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).
1 John 2:4
He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Luke 6
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Will the ones who claim to have faith pick up a stranger and feed him and treat him just the way they would like to be treated if they were in the same situation?.
It is not any of my business if some one else has faith or not but if some one tells me how much faith they have i want to see some of it.
The writings of Paul and James are not in opposition;
James was talking about the works which is brought on by faith.
Hebrews 8
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
It is certainly possible to think you are a Christian and think you have faith and even do great works in His name and still not be a Christian.
It is impossible to know if any person other than yourself is born again.
If you are born again it is possible to doubt that you are saved and fear damnation.
Would they give you a loaf of bread if you ask them?
I use the word bread because i have been hungry and saw other hungry people, well any one can see that its been awhile, Ha Ha.
How can you claim faith in Jesus Christ when you refuse to believe what Jesus told the apostle Paul to tell you???
That we are free of circumcision and the Mosaic Law? I believe that.
You have speciously lifted from the great Chapter of Hebrews known as the 'by faith' chapter, and in typical Catholic style twisted it to support your works based religion. I would say shame on you, but your posts so far indicate you are incapable of seeing yourself as other see you.
So, you think yourself a mind reader, too! Figures ...
An earlier post on another thread was the first time in my forty plus years as a Christian that I have seen that imagery, of Paul and James back-to-back defending the Faith. I still count that one of the most expressive phrases I’ve found. Thanks again for posting that.
That is faith and works, as taught by Jesus Christ. It is the "faith alone" based salvation that is contrary to the gospel.
The verses you quote say nothing more than that faith produces works, and works are proof of faith.
Faith may, and should, produce faith but we can resist. Faith leads to and enables charity but it is not charity itself. Paul clearly states this and the need for charity as well as faith: "If I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have charity, I AM NOTHING."
As typical, Protestants must pretend that all those passages in which our Lord states that we will be judged by our actions do not mean what they clearly say. Such a position cannot claim to be "scripture alone" but is rather "Martin Luther alone."
Do not post your opinion about another poster as a fact.
That is making it personal.
Discuss the issues instead.
Amen.
“The Lutherans tortured 30,000 Baptist to death by fire for refusing to accept infant baptism. The puritans in the new England area hanged baptist for the same reason.”
Statements such as that require proof with a reference back to where it is stated.
Post a link or at least direct posters to where it can be found.
My apologies.
Accepted.
No problem.
Thank you.
Apology accepted, thank you.
**God is pleased when we believe Him, not when we add our own works of righteousness to show Him and demand entrance into heaven because of.**
Our own works??
See,.... that is where you folks are just as guilty of omitting scripture, to make doctrine, as the RCC. Who ever decided that water baptism is “our own work”, is in rebellion against the Word, and is aiding the deceiver. Where are there specific instructions that call water baptism in the name of Jesus “our own works”?
Baptism is commanded for everyone by Jesus Christ. More than once. Don’t you believe him?
Scriptures show actual accounts that Paul baptized in Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus. In his letters to the Romans, and the Colossians, he reminds them of being “buried” with Christ in baptism. Paul (or somebody) wrote to the Hebrews, mentioning the foundation they had already established, which included the doctrine of baptisms.
Because there are not detailed conversion accounts of every stop he made, does that allow us to rule certain things were not done? We read in Acts of some that “believed”. Believed what? Should I use the same legalistic approach used against Acts 2:38, when the same instructions are not spelled at every account, and say, “It does say they believed in Jesus Christ!” ?
Does every time we read “faith in Jesus Christ” mean, that since the blood is not mentioned, then it’s not part of believing in every case?
In Acts 15, in Romans, and in Galatians, the works of circumcision, animal sacrifice, observing days and months, etc, were not to be regarded or enforced. The subject of baptism was never an issue.
Why focus on Romans 4, and not Romans 6 as well? Because 6 alludes to water baptism? Romans 4 refers to a faithful Abraham, who was called that after he had done a TON of faith based work. After the Gen. 15:6 commendation, we read he sought a sign to God’s promise, but was then told to do more (exhausting) faith based work to receive it.
So, trying to claim faith in Christ, and thinking no muscle needs to flinch in that process, is an imaginary doctrine.
**The gospel he was given to preach by Jesus is NOT...water baptism.**
Oh, but it DID include baptism, because Paul did baptize souls. Several places. Even wrote of it being part of their conversion in several epistles. Was he a double minded man, unstable in all his ways? /s
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What is translated “baptism” is the mikvah.
It is a process: confess, repent, walk out. It usually includes diving into a stream, allowing the water to flow over your head, symbolizing the washing away of the old life.
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Mikvah, not baptize.
Baptism has no biblical definition; it is gobldygook.
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