The following is a fairly comprehensive compilation of statements Jehovah's Witnesses make about faith, works, and salvation in the Watchtower (1950 - 2001; I'll bring it up to date later). I'll post further compilations: from (1) the Awake!, (2) standard reference works (Insight on the Scriptures, Reasoning from the Scriptures), (3) Commentary on the Letter of James (which I think is of special value for evaluating what Witnesses teach on this matter), and (4) other books.

In determining whether Witnesses teach salvation by faith alone or salvation by faith plus works, it is important to keep in mind the fact that this is a distinct matter from whether or not they rightly apprehend the nature of salvation, faith, or works. We are dealing, rather, with what they teach about the relation of these (in the abstract, as it were).

Further, we need to keep in mind that there is a linguistic gap between Witnesses and Evangelicals. For example, when Witness deny that one is saved by faith alone, they are (often, at least) claiming that mere intellectual assent to propositions, such as 'God exists' or 'Jesus died for sin,' cannot save by itself. And most Evangelicals will be fine with this. Faith is more than assenting to propositions, but a matter of trusting in Christ.

Related to this, many critics of Jehovah's Witnesses exhibit a certain un-charitableness when it comes to interpreting what Witnesses are saying that, if applied to Scripture, would cast sola fide into doubt, if not refute it. For example, Witnesses claim that obedience to God is necessary for salvation; they say that Christ saves those who obey Him. To many of their critics this sounds like salvation by faith plus obedience. But (at least) many times Witnesses make this claim, they don't need to be read this way. Indeed, I think that it would likely be better to not to.

Rather what they are saying seems to be that God saves those with genuine faith because they have such faith; and given the nature of faith, one cannot have it without obeying God. Obeying God flows from such faith, hence if you have the faith, you'll have the obedience. (Of course, if we wanted to be, we could be even more precise and say that one with genuine faith by that fact can't be without a tendency to obey.) The necessity of works or obedience for salvation is just a kind of logical necessity. This isn't inimical to sola fide, and is presumably along the lines of how their Protestant critics would understand what Scriptures teaches: Christ has become responsible for the salvation of those who obey Him. Or: Circumcision means nothing. Obeying the commandments does.

Along these lines, it is often claimed that Witnesses teach that one earns salvation. Rather, they always deny this. Even if they teach that salvation is by faith plus works, I don't think it follows that they teach that one earns salvation. (Consider: if your friend says that he'll fix your car if you believe that he will, trust him, and give him a gallon of gas to drive it back to his place, can you sensibly say that you've earned this? Maybe you can say your car being fixed was by trust plus giving him a gallon of gas, but that's not quite the same thing as saying that you earned it.

Now, for all this, it might turn out that, on the whole, Witnesses teach something other than salvation by faith alone. But it doesn't justify sloppiness in arguing for this. Indeed, if we are sloppy we should hardly expect them to be persuaded of our criticisms. But if we let Witnesses speak for themselves, perhaps we will find common ground. For instance, Witness publications often (even if not universally, or for the most part) teach salvation by faith alone. Moreover, by comparing these statements with those where they deny sola fide or are ambiguious about it, we might see how we might persaude Witnesses of its truthfulness, or to hold it more clearly.

I try to make these points in an upcoming essay, and in any event have rambled on long enough. Here's the list:

How our justification is gained through faith in Christ’s blood is stated in these words: “Therefore, now that we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Much more, therefore, since we have been declared righteous now by his blood, shall we be saved through him from wrath.” (Rom. 5:1, 9, NW) That God does the justifying, we read, in these words: “Those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous. . . . Who will file accusation against God’s chosen ones? God is the One who declares them righteous.” (Rom. 8:30, 33, NW) In English the relation between the Anglo-Saxon word believing and the Latin word faith is not so apparent, but in Greek the words meaning “faith” and “to believe” are clearly seen to be related, as they are drawn from the same root word. The New World Translation endeavors to keep this relationship clear by rendering the verb “to believe” in appropriate places as “to exercise faith; to put faith; to rest faith”. Hence note how clear justification by faith is made in this rendering: “If, for instance, Abraham were declared righteous as a result of works, he would have grounds for boasting; but not with God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham exercised faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ . . . to the man that does not work but puts faith in him who declares the ungodly one righteous, his faith is counted as righteousness.” (Rom. 4:2, 3, 5, NW) Also, instead of the King James’ rendering, “I believed, and therefore have I spoken,” 2 Corinthians 4:13 now reads: “Now because we have the same spirit of faith as that of which it is written, ‘I exercised faith, therefore I spoke,’ we, too, exercise faith and therefore we speak.”—NW.

