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).
I have no problem at all with the references to the faith of Abraham. I understand that he is the example that is used for faith. Abraham received the promise before circumcision. Circumcision is not of faith, but simply an ordinance. The LAW came because of transgressions. There was given a lot of ordinances by it. It couldn’t save, but the Lord followed it while he walked this earth, even directing some that he healed to go show themselves to the priest, and offer the things that Moses commanded. Only Jesus Christ could fulfill the Law. Only he could bring in a better covenant.
But, by faith Abraham obeyed God. Stephen testified to the unbelievers that God called Abraham, saying, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.” Acts 7:3
So if Abraham believed the promise (of the land), he also had to believe the CONDITIONS of the promise (leave his homeland, and kindred).
Believing the promises in Acts 2:38 (remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost), means also believing the conditions of the promises (repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ).
The Ethiopian eunuch knew that baptism was a condition (even though the details of Philip’s witness is quite condensed in that passage), for as soon as he spotted water he asked for it to be done.
The Lord commanded the disciples to baptize all nations. That would include those that would become the converts in the churches of Galatia. So saying baptism was not necessary, or is a work of men, is at least a half hearted rebellion against his command (which includes Acts 2:38).
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”. Gal. 3:27
I have to admit, this is the first time in my entire life, that I EVER heard anyone say this. I gotta disagree again LBN. God never asked me ANY of those questions, and I don't know anyone who has ever been asked those questions by God. It sounds a tiny bit like Mormon doctrine, the spirit baby thing, and star base Kolob.
Like BB, I would like to know where you got this idea? I don't think it came from the Holy Spirit. I wail not join you in this. I hope you repent, so you can go to Heaven, even though I have no clue what your eternal standing with God is. I do not, however, believe this doctrine for a second.
The blood of Christ DOES cover all sins (Not counting blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but that’s a sin that’s impossible to commit while having any faith. End pedantic mode), and believing in that promise is how we appropriate that grace.
That doesn’t change the fact that sin is dangerous and that the love of sin can deaden or kill faith.
It seems to me that the problem we’re having involves not just different definitions as used in Scripture, but also that we’re having a hard time distinguishing between justification and sanctification and the Christian life.
That and I don’t understand what Catholics mean when using the term either.
I understand what James means, and I understand what Paul means, and I understand the difference between how James used the word and Paul used the word.
But I have yet to understand how Catholics, at least on this board, define faith.
Maybe it's another one of these sacred traditions. I have no idea, but I have NEVER heard that before.
It seems to me, that some of the followers of the OTC come up with some really different stuff. 😀
Thank you for posting this excellent point. What is exasperating is when religionists MIS-define or MIS-describe what the term means intentionally or just out of ignorance. What is usually behind this dishonesty is the need to assert the authority of their OWN religion/church either equal to or above the Divinely-inspired word of God. How often have we read on these threads that "their" church gave everyone the Scriptures after "they" determined which writings belonged and which ones didn't? As if man gets to decide what revelation from God he will accept or which ones he can ignore!
Once people understand the basis behind what sola Scriptura means, they will agree that it is a sound AND historical doctrine - if they approach it honestly.
af_vet_1981,
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to me you’re suggesting that God’s Word contradicts itself, and that passages from the Bible like the ones you posted cancel out what’s said in Ephesians 2 about us being saved by “a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” You haven’t flat-out said that, but it seems to be what’s you’re saying by your actions, and that you only speak of works, but don’t speak on what you believe those words from Ephesians 2 mean to us Christians.
If you will accept what Ephesians 2 says, if you actually haven’t, then you will see how it can be true while what James 2 and other passages say are also true. It’s God’s Word, so it can be trusted.
I’ll try to provide some other Scripture passages that demonstrate its truth.
Consider first that we’re given a reason right in Ephesians 2 why our salvation is not of works — “lest any man should boast.” Why do people boast (and that begins in our hearts)? Because of pride and the exulting of self. That is exactly why Satan and his angels fell. Pride is a most serious matter.
