Is It Faith Alone, or Our Charity that Give Us Salvation?

 I was talking with my family members yesterday afternoon about Jesus and how we could be saved.  I then brought up about our actions in life which my youngest brother - a senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and a church elder brother or preacher disagrees with me. He told me it is not our good work or good acts in life that give us salvation, but just faith alone. 

Since it was just a casual exchange of thoughts among us family members in a WhatsApp group, I didn't wish to argue or disagree. 

Instead, I thought I should write my heartfelt reflection in a deeply spiritual, and bravely honest way with a clear outpouring of my conscience, belief and understanding for a global audience inside this blog, and not just among us family members in WhatsApp chat. I will preserve my central WhatsApp chat  while refining the structure and flow into a more reflective thought, maintaining both my tone and theological sensitivity

Faith, Salvation, and the Good Works of Christ: A Reflection on Paul and Jesus

One of the most frequently cited verses emphasizing salvation through faith alone is found in Ephesians 2:8–9:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This verse, traditionally attributed to the Apostle Paul, highlights that salvation is a free and unmerited gift from God, received through faith rather than earned through human effort or good deeds. According to tradition, Paul wrote the letter to the church in Ephesus around AD 62 while imprisoned in Rome. However, some scholars suggest a later date, perhaps between AD 80 and 100, possibly by one of Paul's followers.

It is worth noting that Paul did not write all the epistles in the New Testament. While thirteen letters bear his name, modern biblical scholarship generally agrees that only seven are authentically Pauline: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. The remaining six, including Ephesians - are often considered pseudepigraphal, meaning they may have been written by others in Paul’s name to preserve or expand upon his teachings.

Paul’s letters were not written as narratives of Jesus' life but as theological expositions and pastoral guidance to the early churches. His emphasis lies in the redemptive significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection, rather than the events of Jesus' earthly ministry. Paul, a late convert to Christianity, came to believe in Christ not through witnessing Jesus' miracles or teachings firsthand, but through what he described as a direct, divine revelation.

Indeed, Paul’s epistles were filled with both theological depth and pastoral love. They were love letters of encouragement, correction, and longing, a spiritual lifeline to early Christian communities and early churches, both Jewish and Gentile, who were often struggling with internal conflicts and theological divisions among themselves. Many of those divisions persist even today in the form of denominational fragmentation. So, Paul merely wrote all those love letters trying to unite them in faith only,

 not through goodness of works or practical actions.  

However, when we compare Paul's theology with the earthly ministry of Jesus, we encounter a deeply significant difference. Jesus did not explicitly say that faith alone was the sole path to salvation. It was only Paul who claimed that. But Paul wasn't Jesus. He was merely an apostle - the first and earliest preacher. It was clearly Paul, not Jesus who wrote that verse using his own faith. Let this be extremely clear to all who thrive on faith alone or who thinks that Paul was equivalent to Jesus. Unlike Jesus, Paul did not do a single work of practical charity. He only had faith, and he depended only on his faith for his own salvation  

In contrast Jesus life was a living testament of actions, compassion, and practical love. Thousands believed in Him not just because He declared Himself the Son of God, but because He lived that divine identity in love, humility, forgiveness, even unto death, and in miraculous acts of healing and restoration.

Had Jesus merely preached faith without action, it is very, very, unlikely anyone would have followed Him. The crowds flocked to Him because He fed the hungry, healed the sick, raised the dead, forgave the sinful, and touched the untouchable. His actions validated His words. His miracles and moral teachings were not isolated from His message of salvation, they were its very embodiment.

This is clearly seen in His parables. Take, for example, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). Jesus explicitly links eternal life not to faith alone but to loving one’s neighbor through action. The Samaritan, an outsider, is commended not for believing the right doctrines but for showing mercy to a wounded stranger. Jesus ends with the command: “Go and do likewise.”

Another profound example is the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). The rich man is condemned, not because he lacked faith, but because he ignored the suffering of Lazarus at his gate. The parable does not mention faith at all but emphasizes compassion, social responsibility, and justice. If mere faith were sufficient, surely the rich man would have been saved.

As I listen to the still, small voice within me, my God-given conscience tells me that faith without action is incomplete. It would deeply trouble my soul to ignore someone in need and still claim that faith alone ensures my salvation. If I truly believe in Christ, I must also embody His works, for He Himself said, “By their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). Faith is not an escape from moral responsibility but the power to fulfill it in love.

While Paul provides us with a profound theological lens on grace and justification, it is essential to remember: Paul is definitely not Jesus.  Paul was just an apostle by faith, not an eyewitness. His words, though inspired, must always be measured against the life, teachings, and actions of Christ Himself, who is our ultimate example and Saviour.

Let me give my own testimony. When I was a student in India in the early 1960's I saw very young children begging in the cold winter nights in the streets. I was then just a student with limited money, but their needs were far more than mine. Out of compassion and love (in action) I  should say, I gave them a rupee or two for them at least to buy some food. 

