Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:17-26

And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. What then must we do, brethren? Must we idly abstain from doing good, and forsake love? May the Master never allow this to befall us at least; but let us hasten with instancy and zeal to accomplish every good work. Clement of Rome (A.D. 96) ch.32-33

None of these things is hidden from you, if you be perfect in your faith and love toward Jesus Christ, for these are the beginning and end of life - faith is the beginning and love is the end - and the two being found in unity are God, while all things else follow in their train unto true nobility. No man professing faith sins, and no man possessing love hates. "The tree is manifest from its fruit;" so they that profess to be Christ's shall be seen through their actions. For the Work is not a thing of profession now, but is seen then when one is found in the power of faith unto the end. Ignatius: to the Ephesians (A.D. 35-105) ch. 14

And the second, that is girded about and looks like a man, is called Self-Control; she is the daughter of Faith. Whosoever then shall follow her, becomes happy in his life, for he shall refrain from all evil deeds, believing that, if he refrain from every evil desire, he shall inherit eternal life. Hermas (A.D. 150) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.16

And not merely in works, but also in faith, has God preserved the will of man free and under his own control, saying, "According to your faith be it unto you;" thus showing that there is a faith specially belonging to man, since he has an opinion specially his own. And again, "All things are possible to him that believes;" and, "Go your way; and as you has believed, so be it done unto you." Now all such expressions demonstrate that man is in his own power with respect to faith. And for this reason, "He that believes in Him has eternal life while he who believes not the Son has not eternal life, but the wrath of God shall remain upon him." In the same manner therefore the Lord, both showing His own goodness, and indicating that man is in his own free will and his own power, said to Jerusalem, "How often have I wished to gather your children together, as a hen [gathers] her chickens under her wings, and you would not! Wherefore your house shall be left unto you desolate." Irenaeus (A.D. 180) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.1 pg.520

"The subject of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," according to the divine apostle. "For hereby," pre-eminently, "the elders obtained a good report. But without faith it is impossible to please God."… And since choice is the beginning of action, faith is discovered to be the beginning of action, being the foundation of rational choice in the case of any one who exhibits to himself the previous demonstration through faith. Voluntarily to follow what is useful, is the first principle of understanding. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.349

For knowledge is a state of mind that results from demonstration; but faith is a grace which from what is indemonstrable conducts to what is universal and simple, what is neither with matter, nor matter, nor under matter. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.350

Happy is he who speaks in the ears of the hearing. Now faith is the ear of the soul. And such the Lord intimates faith to be, when He says, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear;" so that by believing he may comprehend what He says, as He says it. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.444

So that when we hear, "Your faith has saved you”, we do not understand Him to say absolutely that those who have believed in any way whatever shall be saved, unless also works follow. But it was to the Jews alone that He spoke this utterance, who kept the law and lived blamelessly, who wanted only faith in the Lord. Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.505

But how can a man say that he believes in Christ, who does not do what Christ commanded him to do? Or whence shall he attain to the reward of faith, who will not keep the faith of the commandment? He must of necessity waver and wander, and, caught away by a spirit of error, like dust which is shaken by the wind, be blown about; and he will make no advance in his walk towards salvation, because he does not keep the truth of the way of salvation. Cyprian (A.D. 250) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.5 pg. 421

“That salvation has this day come to this house, for that he also is a son of Abraham.” For if Abraham believed in God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness, certainly he who gives alms according to God’s precept believes in God, and he who has the truth of faith maintains the fear of God; moreover, he who maintains the fear of God considers God in showing mercy to the poor. For he labors thus because he believes - because he knows that what is foretold by God’s word is true, and that the Holy Scripture cannot lie - that unfruitful trees, that is, unproductive men, are cut off and cast into the fire, but that the merciful are called into the kingdom. Cyprian (A.D. 250) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.5 pg. 478

SEE ALSO: GRACE, SALVATION

Return to Index