What is the biblical basis for salvation by faith alone (sola fide)?

Question

One of the key issues in the Reformation was the doctrine of Sola Fide, that is, that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works.

What, then, is the biblical basis for this belief?

Answer 1

I'm going to have to limit my quotes from Scripture and leave some compelling verses out, because there are simply so many. This answer would be even longer than my normal long-winded answers if I included all supporting Scripture references. Please forgive me if I miss something you consider relevant.

---

First, there is the entire book of Romans, which is a build-up to, statement of, and then supporting evidence of, the doctrine. Some relevant verses:

Chapter 1 is a description of Gentiles (non-Jews) and shows the wickedness as part of the build-up. By extension, this shows that religious affiliation (even to a so-called "one true Church" as many denominations claim) can save us.

Chapters 2 segues into showing that the Jew is no better, for even though they have the promise of God, they are still corrupt.

Chapter 3 continues to show that the Jew (and by extension everyone) is unable to attain salvation through the works of the Law and gets to verse 27:

Romans 3:27 and 28 (KJV)

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The remainder of Romans is support for this doctrinal statement. Paul starts out by showing how the early heroes of the Jewish faith were not justified by their own goodness, but by Faith on God.

He then goes on to show how the Law is perfect, and cannot save us, but rather was given to us that we might know what sin is - so that we can realize that we are sinful.

In the words of Ray Comfort in his teaching on Hell's Best Kept Secret, God's Law is like a mirror that shows us to ourselves in our true nature. If we see we have a dirty face in a mirror, we don't wash our faces with the mirror. No, we wash our faces with water.

Likewise, we can't wash away our sins with the mirror of God's law, but instead are washed clean by the blood of Christ. This is the essence of the message to the Romans.

Other verses throughout the New Testament also state this doctrine plainly.

Epesians 2:8-9 (KJV) 8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As I said in the beginning, a comprehensive list of Scriptures would be prohibitively large, and it would be impossible to do a better job of answering this than has already been done by Paul in Romans, but here is a link to an article with more.

http://www.biblefacts.org/bible/salfaith.html

Answer 2

Luke 18:9-14.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

ESV. Luke 23:39-43.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Answer 3

In addition to David's thorough answer, I would like to add (what I think) is the single most clear verse:

Galatians 2:16

We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

(I added verse 15 for clarity, verse 16 is in bold.)

The NIV Study Bible says:

Galatians stands as an eloquent and vigorous apologetic for the essential NT truth that man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ - by nothing less and nothing more - and that he is sanctified not by legalistic works but by the obedience that comes from faith in God's work for him, in him and through him by the grace and power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It was the rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians that brought about the Reformation. Galatians is often referred to as "Luther's book", because Martin Luther relied so strongly on this letter in his writings and arguments against the prevailing theology of his day. A key verse is 2:16 (see note there).

And that note is:

A key verse in Galatians. Three times it tells us that no-one is justified by observing the law, and three times it emphasises the indispensable requirement of placing one's faith in Christ.

Answer 4

Jesus says in many places that blindly following the Law of Moses will not lead to salvation, and is his primary criticism of practicing Jews of the time. Belief in Jesus' message and God is required for salvation.

Now, mainstream Christians take Jesus' statement "I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it" as evidence that he has completed the Law and belief in him is enough going forward to attain salvation by faith alone.

However, some Christians (e.g. Messianic Jews http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Jews), believe that Christians must believe in Jesus' message and God to attain salvation. But they also follow the Law of Moses as they lead their lives, not because the Law is required for salvation, but because otherwise they will be committing sin given that Jesus did not abolish the Law. Even these Christians believe in salvation by faith alone, but they do not excuse themselves from the Law believing that God will punish them for sins due to breaking the Law, before ultimately accepting them into Heaven.

There seems to be major misunderstanding of what Jesus says and preaches, and this shows in answers provided by others. Most Christians believe that Jews are wrong to rely on practicing the Law of Moses as a pathway to salvation. This is not the case. As far as I know, Judaism also believes in salvation by faith alone. The Law is to be followed to avoid displeasing God and not sin. Following the Law to the letter, without faith in the One God, is not enough.

Jews do not believe that abiding by the Law of Moses is enough for attaining salvation - belief in the One God is key to attaining salvation. Jesus saw that many Jews of his time were obsessed with details of the Law and its interpretation, and not on Moses' call to focus on the belief in the One God. Jesus came to correct them in their practice and reinforce belief in God.

I am not even close to being knowledgeable enough to answer the question in a scholarly manner, but the above difference in belief is what I have uncovered by practicing in discussions on this portal. Others may be better able to elaborate further.