A discussion of the need for both faith and works to enter into heaven as said clearly in the Bible..

1. “Faith Without Works is Dead”
James 2

2. Letter From a Friend Investigating the
Church
“Dear LDS Friend,
Some of my friends are saying that Mormons are
not Christians because you believe that you need to
do righteous works along works along with having
faith to be accepted by God. My other friends claim
that with the grace of Christ, works are not
necessary. They say that if I join the Mormons I
would be denying Christ’s grace. How should I
respond to them?
-Your friend”

3. My Response to the Letter
Dear Friend,
In response to your friends assertions about faith and
works you can turned to the Bible to prove that as James
declared “faith, it hath not works, is dead, being alone”
(James 2:17). James uses the analogy of if someone
asks for food and clothing and you tell them to be filled
and warm without giving anything to them that it profits
them nothing. The same goes with faith if you have
faith without works your faith is nothing. Because
James says “if ye have respect to persons ye commit
sin” (James 2:9) and “whosoever shall keep the whole
law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
(James 2:10)

4. James use the examples of Abraham and Rahab the
harlot to show that you are justified by works and faith
not just faith. In Matthew 7:21 the Savior says that only
he that does the will of his Father will enter into the
kingdom oh heaven. If only he that does the will of His
Father will enter into the kingdom of heaven how can
you have faith with no works and still expect to go to
heaven? The savior is clear you cannot enter into
heaven without both faith and works. And in Matthew
19 the Savior adds that we must keep his all of His
commandments to enter into heaven just like James
says. In Ephesians Paul says that we are “created unto
good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

5. In the book of Revelation John says that in the final
judgment men were judged out of the book of life
according to their works. (Revelation 20:12–13) If we will
be judged according to our works how can we have faith
without works? We will not enter into God’s presence
without faith and works. In the Book of Mormon Nephi
declares that “it is by grace we are saved, after all we can
do” (2 Nephi 25:23). The Bible is full of the idea that we
are saved through both faith and works and the Book of
Mormon compliments the words of the Bible by saying
that we must to all we can do to enter into God’s presence
and then Christ will make up for the rest. I hope these
words from the scriptures help to answer your question.
Your friend,