The inseparable connection of faith with justification and righteousness is further kept plainly in view in this rendering at Romans 10:4, 8-11 (NW): “Christ is the accomplished end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness. But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’; that is, the ‘word’ of faith which we are preaching. For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your mouth’, that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation. For the Scripture says: ‘None that rests his faith on him will be disappointed.’”

So all of us are imperfect sinners, in need of mercy. Mercy that works toward our salvation comes from Jehovah: “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses.” (Dan. 9:9) It is administered to us through Christ Jesus, “by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.” (Col. 1:14, NW)

God’s forgiveness of our sins is now possible only through Christ’s blood. Any of our own works for justifying ourselves by merely cleaning up our flesh outwardly are dead works; they have no life-giving quality about them. They do not make us alive toward God and his proper service, no more than the “rich man” in Jesus’ parable made himself righteous and alive toward God by wearing purple and linen over his bathed flesh, in contrast with the beggar Lazarus covered with ulcers. The “rich man” came under a baptism of fire afterward. Faith in Christ’s sacrifice and faith in God’s promise to Abraham respecting Christ as the Seed for blessing all the families of the earth is the vital thing.—Luke 16:19-31.

9 But here, now, is an important point for all who want to enjoy the real baptism for salvation. After we have a good or clean conscience before God which relieves us of the consciousness of being condemned sinners and outside of his favor, we must keep our consciences good and clean. This requires more than mere faith in Christ’s sacrifice. It requires real baptism into him now. Why? Because, though you may bear his name and confess him with your lips, you can disown him by the way you live. You can show you do not belong to him by your works, works which are not like his example and which he never commanded as your Master and Owner, who bought you with his own blood. 

The Scriptural side, stressing salvation only to believers who demonstrate by godly works and devotion their faith in Christ’s sacrifice, brought comfort and assurance to all.

Paul had been preaching to the Gentiles, showing them that salvation was by God’s undeserved kindness and not by works of the Law.

Before Jehovah’s anger comes those wanting salvation should produce works which will bring mercy and forgiveness. Repentance is necessary. Remember the promise of Jehovah: “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.” (Mal. 4:5, AS) The work by Elijah was one of turning the inhabitants to repentance of their evil deeds. Jehovah has displayed his consideration and mercy toward this world’s entire population by sending forth his servants under his guidance to give warning of the impending destruction.

At the beginning of man’s existence God commanded obedience from him. “Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:16, 17, AS) During Adam’s short period of obedience he had a clear and clean conscience; he was neither afraid nor ashamed. Obedience meant peace, protection, happiness, harmony with God, and life. When he was driven out of Eden for disobedience then obedience was seen in the cherubim who guarded the way to the tree of life, so man could not reach it. (Gen. 3:24) Also, at the time Jehovah first created a nation he was very specific in his requirement for obedience. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if ye shall hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you this day; and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God.” (Deut. 11:26-28, AS) Obedience also brings blessings and friendship with God. “And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do? For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken.” (Jas. 2:23; Gen. 18:17, 19, AS) Obedience also brings salvation, for at the time of the flood Noah, his family and pairs of living creatures were commanded by Jehovah what to do. The commands were obeyed, and salvation came as a result. Then Jehovah proves his people by obedience. “It is the Eternal your God testing you, to see whether you really love the Eternal your God with all your mind and all your heart. The Eternal your God you shall follow, him you shall revere, his commands you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him shall you worship, and to him shall you be loyal.” (Deut. 13:3, 4, Mo) Those who are to be Jehovah’s people must be obedient. “This day thou art become the people of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes.” He promises to regather the scattered ones if obedience is manifested: “And thou . . . shalt return unto Jehovah thy God, and shalt obey his voice . . . then Jehovah thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither Jehovah thy God hath scattered thee.” (Deut. 27:9, 10; 30:1-10, AS) This same  chapter  also promises to bring back the prisoners and dispersed to the land of promise, and that he will put curses on the enemies. These foregoing scriptures clearly show that obedience brings harmony and friendship with Jehovah, peace, salvation, testing for approval, release from oppression, and punishment upon the enemies of his own people. If then Jehovah God would do all those things for natural Israel, he will do greater things for spiritual Israel by reason of their full obedience to his commands.

