GIFT BY FAITH ALONE
Scripture References
Believers Receive God’s Righteousness
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 3:22 (NIV)
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:7-9 (NASB)
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NASB)
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them.
Romans 4:3-11 (NASB)
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.
Romans 9:30-32 (NASB)
Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.
Romans 4:22-25 (NASB)
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
Galatians 2:19-21 (NKJV)
For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:19 (NASB)
For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 (NASB
Imputed and Received by Faith
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:24 (NASB)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7 (NASB)
...so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:8b-9 (NASB)
We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Galatians 2:15-16 (NASB)
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26 (NASB)
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Ephesians 3:17a (NASB)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13 (NKJV)
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:11-13 (NKJV)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Romans 3:28-30 (NKJV)
For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:40 (NASB)
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.
Romans 9:30-32 (NASB)
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
Galatians 2:19-21 (NKJV)
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NASB)
The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 3:35-36 (NJKV)
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:20-26 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:2-5 (NASB)
The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:23-25 (NIV)
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:14-16 (NASB)
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Acts 15:7-11 (NASB)
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 (NASB)
And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43 (NASB)
Note: The thief on the cross placed his trust in Jesus for salvation and was told he would be with Jesus in Paradise upon his death.
Of Him [Jesus] all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:43 (NASB)
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Acts 2:38-39 (NASB)
Note: At first glance, Peter appears to indicate water baptism is the vehicle through which forgiveness and salvation are attained. However, when Acts 2:38-39 is understood in its surrounding context and within the totality of Scripture, the meaning and intention of Peter’s words about repentance and baptism are abundantly clear.
Peter was preaching to Jews who were guilty of crucifying Jesus (Acts 2:36) and believing He was a heretic and blasphemer deserving of death. As Peter preached to them about Jesus being Lord and the promised Messiah of the Old Testament (Acts 2:22-36), and after proclaiming “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21), these Jews were cut to the heart by Peter’s words of truth. In response, they asked Peter what they needed to “do” to be saved. Peter told them to repent, which meant to change their minds about Jesus. They needed to go from believing Jesus was a heretic and blasphemer to believing He was the Lord and Messiah. Their repentance (belief, faith, trust in Jesus) resulted in their salvation and accompanying forgiveness, which is in perfect harmony with Acts 2:21. It is also consistent with Peter’s other statements about salvation and forgiveness found later in Acts 3:19; 4:4; 10:43; 11:17-18; and 15:7-11 — none of which teach or mention water baptism as a requirement for salvation.
Additionally, the Greek word (eis) translated as “for” in verse 38 can also mean “because of” or the “result of” something. Using an English language example, if a doctor said to his patient, “Drink plenty of liquids for your cold,” he would not be instructing his patient to drink liquids to receive a cold. He would be communicating what to do “because of” or as a “result of” their cold. This same type of intended usage for the Greek word “eis” is found in several verses in the New Testament. In Matthew 12:41, the same Greek word (eis) was translated as “at” and communicates the “result of” an action. In this verse, Jesus said, “they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonah.” Jesus was not communicating that the men of Nineveh repented to receive Jonah’s preaching but did so because of it. In Matthew 3:11, the word (eis) was translated as “for” just like in Acts 2:38 yet also communicates “as the result of.” In this verse, John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for (eis) repentance.” He did not convey water baptism caused one to obtain repentance but was the intended and expected result of it. Other verses where the Greek word “eis” does not communicate “to receive” or “to obtain” are Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:3; Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 1:15, 10:2, and 12:13, and 1 Peter 3:21.
Therefore, Peter’s answer to the Jews in response to their question of “what should we do” should be understood as follows: Repent (by trusting Jesus Christ as Lord and Messiah, which grants you forgiveness and salvation) -- and be water baptized in the name of Jesus because of your forgiveness and salvation (which is granted by God when you repent) – and you will be born again.
Misunderstood Verses on Faith and Works
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
James 2:17-26 (NASB)
Note: Click: “Doesn’t James 2:17-26 prove salvation is through faith and works?”
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
Note: This is one of the clearest, most compelling, and straightforward passages establishing salvation as a gift obtained through faith alone and ruling out all other means to it, including works. Paul did not need to use the phrase “faith only” or “faith alone” to establish and convey his intended meaning, or for others to understand it, especially considering Ephesians’ overall context. He stated the facts about salvation, which naturally excluded all works from its equation.
