Many people will confidently quote one single verse of scripture over and over, claiming that it guarantees their salvation. It is common to hear people quote Ephesians 2:8 or Romans 10:9 or John 3:16 with absolutely no context, and then claim that ‘faith alone’ is all we need to be saved.  However, the mere fact that a teaching is common does not make it true.

This term; “faith alone”, is only used once in the new testament.

 

“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did and the scripture was fulfilled that says “ Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”, and he was called God’s friend.  You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”  (James 2:20 -24)                                                                                                       

 

So Abraham’s “faith was made complete by what he did”.   

 

Let’s also consider Noah.... “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”  (Heb.11:7)  Noah did not simply claim to have faith, he acted in faith - he was obedient.  It says, “in holy fear built an ark to save his family”.  Noah and his sons spent many years building an ark in a place where there was no water, because God told him to do it.    

 

What if Noah had simply believed; but not acted?  Would even Noah or his family have been saved then?  NO!  They would have drowned!  God gave Noah a task.  If Noah had not been obedient, he and his family would have perished.

FAITH LEADS TO OBEDIENCE!  So Noah was saved, not by simply believing God, but obeying him.  Just like Abraham, Noah’s “faith was made complete by what he did”.

Their faith caused them to act and so must ours!

 

 Is there any comparison between us and Noah?   Yes:

The Lord Jesus has told us, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:37-39)

 

To those who have already obeyed Christ and been united with him through baptism, it says, “God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but a pledge of good conscience towards God.  It saves you by the resurrection of Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand.” (1 Pet. 3:21) 

 

God is waiting patiently now, just as he did in the days of Noah.  “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”  (2 Pet. 3:9,10)

 

Now, just as in the days of Noah, we are being warned about the coming destruction and told how to escape it.

 

Our obedience to God does not make us better people than those who are perishing.  It simply puts us in a safe place.   Just as Noah and his family were given refuge in the ark; we are being offered refuge in Christ Jesus.  It is only by God’s grace that we are given this sanctuary.  We have not earned it - it is a gift!