One of five Latin statements that summarize the core teachings of the Protestant Reformation. The phrase means “faith alone,” and affirms that trust in Christ and his saving work—“is the alone instrument [or means] of justification.”1 Justification is received by faith alone and not achieved by good works.
- From scripture:
[Y]et we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:16 ESV).
- From The Heidelberg Catechism:
Question 60. How are thou righteous before God?
Answer: Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me, the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.
Question 61. Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?
Answer: Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before God; and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only.
- Augustus Toplady describes the kind of faith that is the means of our justification in the hymn Rock of Ages:
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Learn more:
- Got Questions: Why is sola fide important?
- Daniel R. Hyde: What Does Sola Fide Mean?
- R. C. Sproul: Sola Fide
- Tom Schreiner: Justification = Faith + Nothing
- Tom Schreiner: The Five Solas: Faith Alone
- J. I. Packer: Sola Fide: The Reformed Doctrine of Justification
- Joel Beeke: Justification by Faith Alone: The Relationship of Faith to Justification
Related terms:
1Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 11, Section 2.
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