One cannot be saved by faith alone any more than one can be saved by repentance alone or by baptism alone. There are a number of factors involved in our salvation and we cannot isolate one to the exclusion of the rest. Faith is essential to salvation, but it is not all that is required.
The only place in the New Testament where “faith alone” occurs is in the second chapter of the book of James. In that passage, the inspired writer says that man is not justified by faith alone (vs. 24). In fact, James goes on to say that “faith without works is dead” (vs. 26). The kind of works under discussion in this chapter are not works of merit — that is, performance-oriented works that obligate God to save us on account of what we have been able to accomplish. No, these are works of faith — actions which are the result of our faith and trust in God. We are not saved by faith alone, but by a faith which is actively engaged in trustful obedience to the will of God.
The fact that faith alone does not save is evident by the fact that some believers will be lost. James mentions demons who “believe, and shudder” (Jas. 2:19). No one would seriously argue that demons will populate heaven. Yet, demons are believers. Something more must be required.
Jesus spoke to believing Jews when He said, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). Later in the chapter, Jesus calls these same believers children of the devil (vs. 44). Why? Because, although they believed, they did not act upon their faith. This is foreshadowed in an earlier passage where John says, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name…” (Jn. 1:11-12). Those who “received” Jesus — that is, those who “believed in His name” — where given “the right to become children of God.” They were not children of God simply by virtue of their belief. They had to act upon their faith by exercising their right to become children of God (Jn. 3:3-5). One must exercise his right to become a child of God by turning away from sin and being baptized into Christ. Some believers we read about in the Bible never exercised their right to become a child of God. Don’t repeat the same mistake. One cannot be saved without faith. But, neither can one be saved by faith alone.
— Glen Elliott —