Faith Alone Will Not Save Us

Faith Alone Will Not Save Us

By Archbishop Nikiforos Theotokis. Greek: Νικηφόρος Θεοτόκης; Russian: Никифор Феотоки or Никифор Феотокис; (1731–1800) was a Greek scholar and theologian, who became an archbishop in the southern provinces of the Russian Empire. A polymath, he is respected by the Greek Orthodox church as one of the “teachers of the nation.”

Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed;

blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed;

[Jn. 20:29)]

† † †

Indeed, great is the power of faith!

Wondrous are the results of faith!

Infinite is the profit that ensues from

faith! It grants eternal life, and bestows

us with the heavenly kingdom! For it is

written, that by believing ye might have

life through His name. (Jn 20:31). And

elsewhere it is stated, Believe in the Lord

Jesus Christ, and thou and thy household

shalt be saved. (Acts 16:31). Therefore, faith does save, and belief

in Christ alone is capable of saving man.

But why do the very same Holy Scriptures also state, For the Son

of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and

then He shall reward every man according to his works. (Mt 16:27).

Additionally, it says, Who will render to each [person] according to

his works. (Rom 2:6). Yet elsewhere, “And they who have done

good shall proceed unto the resurrection of life; while they that

have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:29).

What can we make of this? Why do the Holy Scriptures sometimes state that faith saves man, while other times teach that

good works are the cause of salvation? Do the God-given words

of the Holy Scriptures contradict each other? Dear reader, do

not be fooled! God’s teachings are in complete agreement with

each other. Neither faith alone, nor good works alone save man;

rather, both faith in conjunction with good works save man.

Faith consists of two parts: theoretical and practical. Theoretical

faith exists when we believe with our mind everything that our

faith teaches without doing any good works. Such faith is dead,

of no benefit, and incapable of saving man. “Faith,” affirms the

divine St. James, on its own is dead if it is not accompanied by

works. (Jas 2:17). My brethren, what good is it if someone proclaims

that he has faith but has no [good] works? Is [such] faith capable of

saving him? (Jas 2:14).

Practical faith exists when we not only believe in everything our

faith teaches, but also carry out and abide by all its orders and

statutes. This is the faith that the Apostle Paul speaks of when

he says, Faith which worketh by love. (Gal 5:6). Therefore, when

the Holy Scriptures proclaim, So that believing ye might have

life through His name, and everyone who believes and is baptized

shall be saved. (Mk 16:16), and other such similar statements,

it is speaking of practical faith that is put into action through

love, and which co-exists united with good works. Similarly,

when the Scriptures teach, “God will render to each [person]

according to his works,” and the like, it is referring to people

who believe: it is referring to the works that have been carried

out as a result of faith.