To help explain the truth of faith alone, assume an upstanding individual was incapable of lying. After witnessing a crime, they were asked to come to the police station for a polygraph exam. While hooked up to the lie detector machine, they held only a blue pen in their right hand. During their examination, the trained investigator asked them a qualifying question. "What are you holding in your right hand?" The witness answered truthfully by stating, "a blue pen," and the lie detector machine indicated no deception in their answer. The upstanding individual's reply did not require a response of "only a blue pen" or "a blue pen alone" to convey the truth about what was in their hand while excluding all other items – especially considering their upright character and integrity. Suppose the truth was that this upstanding individual was holding a blue pen, yellow pencil, and black sunglasses in their right hand. They could never answer the investigator’s question truthfully by stating "a blue pen" because that would be a deceptive half-truth, rendering them a liar and their statement false.
Similar to the example of the upstanding, honest individual, God knows the truth of how He imparts salvation to sinners. He clearly expressed that truth in Ephesians 2:8-9 (and other passages), revealing and identifying faith as the exclusive means for obtaining it. God was not required to include the word “only” or “alone” for His declaration to be understood and accepted. His divine nature makes it impossible for Him to lie or deceive. Therefore, He did not disclose only partial truths in these passages but revealed the comprehensive truth. If the truth were that God only imparts salvation through one’s faith and good works, the Holy Spirit would never inspire Paul to write the words of Ephesians 2:8-9 as stated because it would violate His holy nature and divine character.
Also, the original Greek word Paul used for works in verse nine is “ergon,” which denotes a deed, an act, effort, labor, or toil. When used by itself, it encompasses all works. Consequently, according to Paul’s words inspired by the Holy Spirit, salvation cannot be by grace through faith and not of works but also of works. It also cannot be by grace through faith and not of works after the required works are done. Neither can salvation be by grace through faith and not of some works but certainly others. Such interpretations are internally contradictory and, thereby, false. Instead, the meaning of Ephesians 2:8-9 is that God’s gift of salvation is received by sinners exclusively through faith apart from all works, including works of the Law, good works, and acts of obedience. Paul wrote in Romans 11:6 that grace ceases to be grace if works are involved. This truth distinguishes the exclusivity of and incompatibility between grace and works, which further confirms the facts expressed in Ephesians 2:8-9 that salvation is imparted through faith only, apart from works.
Concerning the good works described in Ephesians 2:10, they are God’s expected outcome for those who have received His gift of salvation through faith, as the text states. Paul declared that born-again believers are God’s handiwork and workmanship whom He redeemed and created for good works -- not by or because of them.
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:14-15 (NASB)
Note: Jesus did not teach an alternate method for obtaining God’s forgiveness apart from grace through faith alone by simply forgiving others. He also did not communicate forgiving others was a requirement for salvation. Jesus addressed a heart issue at the core of His statement and the verses preceding it.
Having just instructed His listeners how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13), Jesus underscored the element of seeking God’s forgiveness. As indicated by verse 12 and elsewhere in Scripture, a right heart asks for God’s forgiveness with an understanding that their own sins against Him are far more than those committed against them by others. Consequently, the sinner willfully and mercifully forgives others’ sins and humbly seeks God’s mercy and forgiveness for their own. It is this contrite heart that God forgives — not based upon their forgiveness of others but upon their lowly, penitent heart. (See Jesus’ Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14.)
On the contrary, an unmerciful sinner who refuses to forgive others for their few transgressions compared to the countless number they have committed against a holy, righteous God will not be forgiven. Not because of their unwillingness to forgive others but because of their arrogant, unrepentant heart that fails to understand its truly sinful condition before God, including the sin of refusing to forgive others. (See Jesus’ Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35.)
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:7-10 (NASB)
Note: When removed from their context, these verses give the impression that doing good (pursuing righteousness) results in eternal life, whereas not doing good (pursuing unrighteousness) results in God’s wrath. However, when these verses are understood and interpreted in context—especially considering the content of chapters one through five—Paul gave a sobering reality check against salvation through good works.
