Sola Fide in the Church Fathers 

Anytime you show a Roman Catholic or an Eastern Orthodox friend where the Fathers actually held to views that disprove their doctrines, they simply say, "well, we have the Magesterium and tradition," in order to be impervious to any possible challenges. That's very frustrating. The Fathers, for example, have countless examples of justification by faith without any effort on our part. It's simply fact. Even if people think that doesn't amount to church doctrine, it still is clear that Sola Fide can be found very early in Church history.

I just want to say thank you so much. You have been an answer to my prayers. This has been a great equaliser to the stuff I've been listening to and reading on Eastern orthodoxy and the reformation. You've stabilised my convictions in not only the reformation, but Sola Scriptura. (not the ignorant type but one that respects tradition). I'm still struggling with baptismal regeneration, but by God's grace I'll get there. 🙏 Praise God for good scholarship 😁

Thanks so much for this Pastor Cooper. Sola Fide is at the heart of the Biblical gospel. It is very comforting for struggling believers and points us back to Christ and His work alone.

I really enjoyed this video. I am more arminian in my view of things. But this video really helped me. And I see you as a protestant. I disagree on some things but on the essentials we are very similar so yeah. Really enjoyed this

This is excellent. I really appreciate your balanced and scholarly approach to the church fathers. I too find it hard to read the church fathers because it seems like someone is always driving an agenda. It's very easy to cherry-pick, but I really like your honest and balanced approach. Please keep it up! Thank you!

Reading the fathers for my self was verry helpful. I appreciate that you bring up the fact that both Reformed and Roman Catholic's will take individual quotes out of context to support their position. I see this all the time and it is verry frustrating.

I would love to hear more quotes of fathers from other periods about sola fide

Dear Rev Dr Jordan can you make a video about the position of ELCA view points and theological position today? Thanks, keep the good work and blessings in your life and ministry. From a Lutheran colleague

Thanks pastor.

Would love more of these!

John Davenant, in his Treatise on Justification quotes often scholastics and church fathers in his favor. How do you judge the vality of his quotations? They were really efficacious against Bellarmine?

Pls keep it up brother!

Are there still german works of Martin Chemnitz or did he write mainly in Latin? I read Luther in German. I ask you because the translations of important theological works and treatises theses days in Europe is really lacking, since there are less and less Christians and Christianity is extremly shallow.

I am an older Catholic, and in the last several years I have become increasingly interested in the Church Fathers. I have been reading several commentaries especially on Paul's letters, and I have been looking for something to compliment these letters. Your videos serve a good portion of that purpose. This was a great video. FYI: The main reason I have become so interested in the Church Fathers is because in the past few years I have witnessed an increasing emphasis on piety in the RCC. It seems it is spearheaded mostly by young people...go figure. For that reason, I am searching for information on the earliest of liturgies (first and second century) in the Church because I am interested in the behavior/piety at these early sacred meals.

Mr. Cooper, who do you think came up with the label “church fathers”? Do you think it was Eusibius?

Considering it was over an hour long, I was let down by the lack of apostolic witness you brought forth. I do have one question though! So, understanding the fathers understanding of the sacraments, and that things like the Eucharist, baptism, etc actually reminded sins, bestowed life, and imparted the Holy Spirit and salvation... how would the fathers’ STRONG sacramentology work with faith alone in the Protestant sense?

Excellent content as always, Dr. Cooper. The fathers wrote without the dichotomies and boundaries that we have. They were Catholic. They were protestant. They were Orthodox. They were Christians defending the central, ecumenical doctrines of our Faith. No one can claim them, because they are not to be claimed by any but Christ.

Great subject! I believe you made a really significant statement saying let the Church fathers be the Church fathers . One question in studying the Church fathers concerning faith alone could we also study the fathers concerning scripture alone? They seem so connected. At least to me and some folks I have read ? Your Reformed fan . Bill Blessings

This was a good one doctor

for the answer, did any early church ftaher teach eternal security, not exactly a father, but Jovinian did

Great video, really enjoyed this. I’m not sure what the argument is for against Sola Fide. I’d prefer to give God all the glory for my salvation. Even any good works now can also be attributed to Him, as fruits of the Spirit (although I often fail and like to take credit). Am I missing something? The Roman Catholic view on this seems so convoluted to the point of obfuscation.

