“Faith Alone” advocates quote many passages that they think prove the position that all a person has to do is have faith to be saved.  Here are some of those passages.

John 3:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 3:28 (ESV)
²⁸ For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 4:2–3 (ESV)
² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Romans 5:1 (ESV)
¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:7–8 (ESV)
⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

These are just a few of the passages used by those who teach we are saved by faith alone.  Look at them closely.  None of them say that we are saved by faith alone.  The truth is, there is not a single passage in the Bible that says that.  Faith is essential to the salvation of our souls, but faith alone never saved anyone.  If it has, where is the passage that teaches it?

When Paul wrote of being justified by faith, he was usually contrasting it with being justified by works of the law, which was really a contrast between being justified by faith and being saved by sinless living since that is what the law demanded.   This is the key to understanding the teaching of Paul on faith—knowing the contrast that he is making between faith and works.  Most fail to realize that Paul does not use the word “works” to denote obedience to God.  Paul knew the importance of obedience and that a person cannot be saved without it.

Philippians 2:12 (ESV)
¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Obedience is an innate aspect of saving faith.  Paul once said that he received his apostleship “to bring about the obedience of faith…” (Romans 1:5).  When obedience is not a part of faith, it is only mental assent, and there is no salvation in that.  James said that “demons believe and tremble” (James 2:19), and then he said, “…faith without works is useless” (James 2:20).

It is interesting that the only time we see the words “faith only” in the Bible, we are told that it does not save (James 2:24).  The “faith alone” doctrine might be the most popular belief among protestant churches today, but the problem they face is that every time they quote a passage for proof, it can be said, “The passage does not say that.”

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.