Faith Alone - The 5 Solas Of The Reformation (Part 2)

FAITH ALONE SOLA FIDE Martin Luther (1483-1546) “For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (Romans 1:17 ESV) Martin Luther (1483-1546) What is humanity’s greatest problem? … sinful and guilty “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;” (Romans 3:10 ESV) “… so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” (Romans 3:19 ESV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 ESV) What do we deserve? … eternal punishment “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,” (2 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV) What can we do to remove our guilt? … nothing “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20 ESV) What is our great need? … Justification “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested… through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe… and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith…” (Romans 3:21-25 ESV) How do we obtain justification? … by faith “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested… through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe… and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith…” (Romans 3:21-25 ESV) How do we obtain justification? … by faith alone “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:28 ESV) “Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.” (Romans 3:27 ESV) What are 3 necessary elements of saving faith? A. Information: understanding (head) Jesus died for sinners. God raised him from the dead. Jesus is now Lord and King over everything. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9) What are 3 necessary elements of saving faith? A. Information: understanding (head) Jesus died for sinners. God raised him from the dead. Jesus is now Lord and King over everything. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9) B. Affirmation: agreeing (head) What are 3 necessary elements of saving faith? A. Information: understanding (head) Jesus died for sinners. God raised him from the dead. Jesus is now Lord and King over everything. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9) B. Affirmation: agreeing (head) • demonic faith (James 2:19) • temporary faith (Luke 8:13) What are 3 necessary elements of saving faith? C. Reception: trusting (heart) “For with the heart one believes and is justified …” (Romans 10:10 ESV) “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21 ESV) Questions which need to be addressed: 1. Does ‘faith alone’ justify? “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1 ESV) “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,” (Romans 4:5 ESV) Questions which need to be addressed: 2. Are good works necessary? “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24 ESV) F=J+W “… I will show you my faith by my works.” F+W=J (James 2:18 ESV) “… faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26 ESV) Questions which need to be addressed: 2. Are good works necessary? “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV) Questions which need to be addressed: 3. Should ‘faith in Christ’ be translated ‘faithfulness of Christ’? • an objective or subjective genitive? • “faith in Christ” has stood the test of time FAITH ALONE SOLA FIDE Martin Luther “Learn to sing to him and say: Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness. I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; you set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not.”