Reformation Month / Study / The Five Solas / Sola Fide
Fide
We are justified through faith in Christ, not by the deeds of the law.
We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
¶ What does it mean?
If grace is the beginning of salvation, faith is the means. Our salvation comes from trusting the promises of God in Christ, not by doing works of the law.
¶ What does it deny?
Sola Fide denies that doing good works completes what grace could not do. Faith is the saving work of the Holy Spirit that is wrought in the heart of a sinner. Faith flows from grace, since God chose faith as the means of saving His people. Good works are the fruit of the Spirit after a sinner comes to Christ in faith.
- Galatians 2:16A person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.
- Romans 4:5To the one who doesn't work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
- Romans 5:1Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
¶ Why does it matter?
There is no amount of work or effort that could ever justify a person before God. No one can purchase their ticket to heaven by doing good deeds. Instead, God graciously saves sinners by counting their faith as righteousness (Galatians 3:6).