[af_vet_1981]

Why Is Sola Fide So Important?

Because the only place it occurs in the scriptures is in James ?

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verses fourteen to twenty four,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James.

[Gamecock]

A more accurate translation reads 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (ESV)

Real faith produces works. Real faith saves. Works don't contribute to Salvation, but are evidence of being saved.

Suggest you read Hebrews 11. People are acting through faith and therefore saved.

[ShadowAce]

If you study the book of James carefully, you will see there there are three types of faith being discussed:

1. Dead faith -- This is the faith that one has intellectually, but it does not move him, or cause him to act on it. It is strictly intellectual, like math knowledge.
2. Demonic faith -- this faith is not only intellectual, like the above, but also affects the emotions. Unfortunately, this type of faith also does not cause the believer to act on his faith. Even the demons believe--and tremble.
3. Saving faith -- this faith is not only known intellectually and emotionally, but also affects the will. The person with this faith believes with all his soul and mind, and it causes him to act on that faith--to produce good works.

One can believe all he wants, but if it does not push you into performing good acts, to love your neighbor as yourself, then that faith is dead or demonic. It does no good.

Everyone is known by their fruits (works).

[CynicalBear]

But it still all came down to faith didn’t it. Everything else was simply evidence of faith.