Protestant Faith: Is It Based On Faith Alone?

The Protestant belief of faith alone is commonly known as Sola Fide, a doctrine that asserts that believers are justified by faith alone, excluding all works (good deeds). This belief is a soteriological doctrine in Christian theology that distinguishes the Lutheran and Reformed traditions of Protestantism from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian and Anabaptist churches.

The doctrine of faith alone was first introduced by Martin Luther, a German Catholic priest who rejected Catholicism and became the leading founder of Protestantism. Luther added the word allein (alone in German) to Romans 3:28, which reads: So now we hold, that man is justified without the help of the works of the law, alone through faith. Luther acknowledged that the word alone did not appear in the Greek manuscripts, but defended his translation by maintaining that the adverb alone was required by idiomatic German.

The doctrine of faith alone is considered to be the primary doctrine distinguishing Protestantism from Roman Catholicism, and the key doctrine of Protestantism as a whole.

The Bible does not teach salvation by faith alone

Sola Fide

The doctrine of sola fide, or salvation by faith alone, is a key tenet of Lutheran and Reformed traditions of Protestantism. It holds that believers are justified or forgiven of their sins by faith alone, and not on the basis of works or good deeds. This doctrine was elevated by Martin Luther, who added the word "alone" to his German translation of Romans 3:28, which now reads: "So now we hold that [man is] justified without the help of the works of the law, alone through faith."

The Bible and Sola Fide

The Bible contains numerous verses that seem to contradict the doctrine of sola fide. The most notable is James 2:24, which states: "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." This verse is the only occurrence of the phrase "faith alone" in the Bible and seems to argue against the doctrine of sola fide. However, some argue that the context of James 2:24 is not arguing against salvation by faith alone.

Interpretations of James 2:24

There are several ways to interpret James 2:24 without contradicting the doctrine of sola fide. Firstly, it can be argued that James is using the word "justified" to mean "being demonstrated and proved," rather than "declared righteous by God," which is how Paul uses the word in Romans 3:28. In this case, James is saying that a person's faith is demonstrated and proved by their works, not that works are necessary for salvation.

Another interpretation is that James is refuting the idea that a person can have saving faith without producing any good works. In other words, James is saying that genuine faith in Christ will result in good works, not that works are necessary for salvation. This interpretation is supported by other verses in James, such as James 2:17-18, which states that "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

The Role of Works

While the Bible does contain verses that seem to support the doctrine of sola fide, such as Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith...not by works," it is important to note that the Bible also emphasizes the importance of works. For example, James 2:14-26 emphasizes the importance of good works, and Jesus himself taught that we will be judged by our works (Matthew 7:16).

The Protestant-Catholic Divide

The question of sola fide was a key point of contention during the Protestant Reformation, with Martin Luther arguing that good works would not gain someone passage to heaven. This doctrine was a significant departure from the teachings of the Catholic Church, which holds that salvation is obtained by a combination of both faith and good works.

While the Bible does contain verses that can be interpreted to support the doctrine of sola fide, it also contains verses that emphasize the importance of works. Therefore, it cannot be said that the Bible teaches salvation by faith alone. The interpretation of specific verses and the relative importance assigned to faith and works depend on the theological tradition and remain a subject of ongoing debate.

The Bible specifically rejects salvation by faith alone

While James 2:24 is the only verse that contains the exact phrase "faith alone", there are many other verses that teach salvation by faith alone. Any verse that ascribes salvation to faith/belief, with no other requirements mentioned, is a declaration that salvation is by faith alone. For example, John 3:16 declares that salvation is given to "whoever believes in Him". Acts 16:31 proclaims, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved". Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith".

Salvation is by faith alone, but that faith will never be alone. It will always be followed by good works.

Salvation by faith alone is not a Christian teaching for the first 1,500 years

The doctrine of salvation by faith alone, or Sola Fide, is a tenet of most Lutheran and Reformed churches. However, it is rejected by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anabaptists.

