Faith Alone is a most popular current belief in the world today. But, those who teach and believe that salvation comes by faith alone need to consider Noah. Noah was saved by faith, but not by faith alone, for as James declares, "Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself...you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" (Jas. 2:17,24).

Can we simply say a "sinner's prayer" or touch a TV screen, or wave our hands in the air and say that we take Jesus as our personal Savior? No, faith involves more than just a mental acknowledgment. One's faith in God must be put into action through obedience. Such works are not works of merit by which one earns salvation, but are works of obedience from the standpoint of an unprofitable servant. Salvation comes only by the grace of God. "For by grace you have been saved though faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). We cannot earn our salvation by our works. Be assured, salvation by grace is obtained "through faith." And faith, as seen in Noah's example, involves works of obedience.

Noah did a "work", no doubt. He built the Ark as God had commanded. But did this "work" save Noah? No, only God's grace could do that. Yet, Noah would have never been saved by the grace of God if he had not put his faith into action by obeying God's commands. Much the same, we must submit to God's commands to repent and be baptized. These are not boastful works of merit by which God owes us salvation, but are rather works of faithful obedience. To become "an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" we, like Noah, must obey.