Where can I get the collection of all of the early church fathers writings?

General question that I have found no consistent Christian thinking on (and it may be coming from scrupulosity)... How many works are sufficient to see justification as having happened? ...or is it a *type* of works?

Augustine never taught sola fide and in fact condemned salvation by faith alone in his writing "On Faith and Works". “Let us now consider the question of faith. In the first place, we feel that we should advise the faithful that they would endanger the salvation of their souls if they acted on the false assurance that faith alone is sufficient for salvation or that they need not perform good works in order to be saved". - St. Augustine, "On Faith and Works", 14:21. 413 AD. “…if one can obtain eternal life without keeping the commandments, by faith alone, which without works is dead. And then, too, how will the Lord be able to say to those whom He will place on His left hand: Go into the everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels? For it is evident that He rebukes them, not because they did not believe in Him, but because they did not perform good works”. - St. Augustine, "On Faith and Works", 15:25, 413 AD. As well, the Church fathers taught sola fide formata which means faith formed by charity.

Very good can you do more videos like this

I have that exact sweater!!

14:40 I am not sure but i think Gottschalk might have talked about this, i know he held to the perseverance of the saints but, as you said, i don’t know about “all the regenerate”. I think modern calvinists would say that someone who is not persevering is not only not elect, but that he also was never regenerated in the first place. And of course this is because of not holding to baptismal regeneration and so not going with Augustine’s gift of perseverence.

