What we believe matters. And that is no less true when it comes to religious belief and certainly the apex of disagreement between the Reformers and Roman Catholics can be found in the Reformation slogan sola fide.
In today’s world of tolerance and conciliation even theologians have a tendency to stray from the old paths and act as if postmodernity has the ability to build new roadways to places not traveled in a long time. For example, one theologian has gone on record as saying that the Reformation’s doctrine of justification by faith alone was “a tempest in a teapot.” Another has argued that Luther misunderstood Paul. And still others can’t imagine anyone could be so insensitive as to say that people are going to hell based on what they believe! After all, a person’s beliefs are their own and who are you or anyone else to tell them they are wrong? That would be, well, dogmatic!
And yet, what we believe matters and we all know it. I can’t just say, “I believe this and you can’t tell me I’m wrong!” I beg to differ. For example, I can believe that the traffic light is green but if it is in fact red I may be the cause of a serious accident. Or I can tattoo my body with images of feathers and identify as some type of avian but my guess is that the tax man is going to expect my donation come April 15th. No, what we believe matters. And that is no less true when it comes to religious belief and certainly the apex of disagreement between the Reformers and Roman Catholics can be found in the Reformation slogan sola fide.
According to the Scriptures salvation is by faith alone. This faith is a gift from God (Phil. 1:29). It is a fruit of the Spirit’s regenerative work in the life of a believer. According to the Reformers, this faith includes knowledge (notitia) of God’s special revelation in Christ, assent (assensus) to the truth revealed and faith (fiducia) or personal trust or affection for the Christ who saves. This faith contributes no merit to our salvation. B. B. Warfield said it this way, The saving power of faith resides thus not in itself, but in the Almighty Savior on whom it rests…It is not faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ…It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ who saves through faith.”[1] Warfield was absolutely right.
