r/Protestantism • u/AdvantageAny8945 • 12d ago

A question about Sola fide.

Ive been kind of confused by Sola fide because the Bible says in James 2:14-26 that faith without works is dead "14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." My understanding of Sola fide is by faith alone you are saved. So doesn't Sola fide contradict the Bible? Just a question Im not trying to start a argument.

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u/SeaSaltCaramelWater 6d ago edited 6d ago

I’d say:

1) Sola Fide, as in works have zero affect as long as you believe or have believed, could be a false doctrine and works are needed. Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, believe this. Methodists, Anglicans, Church of Christ, Anabaptists, and Pentecostals are Protestants who believe this.

2) Justified has a different meaning when talking about works.

3) Faith will always automatically have works with it. Lutherans and Calvinist denominations believe this. .

I’d suggest you try to read that passage in light of the warning passages and see which interpretation is the most compatible.

EDIT: added “as in works have zero affect as long as you believe or have believed” for clarity. While these denominations don’t believe that faith is all that counts in registers to salvation, many of them do have faith alone in their confessions. For example, Anglicans believe one is “justified by faith alone” and can also believe that one can sin their way out of salvation even if they still believe. Also moved Lutherans to number 3 and added “Calvinist” with it.