Could you tell me if these verse of church fathers are according to Sola Scritura or just out of context? Clement of Rome (¿?-100) "You have searched the Scriptures, which are true, which were given to you by the Holy Spirit, and you know that there is nothing false or fraudulent written in them. (1 Clement 45) Justin Martyr (100-165) "Since I am fully convinced that no text of Scripture contradicts another ... I will try to persuade those who believe that the Scriptures are contradictory to think as I do" (Dialogue with Trypho, 65). "One must believe the Scripture for its nobility and for the trust in the One who sends it. The word of truth is sent by God [...] Since it has been sent with authority, there is no need to ask for proof of what it asserts since there is no other proof beyond itself, which is God" (Fragments from the Work of Justin Martyr on the Resurrection, 1). "On the day of the sun [Sunday], all are gathered together in one place, both those who dwell in the city and those who live in the country, and as the time permits, the tracts of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read. Later, when the reader finishes, the one who presides is in charge of warning, with words of exhortation, to imitate so admirable things" (First Apology, 67). Irenaeus (130-202) "This is their [the Gnostic heretics'] theory, which neither the prophets announced, nor the Lord taught, nor the apostles transmitted. And yet they boast of having received a higher knowledge of these things than all other people. All the time they quote texts that are not in the Scriptures and, as they say, make bonds with sand. And they are not concerned with arranging their doctrines in a reliable manner, whether it be the parables of the Lord, or the sayings of the prophets, or the preaching of the apostles. The only thing they try to do is that their creations do not seem to lack evidence. Therefore they entangle the order and text of the Scriptures, and as far as they can separate the members (of the body) from the truth. They transpose and transform everything, and mixing one thing with another, they seduce many by the fanciful composition they make from the words of the Lord" (Against Heresies, 1.8.1). "The Scriptures are perfect because they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit" (Against Heresies, 2.28.2). "In this way all the Scriptures that God has given us will seem congruent to us, the interpretations of the parables will agree with clear expressions, and we will hear the diverse voices as a single melody that raises hymns to the God who made all things" (Against Heresies, 2.28.3). "We have known the economy of our salvation only through those through whom the Gospel has come to us [the apostles]: first they proclaimed it, then by the will of God they transmitted it to us in writing to be the pillar and foundation (1 Timothy 3:15) of our faith" (Against Heresies, 3.1.1). Tertullian (155-240) "The affirmations of the Holy Scripture will never be in disagreement with the truth" (Treatise on the Soul, 21). Origins (185-254) "No one should establish a doctrine from a book that is not part of the canonical Scriptures" (Commentary on Matthew, 26). "No other source [beyond the Old and New Testaments] should be consulted to give authority to any knowledge or doctrine" (Homily on Leviticus, 5). Dionysius of Alexandria (¿?-264) "We accept all that can be proved by the teachings of the Holy Scripture" (Quoted in Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Book 7). Athanasius (296-373) "Some think that the Scriptures are not congruent or that God, who gave the commandment, is false. But there is no discrepancy. Neither could the Father, who is the truth, lie because it is impossible for God to lie" (Easter Letter, 19.3). "These books are the source of salvation so that those who thirst may be filled with the living words which they contain. The doctrine of piety is proclaimed in these books. Let no one add or take away anything from what is written in these books" (Easter Letter, 39.6). "The sacred and inspired Scriptures are sufficient to declare the truth" (Against the Pagans, 1.3) 8.- Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386) "Concerning the divine and holy mysteries of faith, nothing should be transmitted without the Holy Scriptures, nor should things be recklessly argued that are simply probable and supported by arguments built with artificial words. And do not think, then, that I will proceed in this way, but by proving from the Scriptures what I am announcing to you. For this faith, to which we owe our salvation, does not receive its strength from commentaries and disputes, but from demonstration through the Holy Scriptures" (Catechesis, 4.17). Basil of Caesarea (330-379) "Those who are instructed in the Scriptures should examine what the teachers say, receiving all that is in conformity with the Scripture and rejecting that which is opposed to it; and they should avoid teachers who persist in teaching such [false] doctrines" (The Moralia and Regulae, 72). Gregory of Nyssa (335-395) "The Scriptures are the canon of all dogmas. Let us fix our eyes on them and only accept the teachings that can harmonize with them" (On the Soul and the Resurrection, 5). Ambrose (340-397) "Do not follow the traditions of philosophy or those who give the appearance of seeking truth in order to deceive by the art of persuasion. Instead, accept, according to the rule of truth, what is affirmed in the inspired words of God" (Six Days of Creation, 2.1.3). John Chrysostom (349-407) "Your word is truth, that is, there is no falsehood in it and everything that is said in it must be fulfilled" (Homily on John 17:17). "It is necessary to establish all the arguments from the Scripture and thus demonstrate with precision that they are not an invention of human reasoning, but the very verdict of the Scripture. In this way all that we say will have more credibility and will go deeper into your mind" (Homily on the Statutes, 1.14).

Why are you comparing Augustine with modern RC theologians?

Continue please

You are a good man Jordan Cooper!!!…although I’m catholic..what about apostolic succession I feel that was unanimous as well

Loved this video. Question: Where was the Church before the Reformation? In other words, did anyone around the Middle Ages or before Luther know about Sola Fide?

How could we be accused of atheism by the Romans if images or venerations were so central to our worship?

Semi Iconoclast?

Time stamps?

Interesting and agree one shouldn’t cherry pick the Fathers rather than reading a whole work for example . Even I as a Roman Catholic wasn’t aware that Augustine wrote a text called “On Faith and Works”. There was a good reason since it is not included in the common collection Of the fathers that most find online such as at CCEL. If you read this you will at least not be able to believe that Augustine was Sola Fide. And he never criticized this text in a foundational way in his Retractions. The text is published as part of the Ancient Christian Writer series which is published by an imprint of the Paulist press

Augustine doesn’t have unanimity with Augustine so how can we expect unanimity among all the early church fathers??

Please continue with further videos on later church fathers. It's uplifting to know that some of the fathers taught justification through faith alone and that had they lived at the time of the Reformation they would have endorsed Luther's teaching and rejected Rome's

I wonder how many of the Catholics in these comments have read the joint declaration on justification. Very interesting they'll still argue against sola fide as if even Rome hasn't acknowledged it to an extent.

Very clear to me what paul meant not for particular works in relation to the Jews but to all who follow in the footsteps of Abraham read the whole of Romans

Did the Gerhard catholicity of the Lutheran reformation ever make it’s way to English?

