The Pathway Machine

This response explains that salvation is not by faith alone, and that there is no contradiction.

1. Mark 16:16 is spurious it doesn't count.

2. John 3:18, 36 says that faith is required, but doesn't say faith exclusively is required, so it doesn't count.

3. Acts 16:30-31 also says that faith is required, but not exclusively but it does go on to say that in addition to faith knowledge and baptism are required.

4. Romans 1:16-17 is pretty much the same except that it lists things necessary for us to have faith. Faith would be nothing without God's power and righteousness, and the good news.

5. Romans 3:20, 28; 4:2 are all talking about righteousness in as much is possible under sin. Faith looks beyond that.

6. Romans 5:1 says we are declared righteous by our faith by the blood of Jesus. If you read up to vers 9.

7. Romans 10:9 says not only faith but public declaration, which would require works.

8. Galatians 2:16 (in context 11-16) is Paul admonishing the Jews who thought they had an advantage over the Gentiles because of the law.

9. Galatians 3:11-12 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / Titus 3:5 all convey the idea that the law was impossible to keep completely. That only through faith would works become manifest with any meaning.

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Mark 16:16 (KJV) - He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:16 is spurious. There are two later additions to the sudden ending of Mark chapter 16. The later part of verse 8 through verse 20 are spurious. The Codex Regius of the eighth century includes both the short and the long ending adding that they are current in some quarters while not recognizing either as authoritative.

The Greek Codex Alexandrinus, and Ephraemi rescriptus from the fifth century C.E., as well as the Greek and Latin Bezae Codices from the fifth and sixth centuries C.E., Jerome's Latin Vulgate c. 400 C.E., Curetonian Syriac, Old Syriac and Syriac Peshitta, Christian Aramaic both from the fifth century C.E. add the long conclusion, but the Greek Codex Sinaiticus and Vatican ms 1209, both from the fourth century C.E. as well as the Cinaitic Syriac codex from the fourth and fifth century C.E., and Armenian Version from the fourth to thirteenth century C.E. omits them. It would seem, especially when examining the context, that these verses were added sometime during this period.

The verse also says that baptism in addition to faith is required.

John 3:18, 36 says that faith is required, but doesn't say that faith exclusively is required.

Acts 16:30-31 also doesn't imply that faith alone is required, in fact in verse 32 they instruct the jailer and all of his household in the word of God and in verse 33 they were baptized.

Romans 1:16-17 not only doesn't indicate that faith alone is enough, it lists some of the things involved in faith. God's power and righteousness, and the good news. Without God's power and righteousness what would we have faith in, and without the good news how would we know it? Paul, in verse 17 was quoting Habakkuk 2:4 from the Greek Septuagint, he also quoted the same verse in Galatians 3:11 which the SAB considers later.

Romans 3:20 indicates that the law was a reminder that through works of law no man could be proclaimed righteous. The law wasn't a system in which through it one could overcome sin, but rather a constant reminder of the sin inherited through Adam and the need for a sacrifice once and for all time, which the blood of bulls and goats couldn't compare with. Thus, year after year and day after day the sacrifices continued until the Messiah sacrificed his blood for all time. (Hebrews 10:1-4)

Romans 3:28 is the same as Romans 3:20 listed above. Since we are all of sin and it is impossible for us to avoid that, and since even though we avoid sin as much as we can we still can't achieve the promise of everlasting life without sin, without God's power, righteousness and undeserved kindness these verses don't convey faith alone is necessary for salvation. The law, in and of itself is unobtainable without faith in the ransom sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Faith promotes works and an adherence to the law as much as possible so that upon the end of this system of things and sin we may become righteous through Christ Jesus. (Romans 10:4 / Hebrews 9:14) Until that time, even with faith and works we are not righteous in that we are not without sin. What Romans 3:28 is really saying is that even though we have faith that we may be saved through Christ, we are not yet saved. As long as sin and death and Satan remain.

Romans 4:2 is somewhat incomplete in context with this discussion. The question is salvation by faith alone and Romans 4:2 reads: "For if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory?" While Romans 4:3 reads: "For saith the scripture? Abraham believed (or had faith in) God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." I can't possibly see how this could be misunderstood. The verse is often criticized as being contradictory to James 2:23, which is listed by the SAB as support for salvation not by faith alone.

Both Paul and James quote from Genesis 15:1-6. Abraham's faith inspired works which counted him as righteous. Romans 4:13 confirms that works alone wasn't enough, for without faith to what end were those works concluded?

Romans 5:1 says that we are declared righteous by our faith but verse 9 points out that by much more we have been declared righteous by his blood. As with Abraham our faith inspires works but without the sacrifice of Christ Jesus it would be of little value.

Roman 10:9 requires, not only faith, but continuous public declaration which would in turn require works.

Galatians 2:16 only indicates that not by works alone is justification. If you read verses 11-16 you see that Paul was admonishing some Jews who converted to Christianity who may have been of the opinion that through works of law they had some sort of advantage over the gentiles who converted to Christianity.

Galatians 3:11-12 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / Titus 3:5 all convey the idea that the law was impossible to keep completely. That only through faith would works become manifest with any meaning.