Sola Fide

     We are continuing to look at "The 5 Solas" of the Protestant Christian faith.  Today we come to "Sola Fide" -- or "Faith Alone." When we look at the 5 Solas, we are looking at the doctrine of justification.  Justification is being declared righteous in the eyes of God, according to the Oxford Dictionary.  We often refer to this as salvation. In the context of salvation from an eternity in hell, salvation is the result of Jesus declaring us justified. This is in contrast to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, called sanctification. That is a different study, and just as awe-inspiring!

    Do you remember the history lessons about Martin Luther and the Roman Catholic church of the Middle Ages?  Do you remember those indulgences that the church was selling?  This was a perversion that the Roman Catholic church had devised to keep money flowing into the pockets of the highest officials of the church.  It is the way the building of many grand cathedrals were funded. The church told the people that by paying these large fees, they could ensure that years were taken off of their purgatory sentence.  Johann Tetzel was a bishop in the Catholic church during this time of selling indulgences.  He is said to have made the comment, “When the coin in the coffer clinks, the soul from purgatory springs.” For those grieved by the weight of their sins but unable to afford the indulgences demanded, how were they to ever have any hope of heaven? As the church retained control of who had access to the Scripture, many people lived a hopeless existence for many years.

     Today, the Roman Catholic church still teaches the concept of indulgences.  You must complete exact tasks or prayers to receive partial forgiveness for a specific sin.  The Catholic church still teaches that indulgences can be received through "donations" to the church.  

    Martin Luther was so grieved by these teachings.  The teaching of indulgences was so contrary to what he had discovered in Scripture through his studies as a monk. Galations 3:10-14 says this:

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

    Paul (and Martin Luther) tells us that justification is ONLY through faith.  This makes salvation from hell available to all men, not just the elite that can afford the cost of indulgences.  This frees man from the slavery of working endlessly to earn  entrance to heaven.  Our God offers this to all those who will accept it in faith only.  What a beautiful, precious gift!  

 ...not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, (Phil. 3:9)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2:8)

This study into Reformation Day and "The 5 Solas" is fascinating and faith-building for me.  I hope that you don't mind me sharing snippets of what I have learned.  I am so thankful for Martin Luther and the courageous leaders of the Reformation.  I am thankful for access to the Scriptures and the ability to study them freely.  Most of all, I am thankful today for justification by faith in Christ alone!

💓 Heather Sparks💓