Are we saved through good works?
I had a friend recently ask me how she could dialogue with her Catholic friend who wholeheartedly believes and passionately argues with her that a person can only be saved through doing good works (to my understanding, not all Catholics would agree with him on this). He referred to James 2:24 as his proof text. My response to her question is not my effort to bring offense to any of my Catholic friends or readers, but instead to merely shed light on what the Bible has to say about this subject. James 2:24 says, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." When reading this verse by itself, it certainly would appear that our salvation is based on more than our faith in Jesus alone. However, in this verse James is not referring to the steps to salvation, but rather the EFFECTS of salvation. This entire chapter in context is arguing how our faith can only be justified before “other people” by the good works that we do. James is not ref...