Sola Fide - Salvation By Faith Alone Series

Please open your Bibles to Romans 5:1-11 which we will read in a few minutes.

Over the past few of weeks we have been taking a look at the five “Solas” that were reestablished after the Protestant Reformation came along in 1517.

Sometimes when you read some of the major prophet Scriptures such as found in the book of Daniel and in the Revelation regarding the last days you may wonder, “What is that really all about?” or “How will that happen?”.

In such passages it is difficult to understand some of the symbolism and it almost seems to be shrouded in mystery.

But these “Solas” are crystal clear, they foundational principles that were never shrouded in mystery but are clearly and fully established in the New Testament.

These are the five foundational “Sola” doctrines:

Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone (brief remarks regarding …)

Solus Christus, through Christ alone (brief remarks regarding …)

Sola Gratia, by Grace alone (brief remarks regarding …)

Sola Fide, by Faith alone (explain that faith and believe are used interchangeably)

(faith – noun / believe – verb)

Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone

Today we’ll be looking at the fourth of these Solas, Sola Fide; salvation by Faith alone and as we look at that list a question may come to your mind; how can salvation be by grace alone AND by faith alone.

(Go back to the screen with the Romans 5:1-11 reference on it.)

That is a great question.

Well, this is REALLY exciting! All the while the Holy Spirit has been pursuing us through the Scriptures, through the saving work of Jesus the Son of God on our behalf and through the grace of God.

God has been pursuing us in the hope of us turning to Him and finding salvation.

Faith is just that. Faith is where we respond to the grace of God and become a new creation, a son or daughter of the Living God.

When we respond in faith but believing and trusting in Jesus for salvation our eternal destination is changed from eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord to eternal life in the presence of Jesus the Redeemer!

Let’s take a look at some Scripture which talks about that very fact! Romans 5:1-11

These verses contain the focal point of this section of Scripture:

Romans 5:1-2a NIV

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

Romans 5:1-2a AMP

“Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith,

“[Let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

“Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand.”

So, we see this beautiful marriage; the Lord God Almighty pursuing us by Grace and we responding by Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

That seems pretty clear doesn’t it?

So, what was the problem then and what is it now?

The problem then was not Judaism or the Jewish Faith itself but what it had become.

Listen to the Apostle Paul’s description of how he was when he was a Pharisee.

Galatians 3

“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit (faith), are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh (works)?”

So, here’s the struggle.

Many of the Israelites who were hearing the Gospel had been raised observing the meticulous practice of the hundreds of Jewish laws and traditions by their spiritual leaders.

We can hear this in many of their questions; the jailer asks Paul and Silas “What must I do to be saved?”, at Pentecost, “Brothers, what must we do?”, the rich man, “What good deed must I do to inherit eternal life?”

So, you see that even in the Jewish mindset working to obtain salvation was a totally normal way of thinking.

That was in the Jewish community, but, in the pagan culture everything connected to their gods was done to appease the god; pilgrimages, food and drink offerings before idol that could not see, hear or speak, the use of pagan temple prostitutes and even infant sacrifice in some areas of the Roman empire.

So, you see the idea of working for salvation was common.

So, what is the problem with thinking that salvation is by faith AND works?