Concept
Justificatio sola fide (or simply sola fide), meaning justification by faith alone, is a soteriological doctrine in Christian theology commonly held to distinguish the Lutheran and Reformed traditions of Protestantism, among others, from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian churches. The doctrine asserts that it is on the basis of faith that believers are made right of their transgressions of divine law rather than on the basis of what Paul the Apostle calls "works of the law", sometimes called good works. This forgiveness is known as "justification". In classical Lutheran and Reformed theologies, works are seen as crucial evidence of faith, but the works themselves do not determine salvation. In contrast, Methodist doctrine affirms a belief in justification by faith that offers God's forgiveness, but holds that holy living with the goal of Christian perfection (sanctification) is essential for salvation. The doctrine of justification by faith alone and the role of repentance has been interpreted differently by different Protestants, causing multiple controversies such as: the Antinomian Controversy, the Majoristic controversy, the Marrow Controversy, and the Lordship salvation controversy. Proto-Protestantism The doctrine of faith alone precedes Martin Luther in the theologies of many proto-Protestant reformers: Wessel Gansfort, Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples, Gottschalk, Claudius of Turin and possibly also in Johann Pupper. The doctrine of sola fide also seems to appear in the doctrine of John Wycliffe, as he stated: "Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on his sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by his righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation.". According to some historians Luther's view on the doctrine of sola fide was influenced by the Italian reformer Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola himself declared that works are a result of predestination and not a cause of predestination, and his views were praised by Martin Luther himself, who read his works.
