In the 16th century, an event known as the Reformation took place. This religious reform movement happened as a result of many groups of people coming forth and voicing disagreements with certain practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church at the time. As a result, many groups separated. The essential tenets of the Reformation can be summed up in the Five Solas: faith alone, grace alone, in Christ alone, in scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
In this article, we will discuss what faith alone means. Paul writes in Galatians warning anyone who would consider adding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How all of mankind, plagued by sin, was separated from a holy God. How God sent down his only son, Jesus, to live a sinless life and suffer a death meant for us. How if we repent and trust in Jesus alone for our salvation, we will be saved from the consequences of our sin.
In the past, and even today, many churches add to the Gospel by including good works plus a long list of practices and teachings that are required to be able to enter into Heaven. For example, again in the book of Galatians, Paul is confronted with the claim for the need for circumcision as if it was a requirement for salvation. There is nothing you can do to earn your place in Heaven. There are no amount of good deeds, no amount of extra prayers, or no amount of money donated to the church that can “make you right with God.”
Paul counters this idea, stating: “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:15-16).
So what does this mean? Should Christians then just forget trying to be a good person and doing good works? Of course not! All Christians should seek to live a life that honors God. James 2:14-26 touches on the topic of faith without works, calling it dead. When the pendulum swings too far to one side or the other, people begin to misunderstand what faith alone means.
You can’t just say some words and continue living your life unchanged. You must pursue holiness and allow yourself to be conformed to the image of Christ. You can’t call yourself a Christian, yet do nothing for someone in need. You can’t also expect that by doing something you are in some way earning your place in Heaven, as good works will not be able to save anyone! Many have tried to earn their place in Heaven, whether that be through saying extra prayers, paying a certain amount of money, or hitting a quota when it comes to good works for the year. In reality, it is only through faith alone in Jesus Christ that will get us to Heaven.