God also goes beyond the outer acts, to the depths of the heart. In Jeremiah we’re told the human heart is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” In Psalm 19, David writes, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.”
We can think our actions are honest and good, when they’re not, because our motives aren’t pure. We can also think in our minds that we’ve recognized our impure motives in our hearts and gotten rid of them, when we haven’t. There’s always selfishness that runs deeper than have looked. I think the Bible is clear that nothing short of the death of our selves, and being reborn in Christ, can kill our impure motives. Paul said that the good works he did as a Christian, it wasn’t himself doing them, but Christ in him who was doing them. Christ alone is pure - that is how we become fit for Heaven. To say that our salvation can be in part from works is to mean works done by the old Adam and the flesh, rather than Christ in us, can bring our salvation. They can’t.
Then there is this passage in Romans 14:23, “...whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
Works done outside of faith are sin, since faith is trust in God, and anything outside of that is mistrust in God.
Consider also the parable of the prodigal son. He returned home to his father when he saw it was in his best interest to do so. Where we have rebelled against God, we turn back to Him because we realize it’s in our best interests, and God is the one in control, and who causes us to realize this. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)
The Bible also talks about ourselves being pots made by God, and Paul in Romans talks about that when discussing the Jews, but what he says applies universally, when he talks about how no one can resist God’s will, so the question arises, then why does God still find fault? God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, the Bible tells us. And Paul says who are we to question God, and that perhaps God, to show His great mercy, created some pots to receive His mercy, and others after He suffered them for a time, to be destroyed. We are not God to understand and judge things for ourselves.
“Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory...”
Jesus also said this: “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10)
If you can see the wisdom and peace in having an honest job, versus being a bank robber, you can see why it’s no credit to us with God to do what He’s commanded us to do, because (a), we’ve also sinned a lot, spreading the seeds of sin and causing a lot of spiritual destruction, and (b) because doing the right thing is more blessed than doing the wrong thing and it’s just our duty. Doing wrong brings spiritual unrest and enmity with God, which is the worst thing in the world by far.
To me, the overall point is that we should be content to receive God’s mercy and to tell others about it so some of them might want to receive it too.
Remember, the only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Don't forget what James says....
James 2:8-11 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Whether the person accepts Christ and is saved, is a different matter, but Jesus' blood works. All the time.
Also, although I have never heard this preached on, I believe that it is necessary for ALL sin to be paid for for ALL men so that all of creation may be redeemed from the curse of sin.
Whether they avail themselves of it is another matter. But nevertheless, I think all the sin is paid for.
I’m not arguing with baptism,.
Only that baptism is a requirement of salvation.
I’m not arguing with baptism,.
Only that baptism is a requirement of salvation.
Or rather a requirement FOR salvation, that one isn’t saved until and unless they are baptized.
Scripture does not bear that out.
Count me in also as another born and raised Catholic.
Wow, that was good, ping.
The only sin that has NOT been paid for, is the sin of unbelief, or refusing to be born anew from above. It's the only sin God made no provision for.
Up late again, or early? It’s almost 4 PM, Thursday where I am. The monsoon season is here.
I’m going to ask you again to please cite Scripture using a recognized format.
Where I live, the majority of the people I worship with, are ex Catholics. Praise God for that. I have not met a single one yet, that shows any desire to swim the Tiber. I hear it's polluted, and I don't plan on swimming it it either. 😁😱
He forgave for all you'd done wrong prior to becoming a believer....He continues to forgive.
I had to look it up.
I know nothing about modern comic book stuff.
Shirley; you are NOT gonna question what The First Pope said about him; are you?
"Since our boyfriends are gone and now Mom is toast as well; how about we get Dad to..."
MORMONism has re-defined MANY words that Christianity has used for centuries.
Make sure you are both on the same page when 'debating' with them as well.