Those who are invited to take part in the works of Jehovah should seize the opportunity, because there is nothing that can possibly be more refreshing or exhilarating to him. In addition to refreshing one, to work the works of God brings happiness and ultimately salvation to the creature. For one to accept to do the works of God means for one to accept more of His energy and use such to shine forth His glory. Those who were energized with God’s spirit at Pentecost were heard “speaking in . . . tongues about the magnificent things of God”.—Acts 2:11, NW.

Under suffering he learned obedience and thus “became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him”. (Heb. 5:8, 9, NW; Rom. 8:17) He stood firmly for Jehovah’s name, and for the honor of his own name Jehovah delivered his Son.

It is a remarkable confirmation of the fact that right now, before Armageddon, is the time to sing and rejoice “and [publicly] declare the works of Jehovah” on account of salvation already accomplished on our behalf.—Ps. 118:17, AS.

From the foregoing none should conclude we can save ourselves by our works. If we could we would earn salvation as our right, but we cannot. It comes through God’s undeserved kindness. (Rom. 11:6; Eph. 2:8, 9; 2 Tim. 1:9) However, by study we gain faith and by works in harmony with our knowledge we prove our faith and obedience. (Rom. 10:14, 17; Jas. 2:18-26) We must do these works to show obedience, for it is to obedient ones that the ransom does or will apply. Without such works salvation is impossible.

Two outstanding fallacies of monasticism are that all that is connected with the flesh is evil and therefore the flesh must be abused as much as possible, and that by means of such abuse, personal works and prayer one can perfect himself and gain salvation for himself and others.

Holding to such a universal salvation theory works great injury upon men, for it blinds them to the real purpose of the ransom. It lulls men into a false sense of security and irresponsibility, for it tells them that everything will come out all right in the end, no matter what they do or how they live. Through belief in “salvation for all” they fail to see the need for examining God’s purpose and ascertaining upon what grounds they can qualify for “release by ransom through the blood” of Jesus Christ.

Rather than a general discussion of faith, however, the aspect we wish to stress particularly is the need, not only to have faith within ourselves, but to learn how to bear it and communicate it to others, as part of the spirit’s fruitage. This means to have a living, active faith, as James said: “Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.” (Jas. 2:17, NW) The kind of works needed whereby others can benefit from our own faith is shown by Paul when, in question form, he argues that preaching the message of truth is our all-important work in order that others may first hear of Jehovah, then exercise faith in him and call upon him, resulting in their eventual salvation, and our own too.—Rom. 10:9-15.

Why do some persons have faith and others not? Some hold that faith is a gift that God arbitrarily gives or withholds. To support their position they like to quote Paul’s words at Ephesians 2:8 (NW), where he tells the Christian that he is “saved through faith; and this not owing to you, it is God’s gift.”

But note in the context that Paul is not discussing faith so much as God’s undeserved kindness, and that it is by this undeserved kindness he has made the arrangement of salvation through faith. This fact is shown by the complete verse: “By this undeserved kindness, indeed, you have been saved through faith; and this [arrangement] not owing to you, it is God’s gift.”

The kind arrangement that comes through Christ Jesus and that takes account of faith is the gift. It is through this arrangement rather than by works of the law that salvation was to come to those manifesting faith in it. So the entire arrangement for Christian salvation was by God’s undeserved kindness, and through faith in it rather than faith in works under the law are Christians saved. The divine arrangement without individual faith in it would bring no salvation to individuals. The two go together; and with the gift of everything that is embraced in Jehovah’s arrangement he also provides the means of having the necessary faith in the arrangement. The arrangement places a value on faith so that salvation results. We must use the means to get faith.

Thus we see that faith is a gift in that God provides the basis for faith, the book of nature and his written book, the Bible. He also provides an organization and his holy spirit to help us to gain this faith. But we must also do our part, we must approach the study of the Bible with the right heart attitude, we must study to gain the knowledge contained in the Bible, and then we must confidently rely upon it, that is, act in harmony with it; for unless we do that, we still would not have the gift of faith, because “faith without works is dead.”—Jas. 2:26, NW.

