I agree, the passage does say that and it is the Catholic Sola Gratia teaching. So how, again, does Sola Fide follow from it?
I agree, the passage does say that and it is the Catholic Sola Gratia teaching. So how, again, does Sola Fide follow from it?
The passage [Eph. 2:8-10] specifies that saving grace does NOT manifest itself through works, but rather manifests through faith. This is supported by other scripture:
Luke 5:20 : When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
John 3:16-18 : 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 6:28-29 : 28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" 29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
John 6:40, 47 : 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ....... 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
Rom 3:28 : For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Rom 4:5 : However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Rom 5:1 : Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ...
Rom 11:6 : And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. KJV
Phil 3:8-9 : 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Gal 2:15-16 : 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
Gal 2:21 : I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Gal 3:8-9 : 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Titus 3:4-5 : 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ...
Some have tried to make a distinction that there are all sorts of different categories of works, and that ALL of these verses and others refer to only a small category, and thus, works independently chosen are still a separate element of salvation. Some have said that "works of love", somehow not referred to in any of these verses, are the ones that count. However, I don't think this argument works. For example:
Matt 22:36-39 : 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Here Jesus Himself puts all "works of love" under the Law. The quotes above specifically say that they are not independent parts of salvation. Sola Fide stands.