Here is an alphabetical list of some of the more important terms and their meanings to a Mormon:
AARONIC PRIESTHOOD: This is called the lesser priesthood, and is usually held by young men starting at the age of 12 to the age of about 18. It is also held for a short time by men who have just become members.
AFTERLIFE: The Mormon afterlife is divided up into four levels. From the lowest to the highest they are: hell, and then three levels of heaven: the telestial, the terrestrial, and the place where God dwells, the celestial (also called the kingdom of God). The celestial is also divided, the highest level being "exaltation," or becoming a God.
APOSTLES: The Mormon Church claims to have the same organization as the primitive church that Jesus set up. They also have twelve apostles and sometimes use this as a proof of their divine appointment as the one true church. But they actually have fifteen or more most of the time. The general practice has been for a new president, who is also an apostle, to appoint counselors from the Quorum of the Twelve; then the openings left by the president and his counselors are filled, resulting in a total of fifteen.
CELESTIAL KINGDOM: See Heaven.
ELOHIM: The name of God the Father.
EXALTATION: This is becoming a God in the highest level of the celestial kingdom.
ETERNAL PROGRESSION: The teaching that each of us has the potential to become a God just like God the Father did. He was once a man capable of physical death, was resurrected and progressed to become a God. We can take a similar path and get all the power, glory, dominion, and knowledge the Father and Jesus Christ has. We then will be able to procreate spirit children who will worship us as we do God the Father.
GOD: Usually means God the Father. He was once a man like us capable of physical death and he progressed until he became a God. He has a body of flesh and bones, but no blood. Within Mormonism, Gods, angels, people and devils all have the same nature or substance but are at different stages along the line of progression to Godhood.
GRACE - The Mormon concept of grace means making oneself worthy of the grace of God by doing good works in the church, temple, and community.
HEAVEN-The Mormon church teaches there are three levels of heaven (three "degrees of glory"):
HELL: A place of torment from which the worst of sinners are resurrected (if they repent) into the Telestial kingdom; only a limited number remain in hell forever, - the devil and the demons and apostates who consciously reject and work against Mormonism.
HOLY GHOST: The third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit, unlike the Father and Son who have bodies of flesh and bones.
JEHOVAH: The pre-incarnate name for Jesus Christ.
JESUS CHRIST: The spirit of Jesus Christ was the first spirit born to God the Father and his wife (Heavenly Mother). He progressed to become a God under the Father. (The Father is also the literal father of Jesus' body in the exact same way we were begotten by our earthly parents.) He now has a body of flesh and bones, but no blood. He is the spirit brother of Satan whose spirit was procreated in the same way as Jesus'. To Mormons, even the atonement of his shed blood is not enough to provide forgiveness of sin and bring eternal life. Stripped of his Deity and demoted to a partial Savior, the Jesus of Mormonism has been robbed of his power and authority. Not only is the Mormon Jesus one who had struggled to achieve his own salvation, he also failed to establish his church. Both in Jerusalem and in the America's where Jesus was supposed to have visited, he attempted to build a group of followers. But in each case, truth was overcome by the alleged early church apostasy into false teaching.
MARRIAGE: The Mormon Church teaches two types of marriage. One ends at death. The other is for "time and eternity." If the couple is married in a Mormon temple by someone with authority it is believed they will stay married in the next life. This kind of marriage is needed if they are to progress, not only as husband and wife, but as God and Goddess.
MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD: The higher of two categories of ministry in the LDS Church, assigned primarily to seasoned members over the age of 18, males only.
POLYGAMY: The practice of men having more than one wife was started by Joseph Smith in the early/mid 1830's and ostensibly ended in 1890. It is not now sanctioned by the LDS church headquartered in Salt Lake City. Members found practicing it are excommunicated. While the practice was ended, the revelation teaching it is still in Mormon scripture (Doctrine & Covenants 132). Some Mormon splinter groups believe the teaching was for eternity and still practice it. These modern-day polygamists (called fundamentalists) number in the 30,000-50,000 range.
