Sola Fide

[pshun2404]

Much of Post Reformation theology (not necessarily the reformers themselves) teaches Sola Fide means salvation by faith (alone), but the Bible only mentions justification by faith and that salvation is BY Grace THROUGH faith...

Which is correct or both? And can you show scripture to support your belief? For example can you find any scriptures which say "salvation by faith" or "by faith alone" as applied to salvation?

Thanks I await your responses.

Brother Paul

 

[hedrick]

Are you sure there's a difference? Paul speaks of justification by faith as being opposed to works of the Law. As far as I know justification by faith alone means simply faith and not works. It doesn't mean faith without grace. It's a slogan, not a complete theology of salvation.

 

[AHJE]

Much of Post Reformation theology (not necessarily the reformers themselves) teaches Sola Fide means salvation by faith (alone), but the Bible only mentions justification by faith and that salvation is BY Grace THROUGH faith...

Which is correct or both? And can you show scripture to support your belief? For example can you find any scriptures which say "salvation by faith" or "by faith alone" as applied to salvation?

Thanks I await your responses.

Brother Paul

Dear brother Paul,

It is impossible to be saved by faith alone and to find this in Sacred Writing (the Holy Bible) for it does not teach this. In fact in St. James 2:24, "See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." (St. James 2:24, NAB)


Of course, noone is saved by works ALONE either.

Peace be with you.

 

[ebedmelech]

Much of Post Reformation theology (not necessarily the reformers themselves) teaches Sola Fide means salvation by faith (alone), but the Bible only mentions justification by faith and that salvation is BY Grace THROUGH faith...

Which is correct or both? And can you show scripture to support your belief? For example can you find any scriptures which say "salvation by faith" or "by faith alone" as applied to salvation?

Thanks I await your responses.

Brother Paul

Being "justified by faith" is the same thing as being saved or salvation.

This is from Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God declares you justified the very moment you're saved it all happens at the same time.

Follow up with Romans 5:6-11 wraps it up:
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Notice verse 9 states you are both "justified and saved".

 

[pshun2404]

I'm not taking a side, just looking for actual support in the Scriptures..and interested in how people see support for this...

In verse 9 however

Now=Justified (presently)
Shall be=Saved (in the future or an additional result which follows)

So, are they really the same? Hmmm?

Paul

 

[ebedmelech]

I'm not taking a side, just looking for actual support in the Scriptures..and interested in how people see support for this...

In verse 9 however

Now=Justified (presently)
Shall be=Saved (in the future or an additional result which follows)

So, are they really the same? Hmmm?

Paul

What has to be understood is you are saved...however your ultimate salvation is when you receive your immortal, glorified body. That is in view where he says "you will be saved". That body is without the taint of sin!

That is found in 1 Corinthians 15:50-57:
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[pshun2404]

So then it seems you see salvation as a process which begins at the moment of conversion and epitomizes at the parousia when we appear like Him (in our glorified bodies). This is cool! That is very much like the Orthodox view. Some others believe one does not necessitate the other and that we can lose our salvation, while still others see it when the moment of salvation occurs (at the conversion moment) it is a irrevocable done deed and draw no distinction to applications of the term "saved" or "salvation". This last one is the position I thought you may hold when you said justification and salvation were the same thing. The two terms are used distinctly and each used sometimes in relation to one another so they cannot actually be the same thing, but that is just my opinion.

But good post...I can see the distinction you make here.So in light of this illumination, is Sola Fide salvation by faith alone or does that apply only to justification or to both (both obviously the result of His grace)? And are there scriptures to support "salvation" by faith alone? Thanks and I hope others will share their perspectives...

Paul

 

[ebedmelech]

So then it seems you see salvation as a process which begins at the moment of conversion and epitomizes at the parousia when we appear like Him (in our glorified bodies). This is cool! That is very much like the Orthodox view. Some others believe one does not necessitate the other and that we can lose our salvation, while still others see it when the moment of salvation occurs (at the conversion moment) it is a irrevocable done deed and draw no distinction to applications of the term "saved" or "salvation". This last one is the position I thought you may hold when you said justification and salvation were the same thing. The two terms are used distinctly and each used sometimes in relation to one another so they cannot actually be the same thing, but that is just my opinion.

But good post...I can see the distinction you make here.So in light of this illumination, is Sola Fide salvation by faith alone or does that apply only to justification or to both (both obviously the result of His grace)? And are there scriptures to support "salvation" by faith alone? Thanks and I hope others will share their perspectives...

Paul

Indeed. I really like how Ephesians makes the connection. I'm in the process of memorizing the entire book of Ephesians. I have all of chapter 1 and most of chapter 2 memorized.

To your point though, Ephesians chapters 1 and 2 makes the point of who we are in Christ.

Give that a read...it's sooooo glorious!!!