At first glance, it might seem as though there is no difference in the question which is presented in the title. However, to say that a person is saved by faith only is to say that one is saved only by having faith–the moment you believe, you are saved. But to say that a person is saved by faith is to say that faith is needed for salvation, but it is not the only need–by faith a person does whatever else is needed to obtain salvation. The difference, then, is crucial to a person obtaining (or having obtained) a true conversion in God’s sight. What saith the Word of God?
(1) “Thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 7:50). Did Jesus say “faith only hath saved thee,” or “Thy faith hath saved thee”? Answer: faith. “Through faith in his blood…for the remission of sins” (Rom. 3:25). Does the verse say “through faith only,” or “through faith”? Through faith. “Being justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1). Is it “faith only,” or “faith”? Faith. “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish” (John 3:16). “Believeth only,” or “believeth”? Believeth. There is not one single verse in the Word of God which contains the words “saved by faith only.” The word “only” is not in these verses. Yet, legion are the verses which declared it is by faith, and the difference does make a difference.
(2) “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?” (Jam. 2:24). Is a man justified by faith only? No.
(3) “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6). What is it that avails (benefits): “faith only,” or “faith which works”? Faith which works.
(4) Jesus said, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Is repentance necessary for salvation from perishing? Yes. Yet, if a person is saved by “faith only,” then nothing else is needed for salvation. However, since something else is needed for salvation (repentance), then a person is not saved by faith only.
(5) “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:9). If a person is saved by “faith only,” is anything else other than faith needed for salvation? No. Is confessing Jesus necessary for salvation? Yes. Since something else is needed for salvation (confession), is a person saved by faith only? No.
(6) Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). If a person is saved by “faith only,” is anything else other than faith needed for salvation? No. Is baptism necessary for salvation? Yes. Since something else is needed for salvation (baptism), is a person saved by faith only? No.
(7) “Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him…Ye are of your father the devil” (John 8:31,44). Did these people believe on Jesus? Yes. Since they had faith, then according to the doctrine: “a person is saved by faith only,” are these people saved? Yes. Yet, how did Jesus identify these people: “children of God,” or “children of the devil”? Answer: the children of the devil. Are children of the devil saved? No. Thus, did faith only save them? No.
Tell us plainly, is a person saved by faith only? A person is not saved by faith only.
Gary Henson