PRE-EXISTENCE: The Mormon teaching that our spirits (Mormons and non-Mormons) were procreated in a premortal life by God the Father and our Mother in Heaven, that our spirits were born and raised to maturity before coming to earth to obtain physical bodies, and that the spirit of Jesus Christ was the first one born to our Heavenly parents.
PRIESTHOOD: A category of ministry in the LDS Church open to all worthy males 12 years of age or older, empowering them to act in God's name. Non-Mormons cannot hold the priesthood, hence they have no authority. Men of African descent have only recently (by special correction of the original revelations) been allowed to hold these offices.
PROPHET: The top leader of the Mormon Church is considered not only a prophet but is also a seer and revelator. He has the title "president." He is the only one who can speak for the whole church and receive new revelation for the whole church. When the current prophet dies, the most senior (time as an apostle, not age) of the twelve apostles, the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becomes the new president. He can appoint counselors, who receive their authority from him.
SALVATION: A word that Mormons qualify in one of three ways: unconditional or general salvation is simply resurrection from the dead, granted to all through Christ's atonement; conditional or individual salvation involves entering the celestial kingdom through works of Mormonism; full salvation means exaltation to become a God as a result of temple ceremonies and other works. The word 'salvation' can have a two-fold meaning: a) forgiveness of sins and b) universal resurrection:
The Mormons have several different levels of "salvation".
SATAN: One of the spirit children of God. As a consequence of their rebellion Satan and his angels cannot have mortal bodies - hence cannot progress.
SCRIPTURES: The Mormon Church has four documents it calls canonized scriptures: the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
SON OF GOD: Along with Jesus Christ, all of us are viewed as the children of God, his literal spirit children. This makes us all - Mormons, non-Mormons, Jesus Christ and Satan - spirit brothers.
SPIRITS: Nonmaterial beings allegedly procreated in the pre-existence by God the Father and his wife. Jesus Christ, and even we ourselves, were supposedly born and raised to maturity as spirits before coming into bodies on this earth. The spirit of Satan was also procreated in this way. This makes Satan and Jesus Christ spirit brothers. Jesus selected a righteous path; Satan selected the opposite.
STANDARD WORKS: The four canonized scriptures (see Scripture above) used by the Mormon Church are called the Standard Works.
TEMPLE: One of about four dozen special (for LDS) buildings around the world in which sacred (to LDS) ceremonies are performed for the living and the dead; off limits to nonmembers and even to Mormons who lack a "temple recommend" from their leaders. Only about 20% of the Mormons qualify to go.
TRINITY: This word is used by Christians to summarize the Biblical teaching that within the one true God is three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. They share the same nature or substance so that there are not three Gods, but three persons in the one God. Mormons say they also believe in the Trinitarian concept of God. But really what they mean are that God the Father is a God, God the Son is another God, and God the Holy Ghost is a third God and they are "one God" because they are "one in purpose." Mormons often have an incorrect understanding of what Christians mean by the "Trinity." They say Christians believe that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one person (i.e., Monophysiteism) or that God shows himself as the Father or the Son or the Holy Ghost (i.e. Modalism).
VIRGIN BIRTH: A concept negated by the view that God, a resurrected man with flesh and bones according to Mormon teachings, literally fathered Jesus in the flesh in the same way in which earthly men father their children. Despite the documented position of previous Mormon prophets, presidents, and apostles about the nature of Christ's conception, modern LDS apologists maintain that "Christ was born of a virgin". How can they? By changing the definition of the word "virgin". The reasoning goes like this: since Mary had sexual relations with an immortal man, not a mortal man, the phrase "virgin birth" still applies.
WORD OF WISDOM: The name for the Mormon Church's teaching requiring abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, and hot drinks (tea and coffee).
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