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"Where does the Bible say 'sinners are saved by faith only'?"

This doctrine is taught by most of the preachers in this country; nearly all religious bodies hold to this idea. If you should ask them what a sinner must do to be saved, you would be told that the only thing for him to do is to believe on the Lord, that a sinner is saved by faith only.

One prominent religious body has this statement in its creed: "That justification by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort." That puts it about the way the majority of preachers preach it. So if your preacher has been telling you this, I want you to go to him and ask him kindly to show you where the Bible says a sinner is saved by faith only.

Now, don't forget the nature of the request; don't ask him where the Bible says one is saved by faith, I can furnish you scores of passages that say that, but what I am wanting to find is the passage that says one is saved by faith only, for you know there is a difference between being saved by faith and by faith only.

Faith only means faith to the exclusion of everything else; it means there is nothing but faith in the plan of salvation. So that is what I want you to ask him about.
If he refers you to Rom. 5:1 in which Paul says, "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," call his attention to the fact that while this speaks of being "justified by faith," it does not say we are "justified by faith ONLY."

The word ONLY is not in it. I believe men are justified by faith - without faith no man can be justified - but I am hunting for the passage that says "by faith only."
Notice clearly every verse that your preacher gives you to see if the word "only" is mentioned in them. Just to find various forms of statements that tell us that salvation is by faith is not sufficient; it must be by faith only. Preachers are preaching "faith only" as the plan of salvation.

Hence, we want the passage to contain the word "only" or some other word that means that. So you stay with him till he gives you the verse that says we are saved "by faith ONLY" or till he admits that he cannot find it; for after all, he can either find it or he can't. And if it is in the Bible he will know where to tell you to turn.

Is it true that the Bible does not mention "faith only" in connection with justification? I recall one place where the expression occurs. I would like to have you read it with me. It is found in James 2:24. Turn to it and let us see what it says. Here is the way it reads: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and NOT BY FAITH ONLY." This speaks of justification. It says a man "is justified by works."

Now, I didn't say that. It reads that way right there in your Bible. So if saying that one is justified by works is wrong, the Bible is wrong. That is what it says. And what about faith only? Read it again, "And not by faith only." Justified how? By works, and not by faith only.

But preachers today say a man is justified by faith only. I know that too, but James writing in the Bible, says "NOT by faith only."

Which do you think is right? Modern day preachers or the Bible?

Somehow it seems to me that the Bible must be right. While your preacher is looking for the passage that says man is justified by faith only, show him this statement of James that it is not by faith only.

And had you ever thought of how contradictory the Bible would really be if somewhere else it does say we are saved by faith only? Not only would it be a denial of Jas. 2:24, but it would repudiate many other statements of inspired men. As faith only means faith to the exclusion of everything else, then salvation by faith only would mean salvation without repentance. It could not include repentance for then it would not be faith only. Yet the Bible tells us plainly that "God has commanded all men everywhere to repent." Acts 17:30.

And Jesus said: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3. These statements would have to be nullified in order to have salvation by faith only. And it would also mean salvation without baptism, but Peter says in I Pet. 3:21: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us."

This is the way it reads in the Bible. So the Bible says we are saved by baptism. There are a number of things the Bible mentions as conditions of salvation, but denominational preachers say it is by faith only. Well, please ask your preacher for the verse that says so: and please send it to me when you have located it.

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