41:50 is where the text analysis begins

39:44 starts his statement about his view

Exploring Lutheranism for the first time and i have a question. If u believe in sola fide how do u also believe in baptismal regeneration?

That's a pretty snazzy sweater

Thanks very much for your review of Faith Alone in the Fathers.... If l were to search Ambrose, should l use the word 'faith' and do you have any other suggestions for search words or to what section of Ambrose should l read first? Thanks.

Dr Cooper, what is "The Faith once and for all delivered " and was that consistantly believed by the early church? Thanks for your videos.

Dr. Cooper, I have likewise collected and collated a number of patristic expressions on sola fide if you are interested. If you are, please point me to an email address for yourself.

You say that the majority of the fathers did not believe in faith alone this is not true. Some did do not try And down play this

Never heard of Anglo-Catholics until now. Had to google it... so they're more Catholic Anglicans? lol

21:30 yes there are sola fide in church fathers

I would still read the whole text St. Clement of Rome Quote #1 Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works, and not our words. First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Chapter 30 1Clem 50:4 Blessed were we, dearly beloved, if we should be doing the commandments of God in concord of love, to the end that our sins may through love be forgiven us.

Can something that is subtly or 'existentially' present throughout most of Christian tradition really be the 'article on which the church stands or falls'?

Matt Slick of CARM insists that the early church fathers didn't hold to Baptismal Regeneration, which kind of destroys any credibility he might've had on everything else. Good video.

Clement begins speaking of justification in his comments in 1 Epistle to the Corinthians 30:1. Clement speaks of being justified by works not by words in 30:2 and that Abraham was blessed "because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith." The emphasis is on "wrought" through "faith." For Clement continues in 32:4: "And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the glory for ever and ever." It seems more accurate to Clement to say that he is calling his readers to obey through faith and that apart from faith even the most pure works are nothing towards justification if not done oriented in faith in God. I do not see Clement helping much in the way of giving Luther's view on Sola Fide a source in Clement of Rome.

Please continue this

queston, say someone who recently discovers Christianity and although professing the faith genuinely in his heart and mind, is unable to be baptized for whatever reason (maybe he was killed or something) what happens to him? Is he not saved despite loving Jesus Christ and confessing him as his savior? I think of this stuff because I have a habit of reading about Christians under persecution (don't know why) and I can easily see situations like these happening. I don't think God would deny someone because they were unable be literally washed, I always saw baptism as important but that its what goes on in your heart that's most important.

What kind of Christian am I? (I'm unsure myself) I think we receive love though we do not deserve it, and have done nothing to deserve it, and have done everything to not deserve it. This undeserved love is the light of God that upholds everything, and creates everything. Jesus is this light, and came to show us both how little we deserve it, and how much He still gives it. It is truly realising and feeling the undeservedness of it in our heart and then accepting that we still live and breathe by it that gives us an opening to true faith. The danger of any sort of works requirement is that it might distract from this. Nobody is saying that one should not do works. One will desire to give love to all of God's creation once one realises the truth of the relationship between God and us. It's not something that can be required of anyone, that's missing the whole special thing. There are a million ways people might be given this realisation, and it won't always be an intellectual understanding they are able to vocalise.