In Romans chapter one, Paul began to reveal the true sinfulness of all people. He addressed the wickedness of those who refuse to acknowledge and glorify God, resulting in all kinds of unrighteousness (see Romans 1:29-32). In chapter two, Paul confronted any sense of innocence or goodness one might feel when judging others for the sins they themselves commit (see Romans 2:1-2). He also rebuked the arrogance of thinking one could sin yet somehow escape God’s righteous judgment and wrath (see Romans 2:3). Paul pointed out that all such pride and sinfulness would result in wrath on Judgment Day when God will “render to each person according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). These sobering facts help set the stage for understanding Romans 2:7-10.
Paul did not abruptly interrupt his theme of expressing humanity’s guilt before God and the coming wrath against all sin to introduce a false doctrine of salvation through good works in Romans 2:7-10. Rather, he established that God only imputes eternal life to those who consistently and continuously do good, meaning—those who never sin but always honor and glorify God incessantly. David Guzik stated in his commentary on Romans 2:7, “If someone genuinely did good at all times, he could merit eternal life of his own accord. But there is none, because all, in some way or another are, have been, or will be self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.”
Paul confirmed this truth in Romans 3:10-12 by stating that nobody qualifies for eternal life based upon God’s criteria of goodness. He wrote, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one.”
As such, Paul wanted his readers to understand in Romans 2:7-10 that sinners can expect God’s wrath and fury on Judgment Day unless, of course, they place their faith in the only One who continually and consistently did good on their behalf: Jesus Christ.
Only Jesus qualified as sinless and pure, having lived a perfect life of obedience to the Father on everyone’s behalf. When Jesus died a sacrificial death on the cross, God could impute His righteousness onto those who trusted Him for salvation, granting them eternal life, glory, honor, and peace because of His goodness and not their own.
Paul authenticated this fact in Romans 3:23-26 when he wrote, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [e]take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:32-46 (NASB)
Note: It is easy to misunderstand these passages when viewing and interpreting them apart from Scripture’s consistent message of salvation through faith, independent of any works (Titus 3:4-7; Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 4:2-5, and others).
At first glance, one might assume that the judgment Jesus described contradicts the doctrine of salvation through faith alone and supports the idea that entrance into God’s Kingdom is through (faith plus) good works. However, those theories are not the case. In staying consistent with His written Word, Jesus’ vivid account of this judgment simply confirms the truth that genuine salvation through faith alone will evidence itself through good works (James 2:14-26; John 15:4-5; Titus 3:8; Mark 3:33-35). Similarly, those who have not been saved will not demonstrate a heart for God or a desire to bless Him through ministering to others.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 14:15 (NASB)
Note: In this verse, Jesus was not teaching how to be saved or claiming that obedience to God generates salvation. He made a simple and true statement to His disciples that if they love Him, they will obey Him. In other words, if they possessed a genuine love for Him, it would show itself tangibly through their obedience to Him. Therefore, loving God should be the motivation behind godly obedience.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15 (NASB)
Note: This judgment is the great white throne judgment strictly reserved for the resurrected dead (unbelievers) who did not trust Jesus for salvation. During this judgment, unbelievers will stand before God while various books are opened, including the Book of Life. God will determine each one’s degree of punishment based upon their deeds recorded in the various books, both good and bad. However, He sentences them "to" the Lake of Fire for rejecting Jesus, which caused their names not to be included in the Book of Life.
Believers are not present at the great white throne judgment. They will appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account to Jesus for the things He entrusted to them. They will not be judged for their sins since those were washed and cleansed by Jesus’ blood the moment they were born-again (Ephesians 1:7-8; Colossians 2:13-14). Instead, Jesus will test the quality of each one’s works and deeds with fire to reveal which are like “gold, silver, and precious stones,” and which are like “wood, hay, and straw” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Believers will be rewarded for their deeds that survive God’s test but suffer a loss of reward for those that disintegrate. A believer’s salvation is never in jeopardy of revocation since that gift was imparted to them by God when they trusted Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:24 (NASB)
Note: The original Greek word for “hears my words” is akouo, which means to hear; understand; perceive; find out; consider what has been said, and/or comprehend — not obey. The original Greek word for “believe” is pisteuo, which means to commit to one’s trust; be committed to; put in trust with; think to be true, or be persuaded of. Therefore, Jesus meant what He stated regarding salvation: Whoever hears His word, which, in context, was the testimony He gave about Himself in the previous verses and believes Him who sent Him has eternal life. Jesus’ statement was centered around faith and belief, not good works.
