Thursday, January 24, 2013

Sola Fide (By Faith Alone)

The Catholic Sola Fide:
   There is a reason that Pope Benedict teaches that faith alone suffices and that it always comes with charity. He means, by "true faith," a living faith. Now, living faith by dogmatic definition includes charity, for divine faith without hope and charity does not avail (1 Cor 13:2, 1 Jn 3:14). Charity is not first a "work." It is first of all a divine gift of love that comes down from the Father (Jas 1:17) through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). It is by this gift of divine love that faith can realize itself in good works (Gal 5:6). Pope Benedict teaches this very thing: Charity is the soul or form of faith (Audience, Nov. 19).

    http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/justification-sola-fide

1 Corinthians 13:2

New International Version (NIV)
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.


1 John 3:14

New International Version (NIV)
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.


James 1:17

New International Version (NIV)
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.


Romans 5:5

New International Version (NIV)
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.


Galatians 5:6

New International Version (NIV)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.