Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 2/24/2006

Question
Could you please explain Sola Fide to me? I really don't understand its logic, when the Bible includes_so_many_verses (Matthew 25:31-46 for one)indicating that we will be judged according to our conduct. The Catholic position of faith plus works seems the correct view, but perhaps you can enlighten me. Thanks.  

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question:

Sola fide (by faith alone), also historically known as the justification of faith, is a doctrine that distinguishes and defines the Protestant denominations from Catholicism and Orthodox.
The doctrine of Sola Fide or Faith Alone says that it is on the basis of God's grace through the believer's faith alone that believers are forgiven their transgressions of the Law of God, rather than on the basis of any good works.


New Testament verses used to support sola fide
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 6:28-29 (explaining Matthew 7:21)
Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
Acts 16:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.
Acts 26:18
...that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me...
Romans 1:17-18
Therefore the just shall live by faith. The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who supress the truth by their wickedness.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith [alone] apart from the deeds of the law. (Martin Luther inserted the word "alone" in his translation of this verse.)
Romans 4:5
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
Romans 5:1
...having been justified by faith...
Romans 10:9
That if you shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.
Romans 11:6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Romans 14:23
...and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
Philippians 3:9
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."
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 has bewitched you, that you 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; did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?
...
So then they who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Because as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: because it is written, 'Cursed is every one that does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law to be done'.
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 does them shall live in them'.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
So that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; so 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, certainly righteousness should have been by the law.
But the Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up from the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith.
But after faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 5:4,5
Christ has become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God.


1.  Before the Reformation, Protestants and Catholics were one church.  Martin Luther tried to reform the Catholic Church. He believed it had strayed from what it was founded on, Jesus Christ.  He saw in scripture that salvation and the forgiveness of sin came from the gift of grace not works.  The church, instead of talking with him, excommunicated him.  

2.  Baptists believe that all matters of Faith come from our understanding of God through the  Bible. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the Bible.  Nothing can out weigh what the Bible says is truth.  Because of this, we only look to the Bible not to man to understand who God is and how we fit in His Plan.   The Catholic church believes that the Pope is God's direct representative on earth, in a line of succession directly from the disciples themselves.  Anything the Pope says about God is higher than what the Bible says.  For example, the Bible says that Mary, Jesus' mother, had other children.  The Pope says that no, Mary remained a virgin until her death.  You can begin to see the problem.  Anything in the Bible that disagrees with a Pope's teaching is taken out of their Bible.  

3.  Because of their view of the Bible, the Catholic church has developed a unique theology of who Jesus is and who Mary is.  They believe in the virgin birth, Jesus' baptism, his ministry on earth, his death and resurrection, and ascension into heaven.  However, they believe that you must obtain works or penitence in order to receive grace.  The Bible says that grace is a gift that cannot be earned.  They believe when you die, you go to purgatory, a place of punishment, until you have served enough time to have your sins forgiven since your last confession.  The word purgatory is not found in the Old or New Testaments of the Bible.  They believe if people pray for the dead they can be elevated into heaven.  This means if a non-believer goes to hell, he can be prayed out of hell and into heaven.  They can also be bought out of hell.  This is called an indulgence.  This was Martin Luther's biggest complaint, that if someone gave enough money they could have their sins forgiven.  This flies in the face of everything Jesus taught in the Bible.

4.  Mary Worship - the Catholic church also teaches that you must go through a priest, a dead saint, or Mary to pray to God.  Jesus told us to pray directly to the Father in His name, not go through someone who cannot hear you.  There are now elements within the Catholic church that even believe that Mary is the co-redempter with Jesus Himself.  In other words, they believe you can be saved through Mary just like you are saved through Jesus.

5.  Baptists believe that you must be saved to go to heaven.  God wants you to know that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) God wants you to know that Jesus Christ has already provided the way of salvation. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but will have everlasting life." (John 3:16) You must repent of your sins, confess them to God and forsake them. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9) God wants you to know that acceptance or refusal determines your destiny. "Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects Him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever." We believe that a person can be saved by believing this and saying this prayer:  "Dear God, I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and is alive today. I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sin. Please forgive me. I want Jesus to live in me as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for hearing me. In Jesus' name. AMEN."
Catholics teach that if you are Baptized and belong to the church you go to purgatory then to heaven.  

6.  Deciding upon which church to go to is a difficult one.  You could return to the Catholic church.  If you choose a protestant church, you will find each one different.  Protestant churches differ on 4 things: Baptism (adult or infant) (sprinkling or dunking), their interpretation of the Bible, their focus on the Holy Spirit, and their worship style.
  You will find that Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches interpret the Bible more liberally and have a more liturgical (planned worship with written prayers and readings) style of worship.
  Free Methodists, Methodists, and independent Christian Churches are less liturgical than the above, but have a structured worship.
  Baptists, Pentecostal, or non-denominational churches tend to have no liturgy, are more in tune with the Spirit, and have a more open worship style.