Pope Benedict XVI on Sola Fide (Faith Alone)

Jimmy Akin dives deep into the Catholic understanding of sola fide (faith alone) challenging the common Protestant position. He argues that while faith is essential, it must be accompanied by love to achieve justification.

[nickw]

It’s not like Abraham sipped up a Pina colada sitting on a lawn chair saying, “yup, there’s a God.” It turns out that Abraham had to demonstrate his faith God numerous times! He became a nomad. He had Sarah prepare rice cakes for three strangers. He also was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac until God intervened. So yeah, definitely not faith alone.

[dalethomas]

Fides = intellectual faith. Fiducia = trusting faith. What term would the RCC and/or Akin use to speak of saving faith that incorporates/works through love?

[vinupdsouza]

It was by faith, word 'Alone' was added by Luther.

[Geralt]

I am a confessional Lutheran, and we often get frustrated that the formula of the Solas is often understood from an Evangelical protestant perspective. Almost all the criticism of faith alone we have find do not apply to us. Our catechism actually teaches that faith is:
A workman
Lives itself out in prayer
Is a desire to obey the law.

Lacking a desire to obey the law is not how we define faith. Confessional Lutheranism actually teaches that one can drive out the Holy Spirit by actively fighting against obedience. We still teach veniel and mortal/grave sins but alas, everyone from Catholics to Protestant often like to caricature and straw man us without any understanding or charity.

[CureInsomnia]

As an ASU undergraduate in the late 80s I butted heads James White who was just getting started. I read his book on justification that cited everything except James 2:24.

[vladimirmoreno]

The first step to be justified is faith, that luther got it right, but after that, if you don’t get properly baptized, and you just sit at home, mumbling “I believe “…..
Heck, even demons believe!!!!

[Electric_]

Greta video. In regards to 1 Corinthians 13, keep in mind Jesus said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.” These commandments include baptism, repentance of sinful ways of living, and receiving the Holy Eucharist. So faith in love involves obedience and action. We Catholics do believe in justification by faith alone, but we correctly define what faith is and what kind of faith Christ is talking about.

[RobertWCornell]

Do you have to be Roman Catholic to go to Heaven? and why is the Catholic Bible missing certain books in the old testament in the Apocrypha

[TheLincolnrailsplitt]

His explanation of the role of trusting faith in salvation wasn't clear. Did he intend to dismiss its significance? Catholic Bible scholar Dr Pitre examines this topic well in this Catholic Production video 'Faith Without Works is Dead'.

[burtonsankeralli]

The issue has been resolved by Catholic and Lutheran theologians.

[francismarion]

Luther was right about a lot of things the Catholic church was doing.

[jonathanstensberg]

In other words, we can say that one is saved by faith alone only in so far as we mean by those words neither “faith” nor “alone”.

[LilSusss]

The entire Book of James makes it clear. Faith without works is dead.

[danielhixon]

The Anglican articles of Religion teach that “only faith” receives justification but also that good works “necessarily [do spring] from a true and lively faith” (alluding to James 2). I’m not sure that this sounds any different from Pope Benedict’s teachings as you have described them. Most well-read Protestants that I know would say that both James 2 and Galatians 5:6 and 1 Cor. 13 are all taking about the same thing: a “living” (or “lively”) faith, which is necessary for salvation. Protestants, such as Bonhoeffer, have been among the fiercest critics of “cheap grace” or “easy believing”, and Many Protestant churches have also signed on to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification agreement between the Vatican and the Lutherans. Does this mean that the issue, while there still are differences among us, is no longer a church-dividing issue? It does seem to me that there is a lot of talking past one another on this issue between Protestants and Catholics.

[aussierob]

Baptism is the "sacrament of faith' in a particular way, since it is the sacramental entry into the life of faith.

[ericballi]

If that was what was meant by the Council at Trent, then my initial response is that the council didn't understand Luther's intent with 'salvation by faith alone.' Any reformed Protestant understands that faith is not merely an intellectual decision, but a literal, spiritual gift from God Himself that transforms the individual from the inside out. And that faith will inevitably and surely manifest love and good works. Thus fulfilling both Paul and James understanding of saving faith.

[Chris-ti]

GOOD WORK IS A -- AND NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION !!!