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This morning as we continue our current study series, ‘The Five Solas’, we turn our attention to Sola Fide, faith alone.

French Reformer John Calvin called this truth, “the main hinge on which salvation turns”. The English Reformer Thomas Cranmer described it as, “the strong rock and foundation of Christian religion”. Meanwhile, German Reformer Martin Luther claimed, “If this article stands, the church stands; if this article collapses, the church collapses”.

Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that “the just shall live by faith.” Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sincere mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into Paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning. Martin Luther (Roland Bainton, Here I Stand, 49-50)

To properly understand the meaning and significance of Sola Fide, faith alone, we need to take a closer look at the New Testament concept of justification.

Justification is the opposite of condemnation, for to justify is to pronounce a verdict of innocence rather than guilt.

A just judge would never knowingly justify someone who was truly guilty, for that would be a miscarriage of justice, for a just judge condemns the guilty and only justifies the innocent.

Despite the reality of our guilt before God, Paul wrote these truly shocking words in Romans 4: “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

As preposterous as it seems, the biblical teaching of justification is all about God, the supreme Judge, declaring the guilty not guilty, the unrighteous righteous. But how can this be?

“Alien righteousness” was the term used by Martin Luther and John Calvin to describe the fact that we are saved not by our own righteousness as a result of our doing good deeds, but rather by a righteousness that comes from outside of us entirely, the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Because of the cross of Christ, the divine Judge is able to remain just and at the same time be the justifier of those who believe in Jesus.

“God's gracious work of bestowing upon guilty sinners a justified justification, acquitting them in the court of heaven without prejudice to his justice as their Judge.” J.I. Packer

The faith that results in your being justified by God has to be in Jesus alone.

The only works that have anything to do with our justification are the saving works of Jesus through his death, burial and resurrection.

What difference can the truth of Sola Fide — rediscovered by the Reformers 500 years ago — make in your life today?

If you’re one who has never placed your faith in Jesus for salvation, Sola Fide underscores for you the difference between religion and Christianity when properly understood.

For those that have come to know a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, one of the great benefits of Sola Fide is assurance.

If your salvation is based upon anything in you, doubting the reality of salvation will be your experience. But Sola Fide reminds us that God’s acceptance of us is based on nothing in us. Rather, it’s grounded on what God has done for us through Christ and received by faith alone in Christ, and this brings to us a wonderful assurance.