How do we receive salvation - by faith or by works?
Salvation is a progressive process requiring both faith and works, rather than one or the other. Historically, God's providence moved from justification by works in the Old Testament to justification by faith in Jesus during the New Testament. Ultimate salvation comes through the Lord of the Second Advent, demanding attendance and responsibility to achieve both spiritual and physical restoration, culminating in becoming Divine Spirits and establishing the Kingdom of Heaven.
The profound question of how humanity receives salvation—whether through faith or works—is central to understanding God's grace and human responsibility. The Holy Bible and Divine Principle reveal these are not opposing concepts, but inseparable components of a holistic process of restoration. Salvation has progressed through historical stages, each requiring a specific foundation.
The Biblical Foundation: Progressive Salvation
Throughout history, God has guided humanity towards salvation through progressive stages, each demanding specific conditions for spiritual resurrection. In the Old Testament Age, following the Fall, spiritual growth was impossible without God's Word. From Abraham's time, resurrection began through making offerings and following the Law. People were justified by their works and could become "form spirits," the first stage of spiritual growth.
During the New Testament Age, human beings could achieve a higher level of spiritual resurrection by having faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel while also fulfilling their portion of responsibility. This era is characterized as the Age of Attendance by Faith, where people attained righteousness through faith in Jesus' teachings to become "life spirits," the second stage of spiritual growth. Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in Paradise," (Luke 23:43) exemplify this, revealing Paradise as the abode for life spirits. John 6:29 states, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent," emphasizing the pivotal role of faith in Jesus.
Divine Principle's Clarification: A Holistic Restoration
The Divine Principle resolves this apparent tension by presenting salvation as a comprehensive process of restoration, requiring both God's grace and humanity's portion of responsibility. It outlines two essential conditions: the Foundation of Faith and the Foundation of Substance.
The Foundation of Faith is the spiritual condition achieved through absolute belief in God, trust in the Messiah, prayer, and aligning with God's will. Paul's emphasis on faith describes this foundation, through which individuals receive God's grace and guidance. This is the initial vertical connection with God, a humble acceptance of His love and truth. It is the receptive heart toward God's providence.
The Foundation of Substance involves actively eradicating self-centeredness and cultivating a God-centered disposition through acts of love, repentance, and sacrificial living. This directly corresponds to James's teaching on works; true faith must manifest in concrete deeds and transformed character. For genuine restoration, internal faith must be substantiated by external actions that demonstrate a change of heart and lineage, enabling humanity to "remove the root of sin." This foundation signifies our active participation in becoming co-creators of goodness, fulfilling the "Principle of Creation."
However, even Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was not the ultimate salvation God intended. Jesus came to achieve complete salvation, both spiritual and physical, and to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. His death occurred due to the failure of human responsibility (Luke 19:41-44, Matthew 23:37, John 5:39-40), not because it was an inherent necessity for forgiving sins, as Jesus had the authority to forgive sins while on Earth (Mark 2:10). The cross allowed for spiritual salvation but did not fully eradicate Original Sin or establish the physical Kingdom.
The final stage of salvation comes with the Lord of the Second Advent, who brings salvation that is both spiritual and physical, freeing humanity from Original Sin and enabling them to become "Divine Spirits," the completed stage of spiritual growth. This requires the "Age of Justification by Attendance," where individuals live their lives completely in God's hands, guided by the Lord and His Bride, fulfilling their portion of responsibility with great effort and love. This comprehensive salvation culminates in admission to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
Understanding the Deeper Meaning: The Synergy of Heart and Action
When integrated, the Bible and Divine Principle reveal that salvation is not an "either/or," but a synergistic "both-and." Faith is the indispensable internal gateway, the spiritual connection that allows us to receive God's grace and the redemptive power of the Messiah. It is the conscious decision to accept God's love. This initial faith is the seed of restoration.
However, this foundational faith must inherently manifest in works. These are the tangible expressions of our belief, validating and substantiating our inner commitment. Works are not a means to earn grace, but the natural outflow and proof of genuine faith. They signify that grace has been embraced and is actively transforming the individual. True salvation is a dynamic process of restoration, initiated by believing in the Savior and actively embodying His love and truth through continuous deeds and transformed character.
Living the Principle
Understanding the inseparability of faith and works demands that internal conviction aligns with external conduct.
1. Cultivate a deep inner life through prayer and studying God's Word, thereby establishing your Foundation of Faith to receive divine life elements. 2. Manifest love in service, repent, and strive to eradicate self-centeredness, building the Foundation of Substance to offer vitality elements back to God. 3. Take responsibility for your growth by attending the Messiah and His Bride, participating actively in the providence of complete restoration to become a Divine Spirit. 4. Embody God's love and wisdom through your daily actions, becoming a co-creator in establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
These answers explain the Bible in the light of the Divine Principle, the teachings of Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Read about the author, Sun Myung Moon.
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Sources and further reading
- The Holy Bible, King James Version — Scripture quoted and referenced throughout the answers.
- The Divine Principle (full text) — The complete text of the Divine Principle, the teaching of Reverend Sun Myung Moon that these answers explain.
- Unification texts library (tparents.org) — Large online library of Unification texts, sermons and collected speeches, including the Cheon Seong Gyeong.
- Short video lectures in English — Playlist of short English video lectures presenting these same principles.