Sola fide - Faith alone

Romans 5:1 -Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sola fida or faith alone was the battle cry of Martin Luther and the reformers of the protestant movement. Sola fide is one of the five solas that came to define and summarise the key issues of the Protestant Reformation. 

The doctrine of justification by faith alone distinguishes us from every other religion that is "work based". Martin Luther described it as being “the article with and by which the church stands.”  Those who reject this foundation are in danger of embracing "another gospel".

Romans 5:1 may have about 20 words but it is pregnant with much theology that may even take years to unpack.

The basis of this verse is embedded on the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Because of sin, that intervened human history in Genesis 3,  man lost the shalom he had with God. The ensuing consequence was that man was separated from God. That separation not only brought death, pain, disease and sorrow to the human race, it also affected all of creation. But worst , it cut is away from God our creator.

Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

But God in His love and mercy provided a solution for man. God himself provided a remedy for man's sin because no matter what righteousness man does it will never appease the wrath of God.

Isaiah 64:6. - All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

But thanks be to God, while we were still sinners, while we were ungodly, while we were enemies, Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:6,8,10).

This was a plan that was conceived even before ht creation of this world (Ephesians 1:4) and only eternity will unfold the mystery of this amazing expedient. 

And because of what Christ did for us, you and I have been made just, righteous and holy. Just as if we had not sinned. Our past, no matter how bad or wicked, it is all all washed by the blood of the lamb and the psalmist describes this euphoria in:

Psalms 103:12 - as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God does not remember them any more.

Isaiah 43:25 - “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

The cross has bridged us back to God and the shalom that was lost in the garden of Eden is now restored in Mount Calvary. We have peace with God. 

Colossians 1:20 - and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

The only thing we need to do is to accept this grace, the forgiveness of sin,  by faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for me.

Faith and faith alone. Sola Fia - Justified by faith.

To God be the glory.