The title of this summary will bring to the minds of those familiar with the Protestant Reformation a saying commonly attributed to Martin Luther. “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” A person is saved by faith apart from works, but the saved person will do good works. In other words, he does not and cannot do works in order to earn salvation, but he will do good works once he is saved. The apostle Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). When God saves a person, He saves him not only from his sins but that he might do good works.
Similarly, the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, indicated that there are “things that accompany salvation” (Hebrews 6:4-12). Therefore, salvation is never alone! Specifically, the writer cites the Hebrews’ work and labor of love which they had shown towards God’s name in their ministry to the saints (vs.10). So, love for and ministry to the saints are among the things that accompany salvation. Another “thing” that accompanies salvation is endurance (6:11-12). Genuine believers will steadfastly keep their faith in Christ to the end (Heb.3:6, 14). They “are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb.10:39). They are not of those who “fall away” from believing in and following Christ (6:6). The writer was convinced that his readers had truly trusted in Christ, but since they had regressed spiritually, he urged them to go on to maturity in Christ (6:1), and to be diligent in Christian living so that they might experience the assurance of hope until the end (6:11-12). We are saved by faith alone in Christ, but we enjoy the assurance of our salvation as we walk in the good works He ordained for us (see again Eph.2:8-10; cp. 2 Peter 1:5-11; I John 5:13).