Sola fide

Sola fide (by faith alone) is a doctrine held by some Protestant denominations of Christianity, which asserts that it is on the basis of their faith, that believers are forgiven their transgressions of the Law of God, rather than on the basis of good works which they have done.

Table of contents

1 A Protestant distinctive

1.1 Origin of the slogan
1.2 Status of the doctrine

2 Sola Fide Apparently Supported by the New Testament
3 Sola Fide Apparently Rejected by the New Testament
4 Sola fide in Protestant Confessions (Excerpts)

4.3 Anglican
4.4 Lutheran
4.5 Mennonite
4.6 Reformed (Continental)
4.7 Reformed (Presbyterian)
4.8 Reformed Baptist
4.9 United Methodist

5 Non-denominational Evangelicals
6 Unofficial Ecumenical statements

6.10 Evangelicals and Catholics Together
6.11 Lutheran-Catholic

A Protestant distinctive

Sola fide asserts that, although all people have disobeyed God's commands, God declares those people not guilty who place their confidence in what God has done through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and who consider God's work to be their commendation for acceptance by God. Conversely, the doctrine says that, those who trust God in this way do not trust what they themselves have done (which has no worth, because of sin). The doctrine holds that, it is not through inherent, personal goodness, that God is reconciled to sinners (because, we have none, according to adherents of this doctrine); it is only through the mercy of God himself, made effectual for forgiveness through the sacrifice of his Son, and thus, through the obedience of Christ given in substitute for the disobedience of believers, who for their sake was raised from the dead, that they have hope of eternal life. This doctrine as accepted by many Protestants, including Lutherans and Baptists, is rejected by Catholics.

Origin of the slogan

Martin Luther elevated sola fide to the principal cause of the Protestant Reformation, the rallying cry of the Protestant cause, and the chief distinction between Evangelical Christianity, and Roman Catholicism. John Calvin, also a proponent of this doctrine, taught that, "every one who would obtain the righteousness of Christ must renounce his own": it is only because the sinner is able to obtain the good standing of the Son of God, through faith in him, and union with him, that sinners have any hope of pardon from, acceptance by, and peace with, God. While this precise terminology, "by faith alone", does not appear in the Bible, it is intended to summarize the teaching of the New Testament, and especially the Pauline epistles, which systematically reject the proposition that justification is by obedience to the Law.

Status of the doctrine

The doctrine proposes that faith in Christ is both necessary and sufficient for sinners to be accepted by God, to count them among His people, and to equip them with the motive of trust, gratitude and love toward God from which good works are to be done. Some Christian groups such as Catholics believe that faith is necessary for salvation but not sufficient; that is, they assert that sola fide is an error because, in addition to believing, God also requires obedience as a prerequisite for acceptance into his kingdom, and for the reward of eternal life.

The precise relationship between faith and good works is an issue of continuing controversy in Lutheran and other churches. Even at the outset of the Reformation, subtle differences of emphasis appeared. For example, because the Epistle of James emphasizes the importance of good works, Martin Luther sometimes referred to it as the "epistle of straw". Calvin on the other hand, while not intending to differ with Luther, wrote of the necessity of good works as a consequence or 'fruit' of faith. The Anabaptists tended to make a nominal distinction between faith and obedience. Recent meetings of scholars and clergy have attempted to soften the antithesis between Lutheran and Catholic conceptions of the role of faith in salvation, which, if they were successful, would have far reaching implications for the relationship between most Protestants and the Catholic Church. These attempts to form a consensus are not widely accepted among either Protestants or Catholics, so that sola fide continues to be a doctrinal distinctive of the Reformation churches, including Lutherans, Reformed and many evangelicals. Nevertheless, some statements of the doctrine are interpreted as a denial of the doctrine as understood by other groups.

Sola Fide Apparently Supported by the New Testament

Acts 16:31

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 26:18

...that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me...

Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Romans 5:1

...having been justified by faith...

Romans 10:9

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:21

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:1-3 ... 9-14 ... 21-25 ...

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

...

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

...

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 5:4,5

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Sola Fide Apparently Rejected by the New Testament

James Chapter Two (Excerpts)

... What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ... 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? ... Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Sola fide in Protestant Confessions (Excerpts)

Summary:

A typical Anabaptist confession of faith.

Salvation is variously expressed, sometimes as 'justification by faith', in which case it means that the just person has accepted the offer of a covenantal relationship, and lives according to that covenant.