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Faith Alone: The Cornerstone of The Reformation
Justification by faith alone (Sola Fide) is the lynchpin of the Protestant Reformation. It will stand or fall on the basis of this doctrine.
The essence of Sola Fide is the teaching that we are not saved by the merits of any of our good works, but rather we are saved on the merits of Christ alone.
Sola Fide is necessary to preserve the gospel. Without it, we get a syngergistic model of salvation within the context of works-righteousness (faith is acquired and preserved through good works).
The true and complete gospel is the monergistic model of salvation, based on the 5 Solas, and affirming Calvinistic soteriology (how we are saved).
It is entirely true that the one verse in the Bible that contains the exact phrase “faith alone” seems to argue against salvation by faith alone. James 2:24 reads, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone” (ESV). However, rejecting the doctrine of salvation by faith alone based on this verse has two major problems. First, the context of James 2:24 is not arguing against the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Second, the Bible does not need to contain the precise phrase “faith alone” in order to clearly teach salvation by faith alone.
James 2:14–26, as a whole, and especially verse 24, has been the subject of some confused interpretations. The passage definitely seems to cause serious problems for the “salvation by faith alone” concept. First, we need to clear up a misconception, namely, that James means the same thing by “justified” in James 2:24 that Paul means in Romans 3:28. Paul is using the word justified to mean “declared righteous by God.” Paul is speaking of God’s legal declaration of us as righteous as Christ’s righteousness is applied to our account. James is using the word justified to mean “being demonstrated and proved.”
The 2011 NIV provides an excellent rendering of James 2:24: “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (emphasis added). Similarly, the NLT translation of James 2:24 reads, “So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone” (emphasis added). The entire James 2:14–26 passage is about proving the genuineness of your faith by what you do. A genuine salvation experience by faith in Jesus Christ will inevitably result in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:10). The works are the demonstration and proof of faith (James 2:18). A faith without works is useless (James 2:20) and dead (James 2:17); in other words, it is not true faith at all. Salvation is by faith alone, but that faith will never be alone.
While James 2:24 is the only verse that contains the precise phrase “faith alone,” there are many other verses that do, in fact, teach salvation by faith alone. Any verse that ascribes salvation to faith/belief, with no other requirement mentioned, is a declaration that salvation is by faith alone. John 3:16 declares that salvation is given to “whoever believes in Him.” Acts 16:31 proclaims, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” See also Romans 3:28; 4:5; 5:1; Galatians 2:16; 3:24; Ephesians 1:13; and Philippians 3:9. Many other verses could be referenced in addition to these.
In summary, James 2:24 does not argue against salvation by faith alone. Rather, it argues against a salvation that is alone, a salvation devoid of good works and obedience to God’s Word. James’s point is that we demonstrate our faith by what we do (James 2:18). Regardless of the absence of the precise phrase “faith alone,” the New Testament definitely teaches that salvation is the product of God’s grace in response to our faith. “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? . . . On that of faith” (Romans 3:27). There is no other requirement.