Or, to put it another way, those who exercised faith to the point of dedicating themselves to do God’s will must henceforth demonstrate that right kind of faith by appropriate works, “for with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” The same principle was demonstrated by Jesus in the way he dealt with his first disciples. Their acceptance of him as the Messiah was not sufficient. He did not want them to be merely believers. Instead, he at once called them from their regular occupation, such as fishing, and began training them “to become fishers of men.” He showed that those who ‘hear the word with a right and good heart’ must themselves ‘retain it and bear fruit with endurance.’ Telling of the responsibility coming upon such, he said: “Pay attention to how you listen; for whoever has, more will be given him,” and stressing the close bond between himself and these responsive disciples, he said: “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” In short, every right kind of believer must be trained to become a right kind of minister.—Rom. 10:10; Mark 1:17; Luke 8:15-21, NW; Matt. 5:14; Jas. 2:17.

Those in line for salvation are easily identified, not because of some peculiar garb, but by their faith and works. They let their light shine by living and preaching as Christian witnesses for Jehovah.

This work [of preaching the nearness of the world’s judgment] has been performed faithfully and is still progressing and will do so until Armageddon. All has been done under the direction and guidance of the “faithful and discreet slave” class. Jehovah’s protection is over us as this perilous work is done. Salvation lies in obedience and confidence. His blessing is with the Jehovah-fearing man. Do you also desire his blessing? If so, come right onto Jehovah’s side, leave the old world, shun evil companions and join the happy slaves of Jehovah, who have faith in his works. Trust in him with all your heart. So shall his blessing be yours. The world is condemned to destruction. Take warning now and flee from it. Remember Lot’s wife. Be safe, relying on the promise that “he that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”—Ps. 91:1, 2, AS.

Just as Jesus came to earth primarily to bear witness to the truth, so also that is the primary reason for any becoming his followers. As Peter shows, Christians are “‘a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” In fact, their salvation depends upon it, as we are further told: “For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation”; a statement, incidentally, combining Paul’s stress of righteousness by faith and James’ emphasis on works consistent with one’s faith.—1 Pet. 2:9; Rom. 10:10.

The public declaration that David made and then put down in written psalms worked for his own salvation to God’s new world and works also for the salvation of Christians who read David’s psalms.

They self-righteously felt that they could earn God’s favor and blessings by works of law. Their self-righteousness blinded them to the fact that Abraham received God’s approval because of his faith. It is faith that brings justification in God’s eyes, not works of law. 

In speaking of “repentance from dead works” Paul was, of course, referring primarily to those Jewish converts to Christianity in his day who had learned that works for one’s own self-justification could never give them life. They were “dead” in that they could not provide salvation for anyone and had now been superseded by works of faith. But it was necessary to teach those early Christians that not just any kind of work would do. They had to be “right works.” (Matt. 5:16) Some of those early Christians were puzzled as to what constituted right works, and asked Jesus: “What shall we do to work the works of God?” In reply Jesus said to them: “This is the work of God, that you exercise faith in him whom that One sent forth.” (John 6:28, 29) On the basis of this text some will argue that all one has to do to gain eternal life is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, as though works did not matter very much. But James, under inspiration, tells us: “You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone.” (Jas. 2:24) Others will claim that their mighty works in the shape of hospitals, orphanages, social centers, etc., constitute works of faith and love, but Jesus plainly foretells that “many will say to me in that day: ‘Master, Master, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’” and he will not recognize them, but actually will dismiss them as “workers of lawlessness.”—Matt. 7:22, 23.

Jesus set the example as to what constituted right works. When sending out his twelve apostles and the seventy preachers Jesus instructed them what to say and what to do. He said: “Go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” But some will say to this, ‘Yes, and he also told them to cure the sick, and Jehovah’s witnesses do not do that.’ True, at least not in a physical sense, but neither do these so-called faith healers do the other things that Jesus instructed his disciples to do, namely, “raise up dead persons, make lepers clean, expel demons.” (Matt. 10:1, 7, 8) Why? Because those miraculous gifts of God’s spirit by which those early disciples performed miraculous cures were only temporary and Paul plainly said they would pass away as the congregation matured. He emphasized the fact that it was the basic gifts of faith, hope and love that would never pass away. (1 Cor. 13:8, 13) Today the preaching of ‘this good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations’ is the work of faith and love that all dedicated Christians are obligated to perform.—Matt. 24:14.

