SOLA FIDE by John Guest

Martin_Luther_(1483-1546), the Heretic who demonically inserted the word alone in Romans 3:28 and in effect propagated his newly invented Dogma - Justification by Faith Alone.

 

Sola Fide is one of the other two major Sola doctrines of Reformed theology. It is defined as "the teaching that faith alone saves a person when he places his faith and trust in the sacrificial work of Christ" (CARM). The inventor of this doctrine is named Martin Luther, and churches who follow his traditions [Lutherans] use it, but even those who criticize Luther on at least certain doctrines have borrowed Sola Fide from Lutheran theology.

Martin Luther added the word "allein" [alone] in the Epistle of the Romans (3:28). Here is what he wrote:

"So halten wir es nu / Das der Mensch gerecht werde / on des Gesetzes werck / alleine durch den Glauben." (Römer 3:28 [Luther Bibel 1545])

" So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, allein durch den Glauben." (Römer 3:28 [Luther Bibel 1912])

It is roughly translated into the following:

"Thus we therefore maintain, that man is justified by faith alone, apart from the works of the Law." (Romans 3:28)

We look to the Epistle of Saint James (2:14-26) for an answer: it says, "If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,' but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?" (2:15-16). Martin Luther almost got rid of this Epistle, saying that it "could not be the work of an apostle." It took his friends to convince him to keep it. Many will accuse us Catholics of "buying our way to heaven." Of course, they are refering to the abuse of the selling of indulgences which happened in medieval Germany [and other places]. In fact, the entire Ninety-Five Theses was to address the issue of the selling of indulgences; it was originally called "Disputatio pro Declaratione Virtutis Indulgentarium," which is officially translated as "Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences." However, it is important to address that the abuse of selling indulgences was strictly forbidden by the Church and the Council of Trent sought to further prevent the abuse.

If we are justified by faith alone, then why does it say "faith without works is dead" (James 2:18)? There would be no reason to repent of our sins if we are justified by faith alone: if there are bad works, then there must be good works to alter them. If there were no good works, then bad works would not be bad, but just works. Our Lord told us if we keep the commandments, then we will remain in His love (John 15:10). Also, Martin Luther added the word "allein" [alone] in Romans 3:28 of the Luther Bible to support his doctrine of Sola Fide. It says, however, that we are "justified by faith, apart from the works of the Law." In Romans 3:29-30, Saint Paul asks if the Jews alone are justified by their circumcision; note circumcision is a work of the Law, which does not justify us. God judges both the cirumcised and uncircumcised by their faith.

An excuse many will make is that James 2 refers to those saved. Here is what does not make sense. It still flatly says "faith without works is dead." They look to verses that tell unbelievers to "repent and believe." The Church declares that we are initially justified by faith and that is the motivation to convert and be baptized (CCC 1992). However, they are obliged to live their lives in service to God, meang to do good works in good faith. The Catholic and Lutheran Churches made a "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification by Faith." It accepts that we are initially justified by faith, though not necessarily by faith alone.

We must remember that God will judge us according to our works or conducts (Matthew 16:27). We are told that others will observe our good works (1 Peter 2:12). Apparently good works prooves our good faith. One cannot have one without the other.