Sola fide

Five solae of the
Protestant Reformation
Sola scriptura
Sola fide
Sola gratia
Solus Christus
Soli Deo gloria
See also: Justification (theology)

Justificatio sola fide (or simply sola fide), meaning justification by faith alone, is a soteriological doctrine in Christian theology commonly held to distinguish the Lutheran and Reformed traditions of Protestantism,[1] among others, from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian and Anabaptist churches.[2][3] The doctrine asserts that it is on the basis of faith alone that believers are made right of sin (such as their transgressions of divine law); and not on the basis of what Paul the Apostle calls "works of the law",[4] which sola fide proponents interpret as including not only moral, legal or ceremonial requirements but any good works or "works of charity."

This forgiveness is known as "justification". In classical Lutheran and Reformed theologies, works are seen as crucial evidence of faith, but the works themselves do not determine salvation.[5] In contrast, Methodist doctrine affirms a belief in justification by faith that offers God's forgiveness, but holds that holy living with the goal of Christian perfection (entire sanctification) is essential for salvation; maintenance of sanctification is contingent on continual faith in and obedience to God.[5][6][7][8] Anabaptist theology categorically rejects the Lutheran and Reformed doctrine of sola fide, and instead emphasizes a "faith that works"; Anabaptists teach that "justification [began] a dynamic process by which the believer partook of the nature of Christ and was so enabled to live increasingly like Jesus."[9][2][10]

  1. ^ Wisse, Maarten (2017). "Part I: Systematic Perspectives – Contra et Pro Sola Scriptura". In Burger, Hans; Huijgen, Arnold; Peels, Eric (eds.). Sola Scriptura: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Scripture, Authority, and Hermeneutics. Studies in Reformed Theology. Vol. 32. Leiden: Brill. pp. 19–37. doi:10.1163/9789004356436_003. ISBN 978-90-04-35643-6. ISSN 1571-4799.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Griffin2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Allen, Michael (2010). Reformed Theology. London: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-567-03429-8. With regard to sola fide, a contrast is being made with Rome's doctrine that faith must be formed by love (fides formata). The Reformed and Lutheran churches said that Rome essentially required faith and works for justification.
  4. ^ Galatians 2:16
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Bucher2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rhodes2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Joyner2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Elwell2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brewer2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Roth2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).