Note now this important truth: these works of faith must be prompted by love. First, love for Jehovah God, the Life-giver; and secondly, love for one’s neighbor. This is the “kingly law,” obedience to which is imperative in order to receive Jehovah’s blessing. (Jas. 2:8) Sincerity and enthusiasm in preaching error will never excuse the error and make it right. “Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright. But shun empty speeches that violate what is holy.” “Avoid all that profane jargon, for it leads people still further into [ungodliness], and their doctrine spreads like a gangrene.” (Mo) Love for God and neighbor obligates us to see that our teaching is accurate.—2 Tim. 2:15-17.

One who dedicates himself just to do a certain work, such as preaching, makes a mistake. When the going gets rough he easily becomes discouraged. If he sees only the physical association with the organization and its members as the most important thing to be guarded he is lacking in spiritual discernment. Work in preaching the good news, and physical association with the New World society, are not enough in themselves and do not guarantee salvation. There is no salvation on the basis of works alone. To have this view of things would place one in the same danger as those under the Mosaic law who sought to “establish their own [righteousness].” It can lead to becoming “egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another” over having a good record of preaching service.—Rom. 10:1-3; Gal. 5:26.

When a person, on the basis of the Scriptural knowledge he has gained, has belief in Christ as the Savior whom God provided and shows that faith by his works, he can consider himself as being on the way to salvation. It would be a mistake for him to think that he is now saved and cannot fall. He must show by his endurance in the Christian faith that he is worthy of salvation. “Let him that thinks he has a firm position beware that he does not fall.”—1 Cor. 10:12

Salvation from death is a gift from God to those that obey him, not to those that disobey. It does not go to the wicked, which fact means that not all humans will benefit from it. The Bible limits it to persons of all kinds that exercise faith. “For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, God’s power for salvation to everyone having faith.” Regarding those that do not have faith, the apostle Peter says that God will “reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgment to be cut off.” That is, they will be cut off from life. He goes on to say that they will “suffer destruction in their own course of destruction.”—Rom. 1:16; 2 Pet. 2:9, 12.

For a person to gain salvation God requires that he exercise faith in Him and Christ Jesus. A person cannot expect God’s favor when he refuses to exercise faith in the Father as a Savior and in the One whom the Father sent to make salvation possible.

It is only right that the Creator should require obedience from man. In times past those that obeyed him were the ones that he favored. It is no different today. Salvation through the coming war of Armageddon and from death depends upon obedience to Jehovah God and to Jesus Christ, whom he has anointed to be earth’s ruler. This is shown at Hebrews 5:9, which says regarding Christ: “After he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him.” Here again the Scriptures show that salvation is limited and not universal.

Endurance in the way to life is also a requirement for salvation. It does no good if a person starts out on a faithful course of obedience to God but fails to continue on it. He must remain faithful as long as he lives, even when his faithfulness brings the threat of death. “But he that has endured to the finish is the one that will be saved.”—Matt. 24:13.

A person must manifest his faith in the manner Christ did by dedicating himself to Jehovah God, symbolizing that dedication by water immersion, and making public proclamation of the truth. He must be a teacher of God’s Word and purposes. He cannot remain silent, thinking that belief alone is sufficient for salvation. Silence is not God’s way to it. “For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.”—Rom. 10:10.

Before the destruction of this world comes at the Bible-named battle of Armageddon, Jehovah God is giving opportunity to the people of the nations to learn the truth, to conform to it, and then to demonstrate their faith by seeking the way of righteousness, giving evidence that they are the kind of people who would live righteously in God’s perfect new world if given the opportunity. If it is your sincere desire to receive God’s approval and gain life from him in that new world, then you will gladly respond to the words: “Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and complete will of God.”—Rom. 12:2.

He did not mean, though, that the literal act of immersion in the waters of a river or lake is the means of saving, but the condition of being exclusively devoted to God, whereof water baptism is a symbol. How is that? Well, those who were with Noah in the ark and were baptized to him, when the ark was surrounded by the surging waters that fell from the windows of heaven, first had had to put faith in Jehovah’s warning message, which came to them through Noah; then they had had to work with him on the ark and thereby demonstrate their belief in God’s word and their willingness to obey him. And they had to continue in that condition right down to the day when Jehovah himself shut the door behind Noah and those who had actually gone into the ark with him.—Gen. 7:13-16.

