Sola Fide: Only Faith 2

The Light Shines in the Darkness...

All Scripture quotes are from the NASB:

More Evidence 1: The Charge of Antinomianism

Throughout Paul’s Epistles to the Romans and Galatians, he anticipates the charge of antinomianism by his Judaizing opponents.

Romans 3:31

Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Romans 6:15

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!

Galatians 2:17

But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!

Galatians 3:21

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

His opponents interpreted his doctrine to mean that man was saved by faith alone without the bearing of good fruit after justification. Paul answers this charge by denying that the bearing of good fruit isn’t necessary (Ephesians 2:10), but at the same time, he does not repudiate anything beyond that. Thus, his denial that any amount of good works will ever give someone a better standing before God is implicit.

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More Evidence 2: No Longer Under the Law, But Under Grace

In his epistles, Paul states that we are no longer under the law, but rather, we are under grace.

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Galatians 3:13

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”

At the front of every Roman Catholic Church are engravings of the Ten Commandments. They are there to remind the faithful to do what is written on them in order to keep a good standing with God. Otherwise, they will fall under God’s condemnation for breaking the Law, and thus, the sins they commit must either be satisfied through good works or through the suffering of atonement in Purgatory. However, according to Paul, Christ redeemed us from the condemnation that the Law brings upon us. The true Christian never has to fear the penalties for breaking the Law. This is clearly stated by John in his first epistle:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

-1 John 4:18

No true Christian should ever be locked in the slavery of fear of breaking God’s Law because salvation is not based on our obedience, but of Christ’s:

For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

-Romans 5:19

May all glory go to God! For He has saved us by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

Sola Gratia! Sola Fide! Solus Christus! Soli Deo Gloria!

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Also, some helpful audio on this topic can be found at:

http://www.straitgate.com/webster/

http://www.christiantruth.com/realaudio.html (The Gospel of the Reformation, Tape #3)

Some helpful online reading can be found here:

http://members.aol.com/jasonte2/six.htm

http://members.aol.com/jasonte2/nograce.htm

http://aomin.org/NotByWorks.html

http://aomin.org/LDSGrace.html

http://aomin.org/empty.html