I wrote an article recently trying to emphasize the importance of the order of faith and works in salvation. A knowledgable responder challenged my view in the belief that “there is no order: love God and love one another simultaneously…. there is a way to love God: by loving one another, as commanded by Jesus….there is no other, we are all the same.”

He then offered three verses to support his claim that works (loving one’s neighbor) and faith (loving God) are simultaneous. Below are the verses he used and my response follows ….

If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God must also love his brother and sister. (1 John 4:20-21, NASB)

[Name withheld] … let me respectfully read you the order ….

If someone says, “I love God,” [first] and yet he hates his brother or sister [second] … he cannot love God.”

There is a clear order in this verse. We need to love God and come to Him by faith and be saved. Once saved, we then, and only then, are capable of loving our neighbor as His ambassadors.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45, NASB)

To your second example … again to “prove yourselves to be sons of your Father” first, and then you will demonstrate that faith (second) by loving your enemies (deeds). This is saying the exact same thing as James 2:14-26 … i.e. Faith without deeds is dead … but note in that verse as well … it is faith first, deeds second. Our faith (a vertical relationship with God first) is demonstrated by outward horizontal signs (second) such as loving our neighbors (i.e. works).

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, NASB)

Finally, to your third verse … we all have a plank in our eye as we point out the spec in the eye of others. I know my writing can be direct at times. However, if the alternative is to sit by and not say anything as false teachings send people to Hell for eternity, that is much worse as we struggle through life in this gray world, trying to decide between the lesser of evils.

What is Most Important

This order thing between faith and deeds is not semantics, it is the basis of salvation and eternity. God will not reward those who are simply being “a good person” with eternity in Heaven. He asks us to come to Him by faith ALONE, not by works so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

If we equate faith AND deeds as coequal or, happening at the same time, it is a slippery slope of deconstructionism. Worse yet are those who believe that all one needs to do to sufficiently please God are Good Samaritan deeds (i.e. being a good person). They will sadly fall into the ranks of Matthew 7:22-24 …

Matthew 7:22-23 – On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Salvation comes from repenting of your sins and accepting the free gift of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, acknowledging Him as your personal Savior and Lord by faith. Nothing more and nothing less.

Romans 10:9 – If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.