Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Seminary
    • Seminary Info
    • Fall 2023 Classes
    • GES Seminary Curriculum
    • GES Seminary Faculty
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Can We Harmonize Faith Alone Saves with Saving Faith Is Never Alone?

Can We Harmonize Faith Alone Saves with Saving Faith Is Never Alone?

April 5, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Assurance, The faith that saves is never alone

A. H. asks,

I read your post about the saying, “faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone” [see here] and that’s something I have heard, believed, and experienced in my own life–but, I think I’m interpreting that statement in a way that is in line with your theological views. I believe the first half of that statement is speaking towards redemption, and the second half is speaking towards sanctification. I believe that faith alone accomplished my justification to be saved and that then this saving faith produces the repentance over the course of my life that helps me to conform more and more into the image of Christ. I realize I’ll never be perfectly like Him until I stand before Him. Would you agree this statement could be true and in line with your theological views in the way I’ve explained it?

If I understand her correctly, she is saying that one is born again by faith alone, understood as simple persuasion regarding the promise of everlasting life. (She never defines faith, so that is a guess.) To be born again, one need not repent, surrender, commit, or obey. But–and here is the problem–she also seems to be saying that God guarantees that she will persevere in faith and good works, albeit not perfect works, until death.

Unless A. H. has a way of knowing for sure that she will persevere in faith and good works, then she cannot be sure that justification is by faith alone.

What if she drifted away from the Lord, stopped going to church for years, and became an alcoholic and a murderer? If she continued to believe what she believes now, she would be forced to conclude that she either lost everlasting life or proved she never had it in the first place.

The Apostle Paul himself was not sure that he would persevere (1 Cor 9:27). If an apostle was not sure that he would persevere, how can any of us be sure? We cannot.

If, however, A. H. was sure that she has everlasting life that can never be lost simply because of her faith in Christ, then, yes, she would be born again, and her view would be consistent with the faith-alone position.

On a practical level, that is not possible. It is humanly impossible to believe two contradictory things. You cannot believe that 2 + 2 = 4 and at the same time believe that 2 + 2 = 6. You cannot believe that the earth is much smaller than the sun and that the sun is much smaller than the earth. You cannot believe that at the moment of faith a person is certain he has everlasting life that can never be lost and at the same time believe that only those who persevere in faith and good works will avoid eternal condemnation.

Most likely A. H. holds the view that some who profess to believe the faith-alone position hold. That is, she likely does not believe that assurance is of the essence of saving faith. In that way of looking at it, you merely believe that Jesus died and rose again and that He is your best hope of heaven. You have no certainty of your eternal destiny. But the longer you walk with Christ, the more likely it is that you will persevere and the greater your “assurance” grows.

Jesus said, “He who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:26a). Then He asked, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26b). In order to answer yes to that question, we must be convinced that faith alone guarantees that we will never die spiritually. But one cannot believe that and at the same time believe that the faith that saves is never alone.

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Bob_W

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin (ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is the Founder and Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest books are Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses and Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

September 22, 2023

What Does it Mean to Have “Great Faith”?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio/podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are talking something Jesus mentioned, namely “Great Faith.” What was Jesus talking about?...
September 22, 2023

Believing in Jesus for an Insecure Salvation? 

We post many of the messages from our annual conference on our YouTube channel. We’ve been putting up one per week. I like looking at...
September 21, 2023

Is Faith a Choice?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio/podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are responding to a question about faith. What is it? Which comes first–faith...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • The Gospel Under Siege: Faith and Works in Tension $15.00 $10.00
  • Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses $15.00 $10.00
  • Elisabeth: Christ's Medal of Honor Recipient $11.95 $10.00
  • Tough Texts: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works? $15.00 $10.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube