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).
 'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, ' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.' 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.' |
Neither do I. I just saw the movie, from 1995, with Stallone. I never knew till recently, it was a comic book character either. 😁
Not according to MORMONism.
This is loving our neighbour as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it.
Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire.
That is the way to love mankind.
In 1842, Joseph Smith received a series of revelations regarding the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. His goal was the establishment of a theocratic kingdom at Nauvoo, Illinois where he would be the King of Israel, and the Council of Fifty would be the governmental structure which would prepare the way for the millennial reign of Christ. As part of the elaboration for this theocratic plan, Smith presented what would come to be known as the doctrine of "Blood Atonement." The concept behind this doctrine was that people who committed particularly grievous acts against the Mormons would have to shed their blood to atone for the sins they had committed. The Mormons, especially the Danites, used the doctrine of blood atonement as justification for the depredations they committed during their war against the Missourians. Orrin Porter Rockwell also used the concept of blood atonement as justification for his assassination attempt on Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs.(52)
When Joseph Smith was killed on June 27, 1844, his assassins created the circumstances for what has become known as the "Oath of Vengeance." A corollary to the doctrine of blood atonement, the oath of vengeance was created on the first anniversary of Smith's death as a formal prayer for God's vengeance upon those who shed the blood of the prophet's. Six months later this oath of vengeance became a part of the Mormon temple endowment ceremony.(53) The specific oath stated the following:
" You and each of you do solemnly promise and vow that you will pray and never cease to pray and never cease to importune High Heaven to avenge the blood of the prophets on this nation and that you will teach this to your children and your children's children until the third and fourth generation."(54)
This oath of vengeance was used several times in 1845 as justification for killing people who had been involved in the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.(55)
When the doctrines of blood atonement and oath of vengeance were dropped as part of church doctrine, fundamentalists saw this as yet another instance of the church caving in to political pressure. They still believe firmly in these doctrines. Kraut remarks that "Today, the doctrine of blood atonement is never taught and rarely mentioned. The idea of capital punishment has almost become eradicated by communists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and liberal educators. The Oath of Vengeance is no longer a part of the temple ceremony."(56)
(52)D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994), 110-113.
(53)Quinn, 1994, 179.
(54)Kraut, 79.
(55)Quinn, 1994, 180-181.
(56)Kraut, 78-79.
Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood ,
Yet MORMONism states...
"We may talk of men being redeemed by the efficacy of his [Christ's] blood ; but the truth is that that blood has no efficacy to wash away our sins. That must depend upon our own action."-- [ LDS Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 299, 1859]
Little Blue Nun says a LOT of stuff that is non-biblical, and it appears she(?) is fine with it.
Well; Prot; since you canNOT prove that GOD did NOT reveal that truth to them; you'd best be quite about things you know nothing about.
--Poorly_Catechized _Catholic_Dude(Hail Mary!!!)
So was our beloved Vice President.
But; Thank GOD!; he was led to marry an Evangelical gal.
She apparently has had a GREAT effect on his faith!
· Mike Pence: 'I'm a Christian, a Conservative, and a Republican, in that order."
It seems to me that ANY of our FR Catholics would have responded:
'I'm a Catholic, a Conservative, and a Republican, in that order."
Mark 9:24
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
I'm sure he is using a program on his computer to select the scriptures and that's the way it is output.
To change it would require another step of pasting it into a WP and modifying the text before posting.
These flash, bang, crash explode movies, that are all CGI stuff, don’t do anything for me.
The Good vs Evil in them get covered up too many ‘christ’ figures with SUPER powers.
He’s been asked over and over again, many times over the years and from the fact that nothing has changed, clearly refuses to have the courtesy for others to do so.
Yes, I noticed that. Too bad, really. The truth of the gospel, is not difficult to understand. Of course, it is spiritually discerned, and the natural man can not understand spiritual concepts. It is like gibberish to them.
Romans 10:9-13 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Man makes is complicated by adding all kinds of extras onto it.
The text can be copied straight from there.
Citing the texts as
Galatians, Catholic chapter five, Protestant verses one to six, as authorized, but not authored, by King James
is not a recognized format that most people in the western free world are familiar with.
If you cite more than one book and/or chapter they should so noted after each passage to avoid the confusion from af's postings.
One of the formats in the link below should be used.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_citation
There are a lot of people who read these threads who may not be familiar with the Bible.
Proper citation is a help for everyone.
Indeed.
And so you stick to whatever tradition you have to post Scripture with the references in microscopically small print that virtually nobody can read.
All people are asking from you is a little common courtesy.
Which you are apparently unwilling to give to others.
**Man makes is complicated by adding all kinds of extras onto it.**
That can be said for such organizations as the RCC. For example, the distortion of the scriptures by shoving wafers down their throat for eternal life; every day for some. Or the prayers to someone other than God, and using statues, figurines, and paintings (from some artists imagination) to assist in focusing their devotion. (when someone really, sincerely, wants to reach God, they know that none of that stuff is needed at all.)
But,....water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ was never an extra added by men.
**The gospel is simple. Romans 10:9-13**
Let’s make sure the context is included (not unlike making sure to read the entire story of the keeper of the prison in Philippi).
Romans 10:1 “Brethern”... That would be the same folks Paul addressed directly at the start (1:6-15), and (in chapter 6) reminded them of their conversion process. (Romans is not written to just anybody that hasn’t heard from a preacher sent from God.) .....”my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
Paul is once again pointing out the faithlessness of Israel as a whole. But makes it clear that they can be saved as well. Using the passage from Deut. 30:11-14 (where Moses essentially tells the Israelites to take the Lord’s commandments, that he has given them, to HEART), he tells the saints in Rome to do likewise, exhorting them in verse 9: “If THOU.....”.
Paul teaches, in verses 10-13, that both Jew and Gentile can be saved by faith. And in verses 14-17, he declares that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,..... BY preachers sent from God.
He closes the chapter showing how the Israelites, that even with many witnesses, continue in their unbelief.
The “choose this day whom ye shall serve” verse, to the whole chapter could possibly be found in verse 16 (carefully placed after stressing the need to hear the word from a preacher sent from God).
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For as Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?”
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