Posted on 06/04/2017 12:29:15 PM PDT by ealgeone
Question: "Why is sola fide important?"
Answer: Sola fide which means "faith alone" is important because it is one of the distinguishing characteristics or key points that separate the true biblical Gospel from false gospels. At stake is the very Gospel itself and it is therefore a matter of eternal life or death. Getting the Gospel right is of such importance that the Apostle Paul would write in Galatians 1:9, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” Paul was addressing the same question that sola fide addresses—on what basis is man declared by God to be justified? Is it by faith alone or by faith combined with works? Paul makes it clear in Galatians and Romans that man is “justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law” (Galatians 2:16), and the rest of the Bible concurs.
Sola fide is one of the five solas that came to define and summarize the key issues of the Protestant Reformation. Each of these Latin phrases represents a key area of doctrine that was an issue of contention between the Reformers and the Roman Catholic Church, and today they still serve to summarize key doctrines essential to the Gospel and to Christian life and practice. The Latin word sola means “alone” or “only” and the essential Christian doctrines represented by these five Latin phrases accurately summarize the biblical teaching on these crucial subjects: sola scriptura—Scripture alone, sola fide—faith alone, sola gratia—grace alone, sola Christus—Christ alone, and sola Deo gloria—for the glory of God alone. Each one is vitally important, and they are all closely tied together. Deviation from one will lead to error in another essential doctrine, and the result will almost always be a false gospel which is powerless to save.
Sola fide or faith alone is a key point of difference between not only Protestants and Catholics but between biblical Christianity and almost all other religions and teachings. The teaching that we are declared righteous by God (justified) on the basis of our faith alone and not by works is a key doctrine of the Bible and a line that divides most cults from biblical Christianity. While most religions and cults teach men what works they must do to be saved, the Bible teaches that we are not saved by works, but by God’s grace through His gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Biblical Christianity is distinct from every other religion in that it is centered on what God has accomplished through Christ’s finished work, while all other religions are based on human achievement. If we abandon the doctrine of justification by faith, we abandon the only way of salvation. “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5). The Bible teaches that those that trust Jesus Christ for justification by faith alone are imputed with His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), while those who try to establish their own righteousness or mix faith with works will receive the punishment due to all who fall short of God’s perfect standard.
Sola fide—the doctrine of justification by faith alone apart from works—is simply recognizing what is taught over and over in Scripture—that at some point in time God declares ungodly sinners righteous by imputing Christ’s righteousness to them (Romans 4:5, 5:8, 5:19). This happens apart from any works and before the individual actually begins to become righteous. This is an important distinction between Catholic theology that teaches righteous works are meritorious towards salvation and Protestant theology that affirms the biblical teaching that righteous works are the result and evidence of a born-again person who has been justified by God and regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit.
How important is sola fide? It is so important to the Gospel message and a biblical understanding of salvation that Martin Luther described it as being “the article with and by which the church stands.” Those who reject sola fide reject the only Gospel that can save them and by necessity embrace a false gospel. That is why Paul so adamantly denounces those who taught law-keeping or other works of righteousness in Galatians 1:9 and other passages. Yet today this important biblical doctrine is once again under attack. Too often sola fide is relegated to secondary importance instead of being recognized as an essential doctrine of Christianity, which it certainly is.
“Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 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.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Galatians 3:6-11).
No. You didn’t account for them. Going by what you posted, you apparently reject those words. I imagine you know the difference between a contradiction and a paradox. A contradiction means there’s an error somewhere. A paradox is when there seems to be a contradiction but there isn’t.
Now, these are words in the Bible. So state it plainly here, do you accept those words, “not of works, lest any man should boast,” as being from God? Yes or no.
This is a bit long, but so was your link.
And, as I expected, I didn’t have read very far into it to see the writer’s intellectual dishonesty:
**..that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism (Ephesians 2:8-9).**
Baptism is not mentioned in Ephesians 2:8,9. Matter of fact, baptism is not even hinted as being a work of men anywhere in the scriptures.
The writer uses the same usual references from the epistles to stress faith in Christ, not for a second admitting that the people those epistles were written to were baptized:
Paul himself got the ball rolling in Ephesus, rebaptizing the certain disciples he encountered:
“When they heard this”.. (Doesn’t sound like they waited around)..”they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”. Acts 19:5
Paul baptized at least four in Corinth. (That’s if the household of Stephanas was only two people. Most likely more though).
In Philippi, Paul and Silas go down to a river to pray, and while there preach to some women, baptizing Lydia and her household. Then the two men end up baptizing the keeper of the prison, and his household.
Galatians 3:27 says: “For as many of you that have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.
You may claim that is Spirit baptism, but that would be your opinion. It is likely both water and Spirit baptism. Not unlike Paul’s mentioning of those steps in somewhat more detail in Romans 6:3-5...
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized unto his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto death.:”..... (that’s the water baptism).....”that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”...(there’s the Spirit baptism, because the Spirit is life, not death).
And verse 5 reaffirms it: “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”.
In chapter 6 of Hebrews, the writer, addressing believers that already know the principles of the doctrine of Christ, didn’t need that foundation (which included the “doctrine of baptisms”) laid again in their lives, but they would still preach it, “if God permit”. (Heb. 6:1-3)
When you look at the emphasis and urgency placed on water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, BY Jesus Christ, and his apostles, the sloppy “we’ll get around to it when convenient”, and “it’s just an outward sign of an inward cleansing”, doesn’t match the Word’s testimony.
