I believe this statement of Jesus is among the most important in the Bible regarding salvation, as it clearly shows that salvation is under God’s sovereignty. As I mentioned earlier, salvation is not achieved through any human action. While these actions are important, the condition for salvation rests solely on God’s choice. Salvation by faith is a gift from God, given only as He wills (Ephesians 2:8), and good deeds are the fruit that believers naturally bear—not the condition for salvation itself.
The Bible emphasizes actions most clearly in the book of James, so let’s explore the relationship between faith and works based on James’s teaching.
“But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25, WEB)
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14, WEB)
If we consider only these passages, it might seem as though actions are a necessary condition for salvation. However, James is not saying that one must perfectly fulfill the law to be saved; rather, he is saying that it is natural for a living faith to have accompanying actions. In simpler terms, "Having actions does not necessarily mean one has faith, but having faith means one will have actions." James is questioning whether faith without any actions is truly genuine, not saying that salvation comes from actions. He continues by saying:
“You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;” (James 2:22, WEB)
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26, WEB)
James is talking about faith that is made complete and comes alive through actions. He is not saying that salvation comes from actions, but rather that faith without actions is dead.
Then, is someone who lacks actions unable to be saved? If someone claims to believe in Jesus but lives entirely disconnected from his teachings, one might question whether the Jesus they believe in is truly the one from the Bible, and doubt the sincerity of their faith. However, lacking in actions does not mean one cannot be saved. To say that someone cannot be saved because they lack works is to teach a faith based on the law. This is because no one can perfectly practice all actions. Jesus himself spoke about this in the Sermon on the Mount:
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:29-30, WEB)
How many people can truly put this into practice as it is? Moreover, did Jesus really intend for us to do so when he gave those teachings? I do not think so. I believe that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was stating what God's original standard is, while also showing that it is impossible for humans to fulfill it on their own. This is because Jesus said:
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:20, WEB)
Jesus also said:
“All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40, WEB)
This passage aligns with the teachings in Romans:
“Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:20-26, WEB)
Ultimately, this means that salvation comes through faith in God's Son. I think it would be beneficial to view James' teachings from this perspective as well. That is, "Faith without works is dead, so faith must be completed through actions. Actions are not a condition for salvation, but shouldn't believers naturally have actions accompanying their faith?"
To demonstrate faith in God's Son, grand actions are not necessary. How did the thief on the cross receive salvation? Did he perform any actions after deciding to believe? No, he simply asked the Lord to remember him when He came into His kingdom. Yet, he was saved. Thus, not all actions are necessary for salvation. If God sees even a single act of righteousness, Jesus can save that person. The sovereignty of salvation belongs to God, not humans. Therefore, rather than trying to apply some grand actions, I think it's better to focus on performing small but righteous acts in God's eyes.
Even if our faith is weak and barely clinging to life because of a lack of actions, if the Jesus we have received is the one revealed through the Bible, I believe Jesus can fully save us. The authority to forgive sins does not belong to us but to Jesus. As He said,
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24)
