Yes, sinners are saved by faith. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Many passages make it clear that without faith there can be no salvation. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6). “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16, 18).
Yes, faith is an essential part of salvation. There is no salvation without it, for Jesus said, “. . . for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24). “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16).
As much a part in salvation as faith plays, one thing for sure is that salvation is NOT BY FAITH ONLY! No one has ever been saved by saying, “I accept you Jesus, come into my hear and be my personal savior.” Men may shout this long and loud but they will never point to a scripture to back it up! It’s what seems good to them by the end thereof is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12).
James 2:17-26 makes it clear that works must be coupled with faith before it can be valid. “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. . . . 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? . . . 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. . . .26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:17, 20, 24, 26). Faith is only alive and active WHEN it takes action and works. Notice the example of Abraham and Rahab in James 2:21, 25. Both were justified WHEN they acted and not before!
Jesus tied water baptism to faith in order to have salvation in Mark 16:16: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved . . .” Who will be so brazen and presumptuous to remove it? Not I!