made so that God could be both just and the justifier of those who believe. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." The key point here is that God’s righteousness is manifested in the redemption Christ accomplished, and it is received through faith. Salvation is not a process dictated by human institutions but a gift from God that is given freely to those who believe in Christ.


Further emphasizing faith alone, Titus 3:5 declares, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." This verse again confirms that salvation is not based on our good works but is a result of God’s mercy. It is the work of God, not of man, that brings about salvation.

Romans 11:6 provides another important reminder, stating, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Paul is making a clear distinction here: if salvation is by grace, it cannot be by works. The moment we add works to grace, it ceases to be grace. Salvation, then, is entirely an act of God’s grace, received through faith, and not a product of human effort or merit.

Lastly, in Romans 4:8, Paul makes a powerful statement: "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." This is an expression of the justification we receive by faith in Christ. God does not count our sins against us when we believe in Jesus. It is not by anything we do, but by what Christ has done on our behalf, that we are declared righteous before God.


For a just and holy God to relate to fallen humanity, the standard of perfection must be met. God’s justice demands absolute perfection in righteousness, because a perfect God cannot tolerate imperfection, whether it be in thought, word, or deed. This is not a matter of God's preferences, but a logical necessity inherent in His divine nature.

From a theological perspective, this means that the standard for salvation must be perfection. Yet, humanity is fallen, corrupted by sin. Romans 3:10-12 explains that "there is none righteous, no not one," and Romans 3:23 makes it even clearer: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Theologians often refer to this as total depravity: the idea that every part of human nature is affected by sin, and no human effort, no matter how good it may seem, can satisfy the absolute standard of righteousness demanded by God. Logically, if humanity is incapable of meeting this standard, then salvation cannot be achieved through human effort.

In this context, the suggestion that salvation could be obtained through rituals or works is inherently illogical. Works and rituals cannot bridge the infinite gap between a holy, just God and a fallen humanity. If humans could be justified through works, it would imply that imperfect beings could achieve a perfect standard, which contradicts the nature of God's justice. If salvation could be earned through rituals or works, it would not be salvation in the biblical sense, because it would not address the core problem—the absolute moral gap between sinful humanity and a holy God.


The second crucial issue in understanding salvation by faith alone is the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. If salvation could be earned through good works, rituals, or human effort, then Christ's atoning death on the cross would have been unnecessary or incomplete. If it were possible for anyone to achieve righteousness through works, then Christ’s substitutionary atonement—where He, the sinless Son of God, dies in place of the sinner—would lose its meaning and necessity.

The Bible presents Christ’s sacrifice as the only sufficient means of reconciliation between God and man. In Romans 5:6, Paul writes, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” This passage asserts that humanity, in its weakness and sin, could not accomplish what Christ accomplished on the cross. Christ’s death is the only means by which a righteous God can declare sinful people justified. Theologians emphasize that Christ's sacrifice is final, complete, and all-sufficient. For anything else to be added to this work, such as human rituals or works, would be to deny the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement. It would imply that Christ’s work was incomplete or insufficient to secure salvation, which is a direct contradiction of the biblical teaching.

To logically refute the idea that salvation requires anything other than Christ’s atonement, we must ask: if Christ’s sacrifice is fully sufficient for salvation, why would God then require anything else? The logical answer is that salvation cannot be achieved by any means other than Christ’s finished work. Faith in Christ alone is the necessary response to God’s gift of salvation because Christ alone is the one who has fulfilled the necessary conditions for reconciliation with God.


Grace, by its very definition, is unmerited favour. If salvation depended on works or rituals, it would no longer be a gift of grace but a transactional exchange. The moment we add any human effort—whether through sacraments, good deeds, or ritual observance—we destroy the very nature of grace. If salvation were achievable by human works, it would imply that salvation is earned, and thus it could not be grace.

Romans 11:6 is crucial here: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.” If salvation were based on works, it would not be a gift, and therefore, grace would cease to be grace. The logical conclusion is that salvation must be a gift from God, unearned and unearned by any human action. Faith alone is the only appropriate means to receive this gift because it acknowledges the complete sufficiency of God’s grace in Christ. Faith, by its very nature, is a receptive response to the grace already provided through the atonement of Jesus Christ.


Finally, we must understand that faith is not merely intellectual assent, nor is it merely a transaction; it is a relational trust in Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." This relational aspect of salvation highlights that faith is not merely a doctrine or intellectual acknowledgment; it is a trusting relationship with Jesus. Faith is the means by which we are united to Christ. Faith is not something that earns salvation, but rather receives salvation because it is through faith that we are joined to the finished work of Christ. To say that works or rituals are necessary would undermine this intimate, relational aspect of salvation, reducing it to a series of transactions rather than a deep, life-transforming relationship with God through Jesus Christ.


When we consider all these factors—the nature of God’s justice, the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice, the definition of grace, and the relational nature of faith—it becomes logically inescapable that salvation is only through faith in Christ alone. If salvation could be attained through human works, rituals, or efforts, it would diminish Christ’s atoning work, deny the essence of grace, and undermine the foundational principle that salvation is God’s free gift to be received by faith. Faith in Christ acknowledges our inability, recognizes Christ’s sufficiency, and receives the gift of grace. Anything else is not only theologically unsound but logically inconsistent with the nature of salvation as revealed in Scripture.

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