What, then, is it in our day that corresponds to the ark wherein God saved Noah? It is the arrangement for preservation that Jehovah God builds through his Son, the glorified Christ Jesus, that is, “the new system of things.” Here on earth that new system of things is now represented by Jehovah’s witnesses, who have come into it and are organized as a New World society to bear witness to Jehovah’s name and purposes, his King and kingdom, and to live according to the divine will, thus showing the people of good will the way to salvation.

That is undeserved kindness on the part of God. Despite the preaching of God’s kingdom and other good works, the Christian is not perfect; he cannot earn salvation. 

Christians love Christ. What does this love entail? Jesus said: “If anyone loves me, he will observe my word . . . He that does not love me does not observe my words; and the word that you are hearing is not mine, but belongs to the Father who sent me.” (John 14:23, 24) Love expresses itself by what is done. Jesus urged his followers to observe the words of his Father. Obedience to God’s requirements was essential to salvation. Love for God and love for Christ is to be demonstrated by obeying their commandments.

Which commandments? Churchgoers generally believe that these are commandments concerning morality, kindness, clean speech, uprightness, and so forth. These are important, but more is involved. We must follow Jesus’ example as ministers of God.

When Jesus walked the earth, he taught others about God’s ways. In addition, he trained his hearers to do the same teaching work he was engaged in. Note his commissioning of others: “These twelve Jesus sent forth, giving them these orders: . . . As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” After his death and resurrection an even greater teaching work would be done. When he returned from the grave, Jesus said: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” (Matt. 10:5, 7; 28:19, 20) A disciple does what his teacher does. Those preached to were to become preachers also. Disciples were participants, not spectators!

If we exercise faith in our heart, then we will be moved to action to demonstrate our faith. 

During the month of July the Christian witnesses of Jehovah will have many opportunities to demonstrate their faith by faithfulness in their preaching commission, to the preserving alive of their souls. 

With no repentance they persist in their works for self-salvation, and blaspheme God for paining them by having His witnesses showing that their doomed condition is beyond healing through human remedies.

Each Witness must walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and demonstrate his faith by preaching and teaching . . . as did Jesus and his apostles.”

The Scriptures say: “In the days of his flesh Christ offered up supplications and also petitions to the one who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered; and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him.” (Heb. 5:7-9) The lesson of obedience [including long-sufferance] must be learned by all those who will gain salvation.—1 Sam. 15:22, 23.

All men have fallen under the condemnation of sin due to descent from their forefather Adam. But through Christ “judgment” is provided apart from Adamic sin so that all may have opportunity to be relieved of the disability that came upon them through no fault of their own and may prove themselves individually. (Rom. 8:20) All who will profit from the ransom must have it applied to them to get its healing benefits. They cannot save themselves by mere knowledge that the ransom has been offered in heaven. They must repent and rest by faith and obedience in the provision of Christ’s sacrifice and his services as High Priest. They cannot do any “laborious work” of their own by attempts at self-justification by self-works. So the High Priest still has work to do in applying the benefits of his sin-atoning sacrifice.—Heb. 4:3, 10.

. But none of us will receive life without putting forth some effort. Not that salvation comes by works alone. James, in writing to the first-century Christian congregation, said: “Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself. Indeed, as the body without breath is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (Jas. 2:17, 26) This means we must prove our faith by our course of action, by the things we do. It means that righteous requirements of the King Jesus Christ must be met.

Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect. We cannot claim to love God, yet deny his Word and channel of communication. We cannot accept apostolic teaching, yet reject our commission to teach others. We cannot accept the house-to-house ministry, yet ignore God’s moral requirements in everyday living. We cannot live an exemplary life, yet remain apathetic to the issue soon to be settled. We cannot preach the end of this system of things, yet seek to acquire all that this world has to offer in security or material benefits. Jehovah’s visible organization is based firmly on the twelvefold foundation of the “apostles of the Lamb,” with Jesus Christ himself being the foundation cornerstone. (Rev. 21:14, 19, 20; Eph. 2:20-22) Therefore, in submitting to Jehovah’s visible theocratic organization, we must be in full and complete agreement with every feature of its apostolic procedure and requirements.

The Bible is explicit about the practices of the “old personality” that must be put away by those who would gain salvation: “The works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, hatreds, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. . . . those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.”—Gal. 5:19-21.

