I once asked my Jehovah’s Witness mother if she thought that Jesus’ death was enough to save her, or if she thought that she had to do something more to earn her salvation. After a heartbreaking pause, she answered honestly, “I don’t know.”
I remember getting off the phone and wanting to cry. I was reminded of a time, not long before, when I too was not sure if I was saved. In fact, I was not just unsure, I was convinced that I was not going to make it through Armageddon. After all, I had heard James 2:26, “Faith without works is dead,” quoted more times than I can count. And I hadn’t been to a Kingdom Hall or out in service in years.
But thank God that he is God, and he decides who belongs to him. This truth has become for me, the most important, freeing, lifegiving, peacemaking, encouraging, shout for joying, dancing, twirling, air fisting answer in all the Bible. This is the Good News.
If today, you also feel unsure of whether God’s gift of eternal life includes you, you are right where you are supposed to be.
You are invited. Just as you are. Imperfections and all. I can promise you this based on the authority of God’s word.
Here’s a little New Testament backstory. The very first converts to Christianity were Jewish and some of them had a hard time accepting that God’s invitation of salvation also included the Gentiles (non-Jews). They even tried to turn them into a sort of Jewish hybrid by insisting they practice a few of the Mosaic laws.
Here Paul enters the scene. He had been a passionate, Jewish Pharisee prior to becoming a Christian and he was chosen by Jesus to set the record straight. His letters to the early churches make up most of the New Testament. And this question of how a person is saved, is the topic that used up most of his ink. This is the core of his message and he spoke it (no…he shouted it) on repeat.
His message from Jesus was this:
No one is free from sin. No one can be “good” enough to be near the holiness of God. This is why Jesus had to died. His death alone makes salvation possible for anyone who calls Him Lord. Whether they are a Jewish Christian, Jehovah’s Witness or Other.
Still skeptical? That’s ok. Pause for a moment and pray that you will feel God’s reassurance as we go directly to Scripture and hear what he has to say about it.
Galatians 2:21
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
Ephesians 2:8, 9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God-not by works, so that no one boast.
Romans 3:28
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Galatians 22:15, 16
We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Acts 15:8-11
God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.
John 3:16 (The words of Jesus himself)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Just take a moment to bask in the gift offered to you by the one who created you and loves you. Scriptures like these make up the theme of the entire Bible.
But what then is meant by James 2:26 which says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”.?
When you read the whole chapter of James 2 and the entire rest of the Bible, you will be able to see the point that James was trying to make. If you have real faith in Jesus, if He is your Lord and savior, and if you commit to following His example, then it will be shown in your works or deeds.
The proof is in the pudding! Works are proof of real faith. Works are proof of the Holy Spirit working in a person. The “good works” are not to save a person but because the person is saved. The saved person is still imperfect and makes mistakes, but because of their love for God, they walk with Him daily and want to please Him.
If you feel a nudge in your heart to hear more about God’s love for you, the next step is to read the Bible for yourself. Most important is to pray before you begin that God will give you wisdom and correct any misunderstandings that you may have. The Holy Spirit will help you. This is a promise from God (James 1:5, Luke 11:13).
Where should you start? It was recommended to me to begin with the book of John and I found this to be a perfect starting point. I have one suggestion to add, which is especially important if you have a JW background. When you begin a book of the Bible, read it entirely before starting the next. Hearing the backstory and entire context of a scripture is invaluable to understanding God’s full message.
Savor every word. No need to rush.
After all, you have eternity.