In the “Sola Fide” series, we delve into the foundational principle of the Christian faith: justification by faith alone. This series explores how righteousness is attained not through our own efforts or adherence to the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Each week will illuminate the significance of this doctrine. We will also understand the overwhelming reign of grace over sin and the transformative power of being dead to sin
and alive to God. Through this series, you will gain a deeper appreciation of how “Faith Alone” shapes our relationship with God and our daily lives, and how this doctrine liberates us from the bondage of trying to earn our salvation.

Paul uses Abraham as an example of justification by faith. He highlights that Abraham was justified before the law and that faith, rather than works, is what counted for righteousness.

How can Abraham’s example of faith inspire and guide your own faith journey?

Read:
Romans 4:1-5
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.


Cross-Reference:
Genesis 15:6
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

 Galatians 3:6
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Reflection:
Abraham was justified by faith, not by works. His faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Question:
How can you apply Abraham’s faith to your own life and trust in God’s promises?

Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust in Your promises as Abraham did, and to rely on faith rather than my own efforts.

Read:
Romans 4:6-8
6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Cross-Reference:
Psalm 32:1-2
Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

2 Corinthians 5:19
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Reflection:
David speaks of the blessedness of those whose sins are forgiven and whose transgressions are covered.

Question:
How does understanding the forgiveness of sins through faith impact your relationship with God and others?

Prayer:
Father, thank You for covering my transgressions and forgiving my sins. Help me to live in the light of Your grace and forgiveness.

Read:
Romans 4:9-12
9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Cross-Reference:
Genesis 17:10-14
10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
 
Ephesians 2:14-16
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Reflection:
The promise of righteousness through faith extends to both circumcised and uncircumcised believers.

Question:
How does the inclusivity of God’s promise affect your understanding of the Church and your place in it?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for including all who have faith in Your promises. Help me to embrace and live out this inclusivity in my relationships and actions.

Read:
Romans 4:13-17
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.


Cross-Reference:
Galatians 3:15-18
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
 
Hebrews 6:13-15
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Reflection:
The promise to Abraham and his descendants is based on faith, not on adherence to the law.

Question:
How can you rely on God’s promises rather than trying to earn His favor through your own efforts?

Prayer:
Father, help me to trust in Your promises and to rely on Your grace rather than on my own efforts to earn favor with You.

Read:
Romans 4:18-21
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[a] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Cross-Reference:
Genesis 18:14
14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Hebrews 11:11
11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[a] considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Reflection:
Abraham believed in God’s promise even when hope seemed impossible, and his faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Question:
How can you maintain faith in God’s promises even when your circumstances seem hopeless?

Prayer:
Lord, strengthen my faith and help me to trust in Your promises even when I face seemingly impossible situations.

Read:
Romans 4:22-25
22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Cross-Reference:
Galatians 3:24-26
24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,

1 Peter 1:3
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Reflection:
Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness, and it was for our benefit as well, so that we might be justified by faith.

Question:
How does Abraham’s faith serve as an example for your own journey of faith?

Prayer:
Father, thank You for Abraham’s example of faith. Help me to follow his example and to trust in Your promises fully.

Read:
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 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.


Cross-Reference:
Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Reflection:
Justification by faith brings peace with God, access to grace, and hope through trials.

Question:
How does understanding your justification by faith impact your daily life and your approach to challenges?

Prayer:
Lord, help me to live in the peace and hope that comes from being justified by faith. Strengthen me through trials and let Your grace abound in my life.