Introduction: The Word That Changes Everything
There is a story1 about the famous theologian R.C. Sproul that very accurately illustrates our theme. In 1994, a group of influential Catholic and Protestant leaders prepared a joint document titled “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (ECT). The goal of this document was to find common ground for joint Christian mission in the new millennium. In the text was this phrase: “We affirm together that we are justified by grace through faith because of Christ.”
At first glance, this sounds absolutely correct, doesn’t it? Most of us, likely without hesitation, would sign off on these words. But Sproul was categorically opposed. It is said that at one of the private meetings, he was so emotional that he literally climbed onto the table and crawled on his hands and knees to each pastor, begging them not to sign this document and not to betray the Gospel. He looked them in the eye and demanded they realize the colossal danger of what they were about to do. Why such a strong reaction? Why was it worth risking his reputation and losing friends? Sproul argued that this phrase lacked one key word, the absence of which changes absolutely everything. And that word is “ALONE.”
The principle of Sola Fide—“Faith Alone”—is the one upon which the Church stands or falls. As Martin Luther said, “If this doctrine is lost, all Christian doctrine is lost with it.” For Sproul, the absence of the word “alone” was not just a theological subtlety, but a betrayal of the very essence of the Gospel. If we are justified not by faith alone, but by faith plus something else—whether it be our works, our feelings, or our religious merits—then it is a “different gospel” that has no power to save. We will try to understand why this “alone” is so important for each of us.
The Historical Rift: Trent and the Reformation
To understand why this issue caused such passion, we need to go back to the 16th century. After Luther began to prove from Scripture that the justification of a sinner occurs by faith alone, the Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent (1545–1563). This council finally burned the bridges of reconciliation. It adopted canons that explicitly anathemetized (cursed) those who believe in Sola Fide.
One of the canons read: “If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified… let him be anathema.”2 Another canon condemned those who believe that justifying faith is nothing more than confidence in Divine mercy for Christ’s sake. The Catholic Church officially declared the doctrine of “faith alone” to be heresy. Therefore, when in 1994 Protestant leaders decided to sign a document without the word “alone,” they effectively abandoned what the reformers died for.
One cannot simply close one’s eyes to a conflict that concerns the very foundation of our salvation. Either Sola Fide is an essential part of the Gospel, or it is not. There is no middle ground. We must refresh our understanding of this truth, because modern churches often become distracted by secondary issues of psychology or politics, losing sight of what makes the church the church—the message of the justification of a sinner before a Holy God.
What Is Justification? A Legal Act of God
Before talking about faith, we need to deeply understand the term “justification.” In the Bible, this is a legal, forensic term. Imagine the courtroom of the universe. We stand before God, the Righteous Judge. The prosecutor (the devil) presents the indictment—an endless list of our sins: from overt misdeeds to secret evil thoughts and selfish motives. And we know the accusation is true. We are guilty on all counts.
The just sentence for sin against an Infinite God is death and eternal separation from Him. But suddenly, the Judge declares: “Justified.” This does not mean the Judge “closed His eyes” to the crime. God cannot simply ignore sin, or He would cease to be just. Justification is a legal declaration that a person’s status has changed. It means that the punishment for our sins has already been fully borne by Christ on the cross, and His perfect righteousness is imputed (credited) to us on our “bank account.” This is what theologians call the “great exchange”: our sins to Christ, His righteousness to us. And this crediting happens by faith alone.
I. Faith as an Instrument, Not a Merit
Romans 10:9-10 says: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
It is important to understand: faith itself does not save us. A Person saves us—Jesus Christ. Faith is merely the instrument, the “beggar’s hand” that receives the gift. If someone gives you a check for a million dollars and you reach out your hand to take it, it would be madness to boast about how masterfully you reached out your hand. The merit is in the giver and in the amount of the check, not in your hand. So it is with faith. It is the means through which we are united with Christ.
Saving faith is not just intellectual agreement with facts. Even the demons believe that God is one, and shudder (James 2:19). True faith includes three elements3:
- Knowledge (Notitia): You must know the facts of the Gospel.
- Agreement (Assensus): You must recognize that these facts are true.
- Trust (Fiducia): This is the personal reliance of the heart. It is the moment you say, “Jesus died not just for abstract sinners, He died for me. I trust my eternity to Him alone.”
II. Why Can’t We Add Good Works? The Danger of Synergism
To many, the formula “Faith + Works = Salvation” sounds more balanced and calls for responsibility. But the Bible teaches otherwise: “Faith = Justification + Works.” Works are the fruit of justification, not its cause.
If you try to add even one percent of your own merits to the work of Christ, you thereby devalue His sacrifice. It’s like someone paying off your huge debt, and you insist on adding one penny of your own, believing that without your penny the payment will not be valid. You are not helping; you are insulting the giver. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, writes incredibly harsh words to those who tried to add the keeping of the law to faith. He calls them “foolish” and says they have “fallen away from grace.” Attempting to earn God’s approval by your works is the ultimate form of human pride, because it assumes that a person can be “good enough” for God by their own strength.
III. The Role of Obedience: Works as the Fruit of Living Faith
Does the doctrine of Sola Fide mean that works are not important at all? Of course not! We are not saved by works, but for good works. Works are the evidence that faith is alive. Imagine a tree. It is not the fruits that make the tree alive, but a living tree necessarily produces fruits. If there are no apples on an apple tree, we rightly doubt that it is alive.
So it is in the Christian life. Living faith, which unites us with Christ, produces changes in our character, desires, and actions by the Holy Spirit. We begin to hate what God hates and love what He loves. But when we stand before God in prayer or on the day of judgment, we never point to our works. We always point only to Christ. Even our strongest faith is not the ground of our salvation. The ground is the righteousness of Jesus.
What Does This Mean for Us?
For believers, the doctrine of Sola Fide is the only source of true, deep peace. Our assurance of salvation does not depend on how “holy” we feel at the moment. Our faith may waver; it may be weak. But it is not the strength of your faith that saves, but the Object of your faith. If you are on a sinking ship and you hold onto a lifebuoy, it is not the strength of your grip that saves you, but the buoyancy of the buoy. Hold onto Christ.
For those who are still searching, this is a liberating message. Perhaps you feel you need to “fix your life” first, quit bad habits, or become “religious” before coming to God. This is a trap. You can never cleanse yourself. God calls you to come to Him in your uncleanness, in your bankruptcy, and simply trust in His mercy. Justification is a gift. You don’t need to pay for it because the price has already been paid by the blood of the Son of God.
“With the heart one believes and is justified.” Trust Jesus. Stop trying to save yourself. Receive His perfect righteousness as a gift. And you will hear the most beautiful sentence in the universe: “Justified. By faith alone.” To God alone be the glory for this great salvation.