But there are other ways of “sowing with a view to [the] flesh” that may not be quite so obvious and yet can also greatly affect our spiritual growth as Christians and even be disastrous for us. We can even be doing things that are right and good in themselves, but, if the motive is wrong, if our actions are for self-justification, self-praise or from a spirit of jealousy or rivalry, our good works would be worthless and we would see the corrupting of our spiritual lives.—Rom. 10:3; Prov. 14:30.

If you are among those “earnestly seeking” God, then you will want to keep strengthening your faith by study and association with Jehovah’s witnesses, who are today truly exercising faith by bringing the good news of God’s kingdom to others. If you feel you have need to strengthen your faith lest you or your family be among the sad ones whose faith cools off and who have nothing to replace it, then “continue applying yourself” to taking in knowledge and sharing it with others, “for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” (1 Tim. 4:13-16; 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:15) The true faith is not some intangible, unexplainable feeling, for Hebrews 11:1 shows that faith is tied in with realities, not unrealities. What one does about his faith gives a demonstration of the reality of his faith to others, convincing them that his belief in God and his purposes is an assured expectation.

If their actions are for self-justification, self-praise, or from a spirit of rivalry or jealousy, their good works would not merit the promised reward, and they would see the corrupting of their spiritual life. Whatever they do they must do whole-souled as to Jehovah and not to men.—Prov. 14:30; Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:23, 24.

That is why Christians should not become slaves to figures or measure their integrity by such goals. That could well lead to boasting in the flesh on the part of some and discouragement on the part of others.

Thus David learned to appreciate and to fulfill the primary requirements of first imbibing accurate knowledge from a reliable source, God’s written Word. He being teachable and having the right heart condition, this knowledge and understanding strengthened his faith, which, as we have seen, he was not slow to demonstrate from his early youth onward. Along with his faith, there was built up in him a great love and loyalty toward Jehovah, which nothing could break, even though once or twice he grievously erred.

Faith is more than just a belief. “The demons believe and shudder,” but they certainly have no faith. (Jas. 2:19) Activity in harmony with faith is necessary to demonstrate one’s faith. Walking is a form of activity, but one must be “walking by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)

The Bible writer James emphasized that it is by our activity that we prove our faith, by our “works” he says, for without works faith is as worthless as it is lifeless. (Jas. 2:18-26) If we have faith in Jehovah’s promised kingdom then we must prove it by bearing thorough witness concerning it, by preaching and teaching the good news of that kingdom to others. If we keep silent, Jehovah will make the very stones cry out. (Luke 19:40) To trade places with the stones means they will break their silence to become praising, preaching ministers, while we, because we are stonehearted and stoneheaded, will eventually become stone dead!

Faith, like muscles of the human body, must be nourished and also exercised, if spiritual atrophy is to be avoided. James strikingly emphasized the necessity of displaying one’s faith by means of godly works. He wrote: “Indeed, as the body without breath is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (Jas. 2:26) These are not works of the Law given by Jehovah to the Israelites, but are activities that show a person possesses faith. (Gal. 2:15, 16) Abraham certainly proved he had faith by his willingness to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham’s faith “worked along with his works and by his works his faith was perfected.” For putting his faith in Jehovah, righteousness was counted to Abraham by God, the patriarch coming to be called “Jehovah’s friend.” Rahab, who hid the Israelite spies, also thus had works to back up her faith and she was declared righteous by those works.—Jas. 2:18-25; Joshua chapter 2.

17 But, by what works can you demonstrate that you are “healthy in faith”? They are numerous. For instance, you display healthy faith when you accept Jehovah’s decisions in matters governed by his laws and principles: When you abide by the words of Isaiah 2:4 about beating swords into plowshares; when you refrain from eating blood or accepting a blood transfusion (Acts 15:28, 29); when you adhere to divine requirements pertaining to sexual morality and other moral behavior (1 Cor. 6:18; Ps. 15:1-5; Heb. 13:18); when you maintain Christian neutrality as far as worldly affairs are concerned (John 17:16)—in essence, when you accept and adhere willingly to what Jehovah tells you to do in his inspired Word. (Ps. 119:105) You also show that you are “healthy in faith” when you attend and participate in Christian meetings. (Ps. 26:12) And you certainly demonstrate that you have healthy faith when you regularly declare the good news of God’s established heavenly kingdom from house to house and by other means.—Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20.

