Salvation by faith alone.

Excerpt from Gospel Assurance and Warnings (Paul Washer)
==========================================

What we can learnt from here.

1.Salvation by faith alone

2.Saving faith is evidenced by works
  .You don't maintain your salvation by the works you do as some teaches.
  .you will wear yourselves out trying to maintain it. (James 2:10)
  .There are false teachers who claims that if you don't repent, you will perish.
  .So if you faithfully follow their programs, you can maintain your salvation. That is heresy! (Matthew 23:4)
  .Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. This is good new! Go to Him! (Matthew 11:28)

3.To say that Christ is not enough but that something else is needed as well is a most enormous blasphemy against God

Belgic confession of faith (1561) Article 22 & 24

Here we see the agreement between the doctrine of salvation by faith alone and the clear teaching of scripture that such saving faith is evidenced by works:

Therefore, to say that Christ is not enough but that something else is needed as well is a most enormous blasphemy against God - for it then would follow that Jesus Christ is only half a Savior... And therefore we justly say with Paul that we are justified "by faith alone" or by faith "apart from the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28)

We believe that this true faith, produced in man by the hearing of God's Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates him and makes him a "new creation" ( 2 Corinthians 5:17) causing him to live the "newness of life" (Romans 6:4) and freeing him from the slavery of sin... So then, it is impossible for this holy faith to be unfruitful in a human being, seeing that we do not speak of an empty faith but of what Scripture calls "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6) which leads a man to do by himself the works that God has commanded in His Word.

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, yet the nature of salvation guarantees that saving faith will have real and practical evidences. Thus, those who have truly believed in Christ unto salvation may gain greater assurance of their salvation not only through examining their conversion experience in light of the Scriptures but also by thoroughly examining their life since the moment of their conversion. Although all believers are subject to many failings and can fall before the smallest temptation, their determination to continue in the faith and their gradual and progressive sanctification are great evidences of salvation and provide a solid ground for assurance.