Orthodox Response to the Protestant Claim that We are Saved by Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
Terminology
Some Protestant terms to be familiar with:
Sola Fide = we are saved by Faith Alone
Sola Gratia = we are saved by God’s Grace Alone, regardless of our efforts (works of faith)
Sola Scriptura = the Bible Alone holds authority on matters of faith; the Tradition of the Church (its historic mindset and interpretation) is man-made and therefore should be refuted; every believer has the power to interpret it on their own.
Protestant Doctrine of Sola Fide:
Originates from a legal framework inherited from medieval Western Christianity.
Its originators, Martin Luther and John Calvin, both trained as lawyers, described justification before God in legal terms.
Salvation is viewed as a legal transaction: guilt, punishment, substitution by Christ, and a declaration of righteousness.
Orthodox Critique of the Legal Model:
Argues that this legal approach distorts the understanding of sin and salvation.
Western Christianity sees sin as a crime requiring punishment; Orthodoxy disagrees with this premise.
Orthodox View - Participation, Not Declaration:
Salvation is understood as theosis (deification)—actual participation in God’s divine nature.
Justification and sanctification are not separated; salvation is transformative union with God, not a legal acquittal.
Difference in Theological Mindset:
Protestant theology is criticized for over-intellectualizing faith, reducing Christianity to logical precepts.
In Orthodoxy, God is seen as someone to be encountered and experienced though the sacramental life of the Church, not just intellectually understood.
Protestants believe in the Sola Scriptura (only the Scripture has authority to teach us about the Faith).
Problems with Sola Scriptura:
Protestants believe that all who declare their faith in Christ can interpret the Scripture on their own.
Thus, Sola Scriptura leads to fragmentation as everyone becomes their own authority and develops their own beliefs.
Lack of unified mindset results in many Protestant denominations.
The Orthodox response to Sola Scriptura:
Scripture is not self-interpreting
To be fully understood, it requires inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
This guidance is found in the community of the Church
We rely on generations of saints who lived a life of holiness and were inspired by the Holy Spirit to properly interpret the Scripture.
Importance of the Early Church’s Mindset:
Understanding the New Testament requires the mind of the early Church (apostolic mindset).
Protestants read their conclusions into Scripture due to ignoring this mindset.
Biblical Evidence - James 2:24:
James 2:24 (“Faith without works is dead”) is cited as a biblical refutation of Sola Fide.
Martin Luther disliked the book of James for this reason.
Historical Context:
Orthodox Christianity never experienced a Reformation or the disputes between Protestants and Catholics.
Luther’s doctrine is seen as a response to Western theological problems, not present in Orthodox Christianity.
Salvation as an Act of Cooperation:
Salvation involves cooperation (synergy) between divine grace and human response.
Sola Fide (justification by Grace Alone) removes our human response to God’s grace.
Works (or faith in action) are indispensable as part of salvation—not as proof or as a way to earn salvation, but as the natural fruit of participation in God’s life.
Conclusion:
Sola Fide is viewed as a misunderstanding of salvation and theological method.
Orthodox Christianity maintains salvation as transformative union with God, achieved through our cooperation with divine grace.
The real issue is a difference in theological mindset, not just doctrinal disagreement.
Also see this video:
Do we work for Salvation? [Watch >]