But, to lay hold of those blessings, you must show your faith in God’s provision for life and demonstrate your love for righteousness by sincerely endeavoring to live now in harmony with God’s Word. Even now under the present system of things we must ‘deaden our body members’ as respects bad practices. Even now we must “really put them all away” from us—not only sexual immorality but also “wrath, anger, badness, abusive speech, and obscene talk.” We must “not be lying to one another.” We must “strip off the old personality with its practices.” We must ‘clothe ourselves with the new personality,’ demonstrating genuine love for God and for our fellowman.—Col. 3:5-14.

The apostle Paul further declared of Jesus: “He learned obedience from the things he suffered; and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him.” (Heb. 5:8, 9) So it was in Christ’s own merit that God declared him righteous. He did not have to grant righteousness to Christ as a gift. That was why his sacrifice could serve as a basis for other men to be declared righteous. If others are declared righteous it is not on grounds of their own righteousness, but it is on the basis of the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ; it is a gift to them.—Rom. 5:17.

So the question is forced on a person’s mind: Can a Christian prove his faith with no works at all? Or must a Christian prove his faith by demonstrating to others through the use of his heart, mind, soul and strength that his faith is a live faith, a productive faith, not a dead one? James is showing that works or activity is proof of one’s faith. 

He is endeavoring to stir every one of them to action. If they have faith they should demonstrate it. 

THE work of proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom is one of the most important works that has ever been done on earth. Why? Because it is the “touchstone” by which mankind is judged. Acceptance of and obedience to the good news result in salvation; rejection and disobedience mean destruction.

For example, a person may be very religious. He may appear to have a fine personality, to be generous, humanitarian. But his reaction to the good news reveals whether he is really a friend of God. For God knows the hearts of men. “Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes,” says the writer of Proverbs, “but Jehovah is making an estimate of hearts.” (Prov. 21:2) A Christian must have a fine personality, but regardless of that or any other characteristic, if he does not have love for God and for his fellowman, he is nothing.—1 Cor. 13:1-3.

Consequently, all true servants of Jehovah desire to cultivate the evangelizing spirit in themselves and in others. If you desire to intensify this spirit within yourself, associate closely with those who have this fine attitude, and enlist the aid of the elders in the congregation. They will be happy to help you, for they know that it glorifies God and works toward the salvation of themselves and those whom they help.—1 Tim. 4:16.

Those who long for God’s righteous new order take advantage of His ‘slowness to anger’ to repent of their death-dealing works and to prove worthy of salvation into His new order.

He once was a firm believer in Judaism, believing that he could gain righteousness by works of the Mosaic law. But he threw these things down when he became a Christian. His opposers said that Christians should return to subjection to the things of the Law, and trust in such works for salvation. Paul answered: “If the very things that I once threw down I build up again, I demonstrate myself to be a transgressor.”—Gal. 2:18.

May all of us who are disciples of Jesus Christ make it our determination to be faithful in the work of declaring the good news and making disciples. In connection with this vital activity, we can apply to ourselves the counsel of 1 Timothy 4:16: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” Obedience to Christ’s command to ‘make disciples, teaching them,’ is essential to our salvation and that of others. It leads to grand blessings now in the form of joy and contentment because of our knowing that we are God’s fellow workers. Then, too, it holds promise of life everlasting in God’s new order. (2 Pet. 3:13) So we have every reason to be zealous in making disciples and teaching them.

Though Israel openly professed faith in Jehovah and had previously agreed to observe ‘all that Jehovah had spoken,’ godly deeds to demonstrate a living faith were often lacking. (Ex. 19:8; 24:3-7) Rather than bring benefits, their faithless course led to remorse. 

Since the start of our life course as Christians is an expression of faith, our entire way of life really should be one that reflects unshakable faith in Jehovah God and in his Son. That faith is demonstrated by works that are consistent with it. The disciple James wrote: “Become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning.” (Jas. 1:22) More is required of us than listening respectfully at congregation meetings and making appreciative comments about the things heard. We need to apply all the counsel of God, and this calls for works, activity, a willingness to respond to the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of others. It calls for us to share also in the great preaching work that must be accomplished before the “end” comes.—Jas. 1:27; 1 John 3:16, 17; Matt. 24:14, 21, 22.

Hence, the conjunction “for” that begins the paragr