The CONTEXT of Faith "Alone" means like this... Analogy/metaphor... For Example... If I read in the book that Mr. Smith entered the theater by himself and exited with his friends."... Can I NOT comprehend/understand/interpret that Mr. Smith entered "ALONE" in the theater just because the word "ALONE" was not written?... that is a RIDICULOUS context... That was what the Bible had TRULY meant by context without the word "ALONE." The same with FAITH thru the Grace of God, which must come "ALONE" in us without any "work/deeds" that we can at least boast of, by having "first" the "BELIEF" in Christ Jesus who died for our sins and accept Him as our Lord and Savior (messiah/christ),... then after believing, what follows next is to "REPENT" for all our previous transgressions and accept "(Water) BAPTISM" in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...then we became a NEW Person in Christ Jesus thru the Holy Spirit called Christians, that we may do our DEEDS/WORKS of Charity of Love to your neighbors including enemies that are "Pleasing" in the Sight of God... By these, we no longer can claim all our Good Works/Deeds came 100% from our OWN selves ALONE by the gift of free will but by the ONE who manifested into our new lives in Christ Jesus thru the Holy Spirit called "COMFORTER" of Christians... All the "GOOD WORKS/DEEDS" that we do in our New Lives with Christ do not come "alone" by our own Freewill but by the help of the Holy Spirit that manifested inside ourselves... St. Paul said, we must STEADFAST and FINISH the race... of what?... Faith and doing Good Works until our last breath (death)...why?... for we might LOSE it in our OWN way (not thru the hands of God) if we are not STEADFAST with our Faith and Good Works/Deeds up to the last END of our earthly lives... For on Judgment Day of God, all will be judged according to their Works/Deeds "accordingly" (Rev. 20:12 / Roman 2:6)... Why ACCORDINGLY?... because the Jews who did not believe in God's Son as the Messiah/Christ will be judged thru their works/deeds based on the Law of Moses... others, like the Sodom and Gomorrah, according to the Bible, God will be more merciful for they never HEARD the Gospel, same with those people who died before the Gospel was preached, same with other religion and beliefs... For the True Christians (not Christian by birth/name only or the would-be followers of Christ) eventually will not be judged, but rather 'THEY" will all seat down at the judgment table of God and not be condemned in the fire of hell... Wow, we (Christians) will be SPECTATORS to all people that God will be judged, the bible even said, Christians will be able also to judge and be able to accuse their persecutors, and their murderers as well... Praise be to God... To God be the Glory, Power, and Honor, in Christ Jesus name, above all other names, our Lord and Savior... Amen.

Would you conclude that of man spirit soul and body was not taken into consideration regards church fathers , the mindset of for example 1 Corinthians 6 v 17 and Ephesians sealed in spirit directly points to St Paul’s frustration of getting the Corinth church to distinguish between elementary/ milk and meat /mysteries in Christ 1 Corinthians 3 v 2 , one can equate within context in Hebrews 6 . Working out ones salvation in the flesh verses in the Spirit both require faith however the difference being the fruits of the spirit emanating through the renewing of your mind spirituality or carnally produce the difference before God unto works not man . Works before man illustrated by the famous James argument is taken unfortunately in the flesh as walking out your salvation , however if not truly from the spirit means zero before God , in outward appearance in man they both can look the same .Holy in spirit and holy in flesh both give off works . Works of the flesh account as self righteousness before the Father however man is unable to distinguish between the two , both would look the same to us in the flesh . Walking by the spirit we will not for full the desires of the flesh as St Paul illustrates is something believers take as behaviour modification again outward appearance presents holiness however inwards a continuous struggle with condemnation being the forefront of reasoning behind worship although nothing wrong with this it stems back to worshipping as a babe in Christ . Full discernment of spirit soul and body needs accomplishing, the words labour to rest , or take my yoke unto confidence of no condemnation by way of your spirit and the renewing of your mind . I’ve found that the Church Fathers were thinking as babes in Christ although spot on with eliminatory teachings expressed Hebrews 6 Paul expresses his frustration of two different gospels appearing only a few years after teaching the congregation ,one was through grace producing a licence to sin , the other works righteousness, both prevalent today similarities between the two both believers look holy before man in there works however BOTH ARE VOID OF SPIRIT they are not joined unto being born again true baptism in Holy Spirit ref nicodemus being spoken too by Jesus . Church fathers don’t substantiate clearly between being the sons of Hagar or the sons of Sahra there’s a definitive mixture , new wine in old skins Truly the gates are narrow in this respect

48:18 - ceremonial works

I know you might not read this, but I need more. I grew up in the reformed church and it was more cultic than Christian. I need more. Thanks 🙏

Rev Jordan is unbiased...