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
John 5:28-29 (NJKV)
Note: After Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda, it was reported to the Jews. The Jews believed Jesus “sinned” by healing on the Sabbath, therefore, sought to kill Him. After hearing Jesus’ response of, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working,” (John 5:17), they sought to kill Him even more for calling God His Father and making Himself equal with Him.
Clearly, these Jews did not believe Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God sent from heaven. Therefore, after speaking to them about the coming judgment, which He Himself would conduct, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” In context, Jesus was telling these Jews that if they understood and believed the testimony He just gave about Himself and the Father, they would receive eternal life and escape His coming judgment.
It is within this context that Jesus spoke the words recorded in John 5:28-29. He did not contradict Himself or backpedal from His earlier statement to them about faith and eternal life (v.24). So, in keeping with the context of the account and the consistency of Scripture, Jesus' words about "those who have done good" could refer to a few things: It could point to the good of believing Jesus for who He was compared to the evil of rejecting and killing Him. Or it could refer to the good done in one's life resulting from their salvation, which testified to the faith they professed. Either way, it does not mean that eternal life is granted based on good works. John's gospel itself makes it plain repeatedly that sinners obtain salvation and eternal life only when they believe Jesus Christ for it (John 1:12-13; John 3:14-16; John 3:35-36; John 6:40).
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB)
Note: Jesus began His statement with the word “therefore.” So, His words must be understood in context to know what they are “there for.” As Jesus neared the conclusion of His teaching on godly principles and practices, He instructed His listeners to enter through the narrow gate leading to life because the wide gate leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). As the Son of God, Jesus was and is the only narrow gate leading to eternal life with the Father (John 14:1-6).
Jesus warned them to watch out for false prophets who would lead them astray -- primarily the religious leaders of Israel, scribes, and Pharisees (Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus then declared not everyone claiming salvation with a show of godly, righteous works would enter heaven but only those who did His Father’s will (Matthew 7:21-23). Contrary to what the self-righteous religious leaders promoted, Jesus defined His Father’s will in John 6:40 by saying, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
It must have been shocking for the crowds to hear Jesus say that those performing works of righteousness would never enter heaven on their own merits but be cast from His presence for practicing lawlessness. It must have also been surprising since the Pharisees promoted this ideology and portrayed themselves as holy for their many religious practices. As alarming as Jesus’ words were, He was setting the stage for what His life, death, and resurrection would accomplish, which was salvation to all those who trusted in His righteous works of obedience and not their own.
In light of these truths, Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount by telling His listeners that those who heard His words and put them into practice were like a wise man building his house on the rock. Those who did not were like a foolish man building his house on sand. The interesting difference in Jesus’ analogy is not the houses but the foundations upon which they are built. Those living their lives to glorify God — having placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the Rock of their salvation (Psalm 89:26) — are wise. They remain standing through the storms and winds of life because their “house of belief” was founded upon the Rock of Salvation in Jesus. On the contrary, those who dismiss Jesus’ words and reject Him as the way to eternal life, living according to their own path or plan, are foolish and will fall with a great crash.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
Luke 9:23-25 (NASB)
Note: These sobering words of Jesus are recorded in three of the four gospels (Matthew 16, Mark 8, and Luke 9). Many Jews, including John the Baptist and Jesus’ disciples, believed that the promised Messiah would establish His Kingdom on earth and free them from Roman rule and oppression. Although numerous people and crowds followed Jesus as “this” Messiah, He would soon abolish their distorted belief by His soon-to-be-spoken words of truth about genuine discipleship.
After Peter’s declaration that Jesus was the promised Messiah (the Christ), Jesus began teaching His disciples that He must suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes — be killed — and rise from the dead three days later. This information shocked the disciples to the point where Peter rebuked Jesus and rejected His inconceivable words. Jesus reprimanded Peter for setting his mind on human interests rather than God’s, then summoned the multitudes and spoke the words of Luke 9:23-25 as a sobering reality-check about authentic discipleship.
Like other passages related to following Jesus, these verses speak to one’s intention and willingness to die to themselves and their fleshly desires to follow God and His will. Jesus’ words in Luke 9:23-25 are not the formula for salvation but the expected result of it, having been born-again and redeemed by the Holy Spirit through faith.