Ephesians 2:8-10"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. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Faith and faith alone in Lord God Jesus, that he died for "our" sins yes, but also specifically your sins. BUT! although that is all that is required to be saved once we are saved, IF our salvation was genuine, more results FROM the salvation.
DISCLAIMER: WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT! THAT SALVATION IS DEPENDANT ON WORKS.....I AM NOT SAYING THAT.......ONLY FAITH SAVES.
James 2:14-26
New International Version (NIV)
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,†but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.â€
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
IF your salvation does not result in a change of life, if your life does not become one of sacrifice and servitude to God, THEN you might want to test your faith a bit and consider if that salvation really was genuine, or just a ride on a band wagon.
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will"
We are to be seperate from this world, not conformed, look different, speak different, smell different, infact Peter says in 1 Peter 2:11 “Dear friends, I urge you us aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires that war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us†We are to be "Aliens in a strange land"
So what about Faith being all you need?
1 corinthians 3:10-15 "10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."
In other words the foundation laid by God (ie: Faith/ salvation) is all you need but if you continue from there to build your life with worldy things then that will be your reward, you will be in heaven but have gained no heavenly rewards, you have "escaped through the flames" or made it by the skin of your teeth.