Sola Fide asserts that God's pardon for sinners is granted and received through faith alone, excluding all "works" (good deeds). This means that believers are made right of sin not on the basis of "works of the law", but on faith alone.

However, the idea that salvation is achieved through faith alone is not a historical Christian teaching for the first 1,500 years. The doctrine is only about 500 years old, while Christianity is almost 2,000 years old.

Nowhere in the Bible does it explicitly state that a person is saved, or justified, by faith alone. In fact, the phrase "faith alone" appears only once in the Bible, in James 2:24, which says: "We are justified by works and not by faith alone".

The doctrine of Sola Fide also fails the test of logic. If salvation was completed by Jesus's death on the cross 2,000 years ago, then how can someone be saved in the present day? The only difference between being unsaved and saved is something that a person does, not something new that Jesus does, as his work was finished 2,000 years ago.

The correct answer, according to Catholicism, is that salvation is achieved through faith and good works, by something Jesus did and something that a person does in cooperation with God's grace.

Salvation by faith alone is not taught by Jesus, Peter, James, John, or Paul

The Protestant doctrine of sola fide, or "justification by faith alone", is a key distinction between Lutheran and Reformed traditions of Protestantism and the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian and Anabaptist churches. Sola fide asserts that believers are "made right of sin" on the basis of faith alone, and not on the basis of "works of the law", which can include moral, legal or ceremonial requirements, or any good works or "works of charity".

However, the idea that salvation is by faith alone is not taught by Jesus, Peter, James, John, or Paul. While there are many verses in the Bible that teach salvation by faith alone, there is only one verse that contains the exact phrase "faith alone", and it argues against the concept. James 2:24 reads, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone". However, this is not referring to the same concept of justification as in Romans 3:28, where Paul is speaking of God's legal declaration of righteousness through faith. Instead, James is using the word justified to mean "being demonstrated and proved". The passage, James 2:14-26, is about proving the genuineness of one's faith by what one does.

James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in their life. These works are an outward show of genuine faith in Christ, and a proof of it. This interpretation is supported by Paul, who says that those who have true faith in Jesus Christ will be "eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14).

While salvation is by faith alone, that faith will never be alone, and will inevitably result in good works.

Salvation by faith alone is a human-made doctrine invented by Martin Luther

The doctrine of "Salvation by faith alone" is a central tenet of the Protestant Reformation, which was sparked by Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to a church door in 1517. Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone" was a direct response to the Roman Catholic Church's teaching that good works were necessary for salvation. Luther's doctrine asserts that faith alone, not good works, is necessary for salvation.

Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone" was based on his interpretation of the Bible, specifically the Epistles of Paul, and the Book of Romans. Luther's interpretation of these texts led him to believe that the Roman Catholic Church had lost sight of several central Christian truths, most importantly the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Luther's interpretation of these texts was not without controversy, however. Luther added the word "alone" to his translation of Romans 3:28, which does not appear in the original Greek manuscripts. Luther defended this addition by arguing that the adverb was necessary for idiomatic German.

Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone" was also influenced by his reading of Augustine of Hippo. Augustine's theology was grounded in divine monergism, the idea that God alone governs election to salvation and reprobation. Luther's theology was also strictly monergistic when it came to soteriology.

Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone" was not without precedent. Similar ideas can be found in the writings of several Church Fathers, including Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Epistle to Diognetus. In addition, several proto-Protestant reformers who preceded Luther also taught a form of the "justification by faith alone" doctrine, including Wessel Gansfort, Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples, and John Wycliffe.

Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone" was a radical departure from the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther taught that salvation is a gift from God, granted solely through faith in Jesus Christ. Luther's doctrine asserts that it is faith alone that brings about justification, not good works. Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone" was a central tenet of the Protestant Reformation and remains a foundational doctrine of Lutheranism and Reformed Christianity.

Frequently asked questions