Someone help me out here and provide me with where in the Bible this is taught. Not looking for an argument or deflection, just a Bible verse. Thanks.
Respectfully recommend Romans 5.
Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version (NIV). 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
I’d be glad to try and explain the Greek behind Romans 5 that supports faith alone. Freepmail me if you’d like.
Big picture answer: Have you read the entire Old Testament and New Testament? Think of the many times the New Testament teachers like Jesus and Paul went way out of their way to explain to Jews that nobody could live up to the standard and be the perfect Jew -- it's only by grace. And all the times Paul wrote that it doesn't matter if you're circumcised, eat meat offered to idols, etc. IMHO, the combined beliefs of faith alone and grace alone are a quick summary of New Testament belief being different from Old Testament belief.
But if you're more inclined to pay attention to one-liner verses, here are some:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life (John 5:24) For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life (John 6:40)
I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. (John 11:25)
Don't bother, it is no there. "Faith alone" is an invention by Martin Luther in the 15th century and is contrary to what the Bible teaches.
From Romans through Philemon, THIS is what Paul taught. THIS was his God-given mission: The Gospel of the GRACE of GOD.
The book of EPHESIANS pretty much sums it all up. And 2 CORINTHIANS tells us we ARE RECONCILED. NOT “going to be or hope to be”, but ARE. We are RECONCILED to GOD the moment we trust the FINISHED WORK of CHRIST for ourselves.tv
Romans 3:28
and
Galatians 2:16
It’s words that Luther added.
Would JESUS saying it be enough for you?
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”
32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Paul says we’re not saved by works.
That means faith alone.
Unless you think there’s something other than faith or works that can save?
Maybe a bowl of pasta?
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9-13)
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:43-44)
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
There you have it. forgiveness, regeneration, justification obtains by faith, and not as result of the merit of works. But which does not mean that salvific faith is one that is inert, and is unrelated to obedience, but that it is expressive, effectual faith which effects obedience that is counted for righteousness, making the believer "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6) on His account.
Romans 1:16,17 (AV):
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth1; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.The verse from the Old Testament (which was the only written Scripture then existing) and being quoted here in Romans is:
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from2 faith3 to faith4: as it is written5, The just6 shall live by faith7.
Habakkuk 2:4 (AV):
2 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.======
Notes:
1 πιστεύω pisteuō pist-yoo'-o a verb, to place ones trust in a person, object, or principle
2 εκ ek out of, on the basis of
3 πίστις pistis pis'-tis noun, (God's) principle of faith
4 same word but now referring to a person's ability to exercise faith
5 in the perfect tense, meaning once recorded as scripture but having ongoing permanent application
6 righteous, law-abiding person
7 personal committed trust in the trustworthiness of God/Jesus
Strong's Number G4102
πίστις
pistis
pis'-tis
Strong's Definition:
From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Thayer's Definition:
1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
1a) relating to God2) fidelity, faithfulness1a1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ1b) relating to Christ1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God1c) the religious beliefs of Christians
1d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
2a) the character of one who can be relied onPart of Speech: noun feminine
The gospel of Christ is that salvation is given to the person who wholly commits his/her trust in Jesus Christ based His--God's--righteous faithfulness to save the believer.