Problematic means doubtful, not characterized by a problem or problems … and why is unanimity a criterion? so, you’re suggesting we ignore important singular voices because there was no unanimity? Every church council that produced orthodox belief (e.g., eternal sonship, theotokos, etc.) was based on a lack of unanimity. I find that Protestants deal best with the Church fathers honestly by (1) ignoring them and (2) marginalizing them as a collection of crude thinkers who lacked unanimity …

church fathers, who invented that title?

Abraham was saved by faith in the promise. His faith entailed action - he left the land of his fathers and became a nomad, trusting in the promises of God and entering into a covenant with Him. His faith would not have been faith had he not acted. However, he also did not EARN the gift of the promise. Rather, his actions merely reflected the trust he had in God - faith put into action.

So i guess James wasn't a church father........

Excerpts from the Revelation only... enjoy.! (Rev 2, 5) Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and DO THE FIRST WORKS... (Rev 2, 19) I know your WORKS, love, service, faith, and your patience; and AS FOR YOUR WORKS, the last are more than the first. (Rev 2, 23) ...And I will give to each one of you ACCORDING TO YOUR WORKS. (Rev 2, 26) And he who overcomes, and KEEPS MY WORKS until the end, to him I will give power over the nations (Rev 3, 8) I know your WORKS... (Rev 14, 13) ...that they may rest from their labors, and THEIR WORKS follow them. (Rev 20, 12) ...And the dead were judged ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS... (Rev 20, 13) ...And they were judged, each one ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS.

40 + minutes in, and you haven't addressed the question yet.

You still have to explain why it took the Holy Spirit 1500yrs to reveal such a crucial dogma as SF. Why haven't any councils decreed it for such a large period of time? Did the HS screw up?

This book has rattled you why

By Grace through Faith Ephesians 2:8-9 8 (A)For by grace you have been saved (B)through faith, and that not of yourselves; (C)it is the gift of God, 9 not of (D)works, lest anyone should (E)boast Roman 4:4-5= Now to him who works, the wages are not counted [a]as grace but as debt.5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,(Me= the works of Abharam is not the same as the law of works, why? Because the law came in the time of Moses and Moses was born about 300-400 years after Abharam died.) Romans 11:6 6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [a]But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. Titus 3:4-7 4 But when (A)the kindness and the love of (B)God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 (C)not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through (D)the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 (E)whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace (F)we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 2 Timothy 1:9 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, (A)not according to our works, but (B)according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus (C)before time began, 1 Peter 1:3-5 3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who (B)according to His abundant mercy (C)has begotten us again to a living hope (D)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance [a]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, (E)reserved in heaven for you, 5 (F)who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Ephesians 2:5 (A)even when we were dead in trespasses, (B)made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Romans 5:1 Faith Triumphs in Trouble 5 Therefore, (A)having been justified by faith, [a]we have (B)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ________________________ 2 Timothy 3:15 15 and that from childhood you have known (A)the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:8-9 8 And (A)the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, (B)“In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 2:16 16 (A)knowing that a man is not [a]justified by the works of the law but (B)by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not (C)by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 3:22-24 22 But the Scripture has confined (A)all under sin, (B)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, [a]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore (C)the law was our [b]tutor to bring us to Christ, (D)that we might be justified by faith.

53:13 'The first quote by itself sounds Lutheran, the second quote by itself sounds Roman Catholic'. Actually, if you take them together, they sound Reformed. 'by grace you are saved, not of works," Ephesians 2:8-9 but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.' - We are saved _by_ God's grace alone, and not by our works. Of course Lutherans and the Reformed agree with this. 'But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise us up also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness,' - All who are saved will walk in God's commandments. This is because God does not fail in saving the elect, and always succeeds in turning them to righteousness. Thus, we will only be saved if we do God's will. But when we do his will, it is entirely attributable to the Holy Spirit's regeneration (monergism). The Reformed have consistently said that good works are necessary for salvation, though not for justification. Voetius even said that good works are the 'cause of eternal life' in a 'preparatory and dispositional sense' and not in a 'meritorious' sense.

