Question: I have been witnessing to a friend about Jesus and she keeps bringing up Matthew 25:31-46 and says it doesn’t even mention faith in Jesus. She thinks if she is a good person she will go to Heaven according to those Sriptures. Please help me explain those particular scriptures and that the only way to get into Heaven is to accept Jesus .

Answer: There are two issues at work here. First, this passage has to do with the demonstration of true faith, not the means of faith. What Jesus is saying here is that those who profess faith in Jesus will do good works. Those who fail to do those things that please the Lord (feed the hungry, care for the sick, etc.) have no faith at all.

James (the brother of Jesus) says the same thing in his book:

“So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith al all–it is dead and useless” (James 2:17).

We are not saved by good works, but we are saved to do good works. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:8-10. We are saved by grace through faith so that we can do those good things God planned for us long ago.

The other issue at work in this passage is that we should never take verses out of context and build a theology around them. We need to look at the “whole counsel of Scripture” in order to make conclusions. When you look at everything Jesus said, it is clear He teaches that the only way to salvation is through faith in Him, not through good works. Two verses that stand out are John 3:16 and John 14:6. Jesus is the only way to God and salvation. Jesus made that perfectly clear.

May the Lord give you wisdom in this important matter!