Sola Fide

Section Three - Sola Fide

Sola Fide is the idea that a Christian is saved by Faith Alone. This is incorrect.

Faith alone just isn't true. It is nowhere in the Bible except in James 2:24 where it says NOT BY faith alone. There are many things that justify a man, Grace, God, Faith, Words, Works - and they all must be present. They are not mutually exclusive or pick-and-choose. They are clear in the Word. There are many things that will not justify a man - Works of the Flesh, Works of the Law. But faith alone just isn't true by the clear words in the Bible.

A small list of things that justifies Christians:

Grace
- Romans 3:24 - and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
God
- Romans 8:33 - Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Faith
- Romans 3.28 - For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Words
- Matthew 12:36-37 - I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.
Works
- James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

A list of all the things that does not justify Christians:

Works of the Flesh
- Galatians 5:19-21 - 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Works of the Law - (this is the distinction being made about how Christians do not need to become Jewish first before being saved, that the old way - the old law - no longer justifies the Jew but the new covenant can justify all of mankind)
- Galatians 2:15-16 - 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Works of the Law - when reading the Bible, be sure to distinguish exactly what the Bible says. Works of the Law and Works are two distinct phrases, be sure to clearly identify to which one the author is referring. There is a clear point in time when Jews and Gentiles are learning that both are saved, and when Works of the Law is discussed, it is always in the context that one does not need to become Jewish before becoming a Christian.

What did Jesus say?

Matthew 19:16-17 - And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

Just have faith alone in me Keep the commandments (doing something, work).

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Just have faith alone in me Believe in the son, and obey him.

Luke 18:18-25 (also in Mark 10) - 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[a]”

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Just have faith alone in me Sell everything you have and give to the poor.

Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Just have faith alone in me Be baptized (do something, a work).

Matthew 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Just have faith alone in me Who DOES the will of my Father.

John 6:28-29 - Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Even Jesus says that belief in him is a WORK.

John 6:53 - So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

Just have faith alone in me Eat and drink…

There are so many more examples from the Apostles and Jesus that are easily found in the Word. But my questions were - what is it going to take for me to take the Catholic position seriously? How much more evidence do I need? How many times did Jesus himself have the opportunity to say faith alone and he NEVER DID? In fact, it says in James 2:19 that even demons believe! Faith alone is such a low standard that it is shared by demons.

I implore you, dear reader, to read the Bible with a clear lens.