The writer makes a lengthy effort to take the word “for”, and prove it doesn’t mean what it appears to mean in the case of Acts 2:38, pointing out different things that it COULD mean.
Then he offers up a short list of scriptural references that mention believing, but are just not detailed. Jesus said we are to believe on him as the scriptures have said to. We are to follow his guidelines to belief in him. What is the one thing he expressly commands after telling his disciples to “to teach all nations”, in Matt. 28:19? The disciples are to baptize. Who? All nations.
Peter, after relating how water saved eight in the flood, said: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
The good conscience comes from being free from sin. It works because Christ rose again. Just as Paul told the Corinthians, why baptize into Christ if he didn’t rise from the dead? On the contrary, we baptize because he DID rise from the dead.
Cornelius and his household had to be buried with Christ in baptism; planted with him. That’s why Peter commanded it. He could not withstand God, for God had commanded him and the other disciples, that THEY would remit sins (John 20:23).
I liken the writer of your link to so many that, if giving a sick man news of a new vaccine that will save his life, don’t tell him how to get to the clinic... because even though they know there is such a place, they don’t know the directions to get there.
The messenger Ahimaaz was a good man in David’s opinion. But, when it counted, he was not fit to be a messenger. He took a short cut and reached David first, only to deliver a message lacking the most important details.
There are a lot of “preachers” today taking short cuts with an incomplete message.
**We’re going in circles on this and it doesn’t have to be this way.**
I appreciate your willingness to try and reason this out. How to believe and obey the gospel is very important.
WAY past bedtime!
(I should be in bed, and will be after this)
**Now, these are words in the Bible. So state it plainly here, do you accept those words, “not of works, lest any man should boast,” as being from God? Yes or no.**
Yes.
Is water baptism called a work of men anywhere in the scriptures? Is it ordained of God? Is Acts 2:38 from heaven or of men?
Did Paul baptize souls in the name of the Lord Jesus at Ephesus before he wrote that letter to the same people?
You folks claiming sola scriptura, are skippetyboppin around some very important verses.
**Who did God tell the apostle Paul to teach and preach to??? Gentiles...The Gentile church...Under grace...**
And Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, and whoever else God ordained to go with Paul baptized a lot of souls, including the keeper of the prison and his household,.....after they spake unto them the word of the Lord.
Why do you folks insist on not telling that story completely?
Honey; them things was done in the One True Church by the early membership!
Why ELSE would it be in the book Rome assembled?
Then let's just stay with this concept a moment.
I say Baptism and Communion essential because they’re God’s great gifts
1. Jesus is noted asking to be baptized by John, "So that law might be fulfilled." What LAW is He referring to?
2. Communion is not found in the bible. The Passover meal is. When Jesus said, "Do THIS in rememberence of me." that is what He was talking about. Rome has REALLY done a hash job with the Last Supper mentioned in the Book it assembled.
EVERY church organization does. 1 Corinthians 3:3-5
…3 for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? 4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.
Old Emo nailed it when he came up with...
As I was walking across a bridge one day; I saw a man standing outside the railing, about to jump off.So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!""Why shouldn't I?" he said.I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"He said, "Like what?"I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"He said, "Religious."I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"He said, "Christian."I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"He said, "Protestant."I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"He said, "Baptist!"I said,"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of GOD or Baptist Church of the Lord?"He said, "Baptist Church of GOD!"I said, "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of GOD, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD?"He said,"Reformed Baptist Church of GOD!"I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915?"He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915!"I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.-- Emo Phillips
Then WHY do you folks spend SO much time being DEVOTED to and VENERATIN' and ASKING her help?
We've got Little Blue Nun going on and on about her, ADSUM tryin' his darnedest to get us Prot convinced of her necessity in salvation, and all you other catholics on FR make a PRACTICE of BELEIVEING the apparations words and hanging onto it's 'promises'.
Yassir boy; y'all's calculator is BROKEN!
Well; to be honest; I've NEVER heard of that happening in CATHOLICISM; either!
Have you Catholics ever gotten a sermon on how RETAINING sins works?
Why not?
You Catholics are betting YOURS on Rome's teachings.
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To: Mom MD
...but are a comfort and benefit...
Can you be a bit more specific? I recall Jesus saying something like... "do this in rememberence of me..." |
As we ALL should!
Paul was careful to give warning to us.
1 Corinthians 11:17-34 New International Version (NIV)
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
Sure would have been nice if these FURTHER DIRECTIONS had gotten written down somewhere. I; for one; would like to know what PAUL considered to be 'unworthy'.
I'd share an altar with either of you!
I just will tend to avoid going into any practice that the Romans FAILED to place into the 'scriptures' when they had a chance the FIRST time!
But we ALL seem to get testy when an outsider says something about the choice we've made in where and how to worship GOD.
Like THIS??
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
1 John 3:21-23 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
OMG!!
Now you've done it!
Mrs.Elsie handles that task at our church, and every year it's the same: the biggest complainers are NEVER the ones to pitch in and help herd them cats!
I must assume that you are one of the rare Francis lovers on FR.
Mormonism insists that everyone who doesn't follow the teachings of Joseph Smith are GENTILES.
Even JEWS!!
Which does NOT show ANY...
...Hail Marys and Our Fathers
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