I went back to my hostel with such joy to my inner soul. I laid down on my warm hostel bed thinking about them all night - feeling so warm in my heart, filled with so much joy and peace in my mind and within my inner soul, just thinking about all those children wearing dirty unwashed, torn and thin clothes out there in the freezing cold on winter nights.  At least they were then  able to buy some food to eat at least for the night with whatever little I could give, while I lay down on my warm bed with a  quilt. Isn't that love and compassion translated into action, if I may say so? Do you truly believe I would able to sleep peacefully with a good conscience on my warm bed that night had I not thought of them, but depend on faith alone that God would feed them, and that there was no need for me to interfere? Thank carefully. But I translated that faith into action. Was that something wrong with me to do that? you ask your inner self. 

 Do you think my inner self which is my conscience, and my still small voice - who is also my very soul itself, could  have slept peacefully that night because I only believe in faith that only God could provide and help them, not me? You answer this yourself for me with your good conscience.  

Sure! there was so much comfort for me on my warm bed thinking about those hungry and shivering children out there in those cold dark winter nights to know that I have given my very practical best with the limited money I had as a student. Does not that compassion speaks about love and charity, that spelt out joy and peace in our hearts? 

In Mark 12:41-44 it speaks about the widow’s offering. Let me quote 

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on.”

The same with my very small offerings to those derived children. What I gave was tuppence, but it was my best. It was my love translated into actions. 

Once again I echo my simple act of charity that gave me so much inner joy and peace in my heart with those few rupees I could only hardly afford. But I gave my all. Wouldn't anyone with or without faith agree? 

Once again, had I just believed in faith that God will take care of them, and I need not interfere, where would those children be on those wintery nights? Ask ourselves with a good inner conscience God gave us. 

Before I sign off, let me remind all this very verse clearly printed there in 1 Corinthians that says:  

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and charity. But the greatest of these is charity (which means love in action) 

Does anyone with just faith wishes to challenge this verse?   

In summary, true faith in Christ is inseparable from love in action. Salvation may begin with grace and faith, but it is lived out in the daily acts of kindness, humility, mercy, and service. This, I believe, was what Jesus intended to show us, not through words alone, but through the blood, sweat, and tears of divine compassion when He lived on earth. 

Paul was a Jewish Pharisee who converted to Christianity after he claimed he had an encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. He then became the first apostle or the first preacher thriving and depending on his own faith for his own salvation and asking other churches to follow his doctrine to believe and follow the same. 

Jesus did a lot of charitable deeds, but Paul chose the easier way or path to heaven by depending on his faith for his own salvation although he performed some miracles  and healing.

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus mentioned two paths: a wide and  easy path  leading to destruction, and many people choosing to follow it,  and a narrow, hard path leading to life with few finding it. This verse highlights the idea that true discipleship requires a commitment to a challenging path, not an easy one. The easiest path is the path of least resistance for everyone.  There are some differences between the teachings of Paul and those of Jesus, shown in the references below.  

Paul was not Jesus. Jesus himself did not personally say that faith alone would save us. Only His disciples like in  John 3:16, and in Luke 7:50 and apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9 claimed that, but not Jesus explicitly.   

As far as I am concerned I only believe in the four disciples of Jesus - Matthews, Mark, John and Luke who wrote the four gospels, because what was written there was from the mouth of Jesus Himself. Jesus was actually with the four disciples who followed Him during His time. They then wrote exactly what Jesus told them. After Jesus died other apostles wrote on their own. Jesus was not with them then. 

Here are the scriptural references to support the key points in my reflection:

 

References: 

Faith and Action in Jesus’ Teachings here:  

1. Matthew 7:16–20 — “By their fruit you will recognize them... every good tree bears good fruit.”

2. Luke 10:25–37 — The Parable of the Good Samaritan — showing that love in action is essential for inheriting eternal life.

3. Luke 16:19–31 — The Rich Man and Lazarus — showing the consequence of ignoring the suffering of others.

4. Matthew 25:31–46 — The Sheep and the Goats — where Jesus teaches that final judgment is based on caring for “the least of these.”

5. John 13:35 — “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

6. James 2:14–17 — “What good is it... if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Jesus’ Miracles and Compassionate Acts

1. Matthew 4:23–24 — Jesus healed every disease and sickness among the people.

2. John 11:43–44 — Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

3. Luke 5:12–13 — Jesus healed a man with leprosy by touching him.

4. Matthew 9:35–36 — “He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Salvation by Faith alone (Pauline Theology) here: 

1. Ephesians 2:8–9 — “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
2. Romans 3:28 — “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
3. Galatians 2:16 — “...a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ...”

It took me the entire last afternoon till evening, then all through the night till now at 9:00 am the next day to write this from my heart attuned to truth, and divine love. May my rest be as gentle as the grace of our Lord, and may tomorrow rise with clarity and joy in my spirit.  

I can now go and sleep in heavenly peace and joy 

With deepest love and brotherhood to all in Christ.