What do most of Christendom believe about faith in salvation?
Most of Christendom believes salvation requires faith plus additional works, rituals, or law-keeping, rather than faith alone in Christ's finished work. They reject the idea that salvation is by faith plus nothing, insisting that something must be added to faith for salvation.
Les explains that 90% of Christendom says salvation is faith plus something. They do not accept that it is faith plus nothing. In the context, Paul's gospel is described as faith plus nothing—Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen, plus nothing. But the Judaizers from Jerusalem insisted on adding requirements. Les notes that even Old Testament saints were saved by faith, but not faith alone; it was faith plus. During Christ's earthly ministry, people had to repent, be baptized, keep the law, and maintain temple worship. So it was faith plus. But now, beginning with Paul's gospel, it is faith plus nothing. Most of Christendom, however, still says it is faith plus.