Justification by faith is true, however, it is not the same nor does it mean the “instant Eternal Life” doctrine as understood by Martin Luther and reformed theology. The idea that mere passive belief in Jesus is a free unrestricted pass into Heaven is totally false. Faith is what gives rise to and power in all of our actions. Hebrews 11 does not speak of faith as mere belief, but the whole chapter is a list of great works accomplished by and through the power and principle of faith! Faith is the underlying hope of things not yet seen, and the abiding assurance and trust that they are true that causes us to ACT. This is why James 2 famously teaches that faith and works cannot be meaningfully separated. Our works in and of themselves have no power to save us, even if they are “good.” But the transformative grace of God that changes our minds, hearts and very natures (which we invite into our lives by exercising faith), is what salvation is all about. Are we really saved from sin if we still yield to it and allow it’s tyranny to still reign in our souls? This can only be overcome by the grace of Jesus Christ working in us. We absolutely need His help and aid. He will justify us before God, but we must be humble and repentant, faithful and striving. The whole point the gospel is to help us be “partakes of the divine nature” and to understand and enjoy the life God lives. We must be transformed by grace, and this is only possible by exercising real faith in Son of God and striving on the path He has set for us.

But let's look at what the bible says look and read what the early Christians say

Can we ever just sit there and think. If only turtullian used symbolic language in regards to the Lords supper and believed in a delayed baptism then maybe just maybe turtullian is a out right heretic. Same with origin. Just Because they are early church writers doesn’t mean they aren’t heretics especially seeing how much they differ from The rest of the church.

Maybe the real problem on some of these issues is that whether catholic or protestant both sides make this all significantly more complicated then it needs to be. We are all sinners and fallen in adam and we are saved by Gods grace which is his mercy and choice to save us because he can, and we cant. This salvation is given to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ of which if Jesus did not come and do this there would be no salvation, so it really is by Gods grace alone given to us in the work of Christ alone. God calls us to repent and believe in him and the Lord Jesus Christ, he doesn't call us to believe in budda, or zeus, or Allah, but in Jesus Christ and to entrust ourselves to him alone. So we are made right with God or justified in the sight of God by faith not in the law or in ourselves but in Jesus Christ alone and what he did. And true faith shows repentance, and overcoming willful sin, and following in the steps of Christ, so good works will follow because like abraham that was declared righteous by his faith, had faith that moved and did what God said to do. I dont know why so many people complicate this. And good works can be things like praying, reading the bible, or going to church of which we need to do, but anyone who reads the bible sees good works as being serving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in love, and doing good to our fellow man and preaching the gospel. End of story

10:32 bookmark

These same Church Fathers teach Purgatory, intercession of the saints in Heaven, the True presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and that persisting in sin can keep a Christian out of Heaven.

Really appreciate your insight here. Although as Protestants our final authority is always the Word of God, that doesn't mean that we don't care about what the church fathers taught. Well done!

Psychology 101: (taught in school)... "A normal person (including spiritual entities) never ACT (work/deed) without having First the Thought of Idea and Purpose/Reason." For examples... "NO normal person will ever LAUGHS/SMILES (work/deed) without finding first HAPPINESS in their hearts/minds"... "NO normal people will KILL/MURDER (work/deed) without finding first HATRED/JEALOUSY in their hearts/minds"... "Satan/Devil will never REBEL/FIGHT (work/deed) against God without finding first VANITY/PRIDE in his heart/mind."... "Abraham/Moses/all Prophets will never OBEY/FOLLOW (work/deed) God's instructions/commandments without finding first FAITH in their hearts/mind"...etc. FAITH starts first before WORK/DEEDS begins... Facts and Truth... Amen.

