Sola Fide

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(04-26-2016, 01:04 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Faith alone, the concept that we cannot, through our actions, justify the grace of God that we receive. That the grace of God is given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus. What's your opinion on it? It's a concept that has been tossed around for centuries and there is a lot of back and forth between theologians. Plenty of Bible verses are used to support it and plenty to go against it. It's a new concept to me that I have been trying to learn more about through my readings of Luther's works and I figured we might have some people on here that would enjoy the discussion.

So, sola fide, what does it mean to you? Are you in agreement with it or not? And responses from non-Christians are just as welcome, just don't be mocking/derogatory.

I didn't understand Sola Fide the way you did. Your second sentence says grace comes through Jesus' sacrifice. My understanding of "by faith alone" was that by believing (presuming demonstrated by being baptized and then maintaining/professing your belief) you achieve salvation - i.e. if you sin tremendously you will still enter heaven - and all the rest of it (Jesus death/resurrection) is just part of the narrative but the key is the individual profession (some say confession) of faith in God. So it isn't so much what Jesus did or didn't do (maybe you never heard that part of the "good news" or maybe it contained errata) but whether you believed that made all the difference.

This is contrasted with "deeds alone" - which says that your actions get your ticket to heaven punched. That is, you can believe with all your heart but if you sin you burn in hell. And likewise you could you could have doubts, but if you lived a good life you would enter heaven.

Some said the final measure was what was in your heart (by faith alone), some said the final measure was the life you lived (by deeds alone), and some said it was a combination. I don't know but I don't think too many people argue or think about this stuff anymore. I think many believe salvation is guaranteed regardless of your faith or your actions - i.e. God's love outweighs everything and no matter how sinful your conduct or how many times you denied God you will still be welcomed into heaven on the other side. And many believe baptism is the key - and what you believe or do is irrelevant - you got baptized and you are in.

Ultimately the whole thing for me at this point comes down to this. Yes all the other theories and arguments are interesting, but if their is a God or gods (I am an agnostic) then the ways of this God or these gods will never be grasped by humans. So, while interesting to reflect on ultimately it is an exercise in futility. If the gods or God exist(s) I tend to believe there would be no final judgment of a human's faith or conduct. A final judgment doesn't reconcile with the type of God or gods I can conceive of. But again, our ability to understand such things is terminally flawed, so maybe there is a big courtroom in the sky - it just doesn't make sense to me.