Are We Saved by Works? Let’s Talk About It
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I bet that title grabbed your attention! I’m planning a whole series on “works” later, but for now, let’s dig into a question that’s sparked debates for centuries, splitting families, friendships, and even nations: Do our actions—our “works”—save us? The real question isn’t whether works matter, but whose works count for salvation. Are we saved by what we do, or is it about what Jesus did? Spoiler: It’s all about Christ’s finished work on the cross. Let’s dive into scripture and investigate deeply.
When we talk about salvation, we often point to the cross as the “finished work” of Jesus. But what exactly did He finish? Jesus fulfilled the Law—God’s perfect standard that we could never meet. Matthew 5:17-20 lays it out: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Jesus didn’t come to toss out the Law; He came to complete it, down to the smallest detail.
Here’s the facts: to stand right or just relationship with God, we need to be fully justified—perfectly righteous. The problem? We can’t keep the Law perfectly. No one can. That’s where Jesus steps in. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He fulfilled every requirement of the Law. When we put our faith in Him, something incredible happens we take on His righteousness, and He takes our sin. That double exchange inputted into and from us is what makes us right with God and gets us into heaven. It’s not about our effort—it’s about His.
Some people think we’re saved by our own good deeds, but the Bible shuts that down completely. Ephesians 2:8-9 says it plain: salvation is a gift from God, given through faith, not something we earn by racking up good works. I searched Scripture and found at least 73 verses backing this up! Romans 5:8-9 adds more: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His blood justifies us, saving us from God’s judgment. That’s love in action—Jesus paid the price we couldn’t.
John 3:16, the verse everyone knows, sums it up: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Believe in Jesus and His finished work, and you’re saved. It’s that simple. Our job is to trust in what He’s already done.
Now, don’t get it twisted, faith doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. The Bible calls us to act. James 2:22 says faith and actions work together, making our faith complete. Our works do not save us, but they’re proof that our faith is real. James 2:17 puts it bluntly: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Think of it like this: our good deeds, our works, are the fruit of a life changed by Jesus. They show the world we’re His, and they strengthen God’s church and our own faith.
Here’s the bottom line: we’re saved by Christ’s works, not ours. That’s a game-changer. It means we don’t have to stress about earning God’s love—it’s already ours through Jesus. Our good works? They’re our way of saying “thank you” for that gift. They’re how we live out our faith, showing others what Christ has done in us.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” I believe God put us here to do bold, meaningful works—not to save ourselves, but to point others to Jesus. Every act of kindness, every moment of courage, every choice to love is a chance to share the good news of Christ’s saving work.
So, let’s rest in the truth that Jesus finished the job on the cross. Then, let’s get out there and live like it we believe it is true—doing good, loving others, and showing the world what faith in Him looks like.