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Mental Struggles
I’m in extreme mental pain
It’s because I’m insaneMy thoughts race
I can’t keep paceI’m a few bricks shy of a load
My mind is in a chaotic modeI hear voices all-day
They cause me dismayI have many a delusion
Also, I have major depressionI long to be mentally sound
Hallucinations aboundOne day I’ll be free
Thanks to the Trinityby Zachary Uram
(C) 2025 -
Summertime of My Youth
It’s a hot
Summer day
My sisters
And I
Make tents inside
Using the fans
We go outside
And walk barefoot
In the cool
Fresh grass
The ice cream man
Pulls up in front
Of our house
We get rainbow
Flavored Italian ice
And foot long
Strawberry licorice
We collect
Cicada shells
Off of pine trees
We run under
The weeping willow
Tree
We play in
The Big Yard
Burying treasures
In the ground
We swim
At the Brentwood pool
We walk home
We run
Under the sprinkler
During the evening
We collect
Lightning bugs
In glass jars
Finally, we sleep
And dream
Of more adventuresby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
Bringing the Gospel to All People
The white race
Is the best
Better than
All the restWe have
More achievements
Than anyone else
More accomplishmentsIn every field
Of knowledge
We dominate
We founded many a collegeWe entered
The countries dark
And primitive
The differences were starkWe brought the gospel
To these heathen lands
We preached
And raised our handsWe built hospitals
And established businesses
We eradicated
Diseases and illnessesThe colored people
Still practiced ancestor worship
And animism
They had many a hardshipChristianity took hold
The culture changed for the better
Paganism died out
They began a new chapterby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
Autumn
A cool breeze
Blows through
My bedroom window
Suddenly
There is
A torrential downpour
Thunder booms
Lightning strikes
Repeatedly
The air
Smells fresh
I fall asleep
Then wake up
I hear the rain
Striking the ground
It’s very relaxing
I go on a walk
I step on piles
Of damp leaves
Red, yellow, orange
And brown
It’s chilly
I see
My breath
As I exhale
It’s a perfect
Autumn dayby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
Soteriology
I thank God for saving me
Without Christ, I am full of miseryI was a despicable wretch
Salvation seemed a farfetchGod chose me before I was born
He regenerated me one cold mornIt was Christmas Day
When I did prayI repented of my sins immediately
I believed the gospel sincerelyThe Holy Spirit quicked my soul
My name is written on the Lamb’s scrollRegeneration precedes faith you see
We are gifted with repentance and faith and set freeSalvation is monergistic
God chose us, it is not synergisticby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
My Eschatology
The End Times can seem scary
Let God not tarryThe Church will be taken away
The unregenerate shall stayThe glorious rapture is pure truth
It will happen forsoothWe’ll meet Christ in the air
Of the wicked none shall He spareThe Lamb’s marriage supper shall commence
On earth will be the Holy Spirit’s absenceAfter seven years of heavenly mirth
We’ll return with Christ to earthChrist shall rule the millennial kingdom
It will be more glorious than you can fathomNext is the new heaven and new earth
It is only for those given second-birthby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
A Modern Crusade
I was on
A pure white steed
For war, I had a needWe were fighting
The Saracens in the Holy Land
With my men, we took a standWe had a huge army
To retake the land for the Lord
I gave the call then raised my swordWe nuked the cities
Where the Saracens did dwell
We killed them all and sent them to hellFinally in Jerusalem
We celebrated our total victory
We made historyby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
More Gospel Meditations
Nature cries out
With evidence
For the Creator
The proof
Is clear
There is no reason
To fear
Light out of darkness
Jesus is the Light
Of the world
He is the Good Shepherd
Who receives all
That His Father
Has given him
We are
Wretched sinners
Sinning constantly
As wicked as a devil
Yet Christ loved us
So much that He died
For our abominable sins
This precious
Sinless Lamb of God
He bore God’s
Full wrath
He gave up His Spirit
At Calvary
He was buried
But the grave
Could not hold Him
On the third day
He rose
This was the most
Significant event
In human history
He proved He was
Fully God
And fully man
Jesus defeated
Death, sin, and Satan
We come to faith
Through the
Effectual calling
Scripture penetrates
Our hearts
And the Holy Spirit
Quickens our dead souls
We are now alive
Spiritually
We are
New creations
When Scripture
Enters our minds
We repent sincerely
And believe the gospel
These twin gifts
Are from God
Thus regeneration
Precedes faith
We who are born again
Now have the power
Of Christ in us
Our sins were
Imputed to Him
On the cross
When we are made alive
Spiritually
Christ’s perfect
Righteousness
Is imputed to us
God no longer
Views us as sinners
He sees us as
His children
Through adoption
Unblemishedby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024 -
Jesus Christ
Great is our sin
But greater
Is our Redeemer’s love
Christ was our propitiationOur flesh
Has a stronghold
But in Christ
We are spotless and freshWe may have health issues
God can heal us
We must keep spreading
The Good NewsWe may be slandered by men
But our Lord will defend us
We the Prodigal Son
Welcomed home from the pigpenOur Lord is the King of Kings
He is the Alpha and Omega
His Kingdom shall have no end
The angel His praises singsby Zachary Uram
(C) 2024
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