It is through faith alone we can be made right with God.
“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1:16-17 NLT
Why do we need the good news Paul is talking about? It is because of our sinful state before God. God demands righteousness, goodness, perfection, and everything we can’t measure up.
Sola fide faith alone
Sola fide is one of the five solas defined during the Protestant Reformation. It emphasized that receiving God’s gift of salvation was through faith alone.
During the 16th century, religious practices often veered toward legalism and ritualistic observances. The “Sola Fide” doctrine was a call for a return to the essence of the gospel. Reformers like Martin Luther emphasized faith as a transformative belief that reorients our lives toward God’s grace.
“God’s righteousness is given through faith alone, and faith itself is not what justifies us. Christ’s righteousness is what makes us right and that comes through faith.” (Duesing, 2019)
Humanity can’t save itself.
No amount of good deeds or thoughts can remove the debt we own. In the Old Testament, God gave His law. A standard by which He wanted Israel to obey. We can read throughout the narrative a people who kept falling short of God’s expectations of goodness.
“A more helpful metaphor is to think of faith as a bridge. Faith is the bridge over which we cross to salvation. It is the channel through which we sail, or the vessel on which we travel to salvation.” (Duesing, 2019)
Our faith and trust given to us by God is what draws us to His call. This call from God provides us with the knowledge of the saving gift of salvation in Christ. We are made righteous before God. Through this transformation, we are called to do good works for the glory of God.
References
Faith Alone The Doctrine of Justification What the Reformers Taught……and Why It Still Matters (2017) by Thomas Schreiner (The 5 Solas Series)
Sola How the Five Solas are Still Reforming the Church (2019). Jason K. Allen Gen Editor Contributors Wilson. J., Duesing, J., Barrett, M,. Strachan, O.