My favorite thing to do is read the comment section on videos about justification. I'm pretty sure Catholic Answers has bot accounts that just spam prewritten essays on why sola fide is erroneous and why we all should return to the one true holy guacamole apostolic church

No purgotary Mary confessions in the bible

The Lutherans I have heard, clergy as well as laity, seem confused on sola fide. The way it comes down is justification by something you think (scriptural propositions), rather than something you do. I like what Vilmos Vajta says in "Luther On Worship" about this. He says that when Luther said "justification by faith" he meant justification by Christ. I think that there is a deep mis-understanding among Lutherans on this point. When S. Paul writes, "therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" he isn't matching something we think against something we do. Propositions against sanctification. He is saying that we are justified by Christ and not by Torah. But Torah doesn't mean the decalogue here, but rather the OT sacrificial system. Nor can one isolate a discussion on justification and say nothing else. To do so is pointless and misleading and makes one, automatically, an anti-nomian. I know that dogmaticians often speak on a purely theoretical level when it comes to this discussion. But there is not benefit. It only adds to the confusion.

That sweater tho....

Abraham did not obey (work/deeds) God without FIRST "believing/trusting" (faith) in God... FAITH starts first before Work/Deed begins... The original sin or the first sin of Mankind is not DISOBEDIENCE (deed/work) to God... but DISBELEIVING/DISTRUSTING (Faith) the words of God that they (Adam/Eve) will die as soon as they touch and eat the fruits from the Tree of Knowledge between the Good vs Evil... Facts and Truth... Amen.

So basically the church fathers said very little about” justification by faith

But your arguement bad you take isolated scripture's out of context

FAITH ALONE/ONLY is Biblically True and the only WAY for those who are OUTSIDE the Faith of Christianity... the only WAY to become a PARTAKERS of the Kingdom of God is thru FAITH ALONE or ONLY by the Grace of God without works/deeds based on the Law of Moses that we can at least boast of... after we have accepted by believing Jesus is the Messiah/Christ, we then repent all our sins to God, then we undergo Water Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit... then we became a NEW PERSON with a new beginning and a new purpose in life, like a spiritually born again, not the Religion/church of the Born Again... after this, we became Christians and our "Faith is no longer alone" but must manifest with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit the "fruits of our good works/deed (Charity of Love)" throughout our lives... "Faith without Good works/deeds is a dead Faith"... this is true when we are Christian already... Amen.

It seems you are trying to use the fathers to justify a position which, as you say, was unknown until the 16th century. Although they obviously did not agree on everything, the fathers were members of the Orthodox Church, which does not and never did teach Sola Fide.

Я действительно тут единственный русский?

Above all these things, you must put on Love, ( Colossians 3:14), for even if one has ALL FAITH, but does not love, it is useless, ( 1 Corinthians 13:2, Matthew 25:35-42). Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is True food and Blood True drink

The apostolic fathers do not agree with you . Catholics pull out statements out of quotations out of the churchr

Origen and Pelagius taught Faith Alone.

Yes Catholics and orthodox fall back on well every thing we do was directed by Holy Spirit and only Church can interpret meaning of scripture 😎

Sola fide is refuted by Matthew 25:31-46 and James 2:24-26. Sola scriptura is refuted by 2 Thessalonians 2:15. The Church Fathers were solidly Catholic. Outside the Catholic Church there is no salvation.

Some years ago I looked at the early church fathers to see what their stance was on infant baptism. What became clear was that the idea of a sudden corruption of the church leading from credo baptism to paedo baptism was not really tenable. Infant baptism went too far back and was too wide spread to support a Baptist claim against it. What did shock me more was that early on in the writings there seems to have been some sort of view that baptism was regenerative or at least did away with original sin. As for your statement around 54:00 I think John Piper would disagree with you. Not saying he is right you can be the judge on that. He says something sort of cryptic like we are not saved by faith alone. Justification makes God 100% for us and places us in a position where we can gain final salvation by our works on judgment day. I don't remember exactly how he put it. Here is only one example of this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8dh4Ifb4vCY.html Check out the confusion in the comment section on this vid.

You are reading your view into the text. "Clear Romans 4 language" - Faith Alone guys don't have a copyright on faith alone "Now Clement says elsewhere something that indicates work juatifies. But I read the faith alone passage first so I can ignore the other passage" - Catholic Soteriology has initial justification by faith alone "Polycarp clearly contradicts faith alone, but let me pull the James 2 card and say good works are evidence" - Nice try but he mentioned abstinence from sin

If I have faith can I take part in an armed robbery?

Pretty rambling