By Faith Alone

BY Faith Alone                                                                             Rev.M.V.Abraham
Faith Only (Sola Fide)- This is another one of the Five Solas of Reformation. We are saved through faith alone by Jesus Christ.
Justification by Faith Alone.         The most important thing which Martin Luther found and experienced was Justification by Faith Alone. Each word is very important. Jesus alone is the Savior from Genesis to Revelation. There are those who believe in baptismal regeneration (a person is saved through baptism). Evangelical Church categorically denies this teaching. Others believe that salvation is completed only through baptism. However, both are equally wrong and unscriptural. The most important doctrine of the Reformation is Justification is faith alone.

The main question before us is how are we saved? The book of Romans Ch. 4 explains that we are saved by faith alone. The law and the prophets testify to this fact. Paul bring in two people to prove his case. Abraham was saved by faith. He was declared righteous before the he was circumcised and before the law was given. Then, David who lived after the law was given; was saved by faith. The whole argument in Rom. 4 is to prove that man is justified by faith alone.

Paul and James on Justification by faith
Is saving faith devoid of good work? In this context, it is important to study the argument of James. James is telling us that we are not saved merely by faith, but work also. James.2:24 ‘a man is justified by works, and not by faith only’. Do Paul and James contradict each other? No. They both are under the same umbrella. Paul is answering those who claim that they are saved by woks, whereas James is telling us that the saving faith will be seen in action. One of the reformers told that we are saved by faith and, but that faith is not alone. There are different kinds of faith. Warren W.Wiesbe speaks of  1) Dead Faith (James 2:14-) 2.Demonic Faith (James 2:18-) 3.Dynamic Faith (James 2:20-). We are speaking about the Dynamic Faith here. When James is speaking about Abraham, he was speaking about “He (Abraham) believed in the Lord He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Gen.15:6) Circumcision, the sign of the covenant was administered in Gen.ch.17. Then in Gen. Ch. 22 only, Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac. So, we must look and understand the words of James in this context. There can be Dead faith and Demonic faith, but the Dynamic faith is the saving faith and it will be seen in action.

 A person can wait for the coming of the bridegroom without knowing Him (Matt 25:12). A person can do great things in the name of the Lord, even it may benefit to others and still hear the sad words of the Savior “I never knew you” (Matt.  7:21) Therefore, all those who decided or said a word of testimony may not have that Dynamic faith. We are justified by faith alone. In another word, Sanctification is the evidence (fruit) of Justification. Again, to use the words of reformers, we are saved by faith, but that faith is not alone.  

This faith is God’s gift. Faith is not something that is generated from the fallen nature of man because man is dead in trespasses and sins. It is like Lazarus who was in the tomb. Even if the best food which Lazarus enjoyed while he was alive kept near him, the best music played when he was alive or the best flowers he enjoyed while he was alive could not move him in any way while he is dead.  Faith- “it is the gift of God” (Eph.2:8) “those who have received a faith” said Peter (2 Pet. 1:2). By faith alone without any mixture of human works. The word ALONE is equally important. The instrumental cause of salvation is faith.

Lord’s supper and Baptism have its place. However, to mix them with salvation by faith ALONE is not the right interpretation of the scripture.  Plavumkel  Achen once said, had the Galation Christians understood and obeyed  the teaching of the book of Romans, they would not have been misled to believe that circumcision and observation of the Jewish Law  was necessary  to complete their salvation. Unfortunately, this is seen in a different form among Christians. Therefore, Justification is by faith ALONE.
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