Q - Are we saved by faith or works or both?

A - Neither, we are saved by grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

That's right the best Christian in the world is not saved anymore than any other Christian, salvation is a gift from God and there's nothing we can do to earn it.

Sounds pretty cut and dry doesn't it? Just repent and ask Jesus into your heart and no matter what else you do for the rest of your life you can never be lost again. Wow you know what maybe you can even cheat God and change your mind after you are saved? after all what can he do about it? You are saved now right? You don't need to do good things or live a holy life you can beat the system.

WRONG

Galatians 6:7-10
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

I don't care who told you can never lose your soul salvation the Bible says you can lose your soul even after you are saved.

It's very true that all you have to do is repent and you will be saved at that point, however it's a lie you don't have to follow God's laws after you are saved. And it's a lie that you cannot lose your soul salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

So this proves if you do not overcome sin he will blot out your name from the book of life, in other words you will lose your soul salvation. Point made and case closed.

Now about those good works, works are not required to be saved, however after you are saved you must keep God's laws and if you keep God's laws you will do good works.

So anyone that doesn't have any good works is not keeping God's laws and anyone that is not keeping God's laws is in danger of having his or her name blotted out of the book of life.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. . .and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21

The final test of love is obedience, not sweet emotions, not willingness to sacrifice, not zeal, but obedience to the commandments of Christ!

Our Lord drew a line plain and tight for everyone to see. On one side He placed those who keep His commandments and said, "These love Me." On the other side He put those who keep not His sayings, and said, "These love Me not."

The commandments of Christ occupy in the New Testament a place of importance that they do not have in current evangelical thought. The idea that our relation to Christ is revealed by our attitude to His commandments is now considered legalistic by many influential Bible teachers, and the plain words of our Lord are rejected outright or interpreted in a manner to make them conform to religious theories ostensibly based upon the epistles of Paul.

The Christian cannot be certain of the reality and depth of his love until he comes face to face with the commandments of Christ and is forced to decide what to do about them. Then he will know!

I think we should turn for a while from fine-spun theological speculations about grace and faith and humbly read the New Testament with a mind to obey what we see there.

Love for Christ is a love of willing, as well as a love of feeling, and it is psychologically impossible to love Him adequately unless we will to obey His words!

If you want to be saved forever and go to heaven someday you must become an "overcomer" of the sin in your life, now you can't do this alone. When you repent Jesus Christ will forgive you of all past sins and send the Holy Spirit to you to live in your heart and he will help you change your ways and become a new creation in Christ. He will teach you how to keep God's laws and do good works.

If you want to try and cheat God go right ahead give it your best shot I can grantee that you will end up losing your soul salvation. You can believe the truth straight from the word of God or believe the lie that's up to you, you have been warned.