The following is excerpted from Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings by James R. Payton Jr. (IVP, 2010), pg. 124-125.
Today many mistake the Reformation emphasis on “sola fide” (“faith alone”) with an easy-believism where faith is all that matters and works are downplayed to the extreme that some view them as completely optional in the life of the Christian. James Payton in his book, explains that to the Reformers, faith was never so “alone”. Rather, they expected faith to always be accompanied by good works.
I found the following quotes from Philip Melancthon and Ulrich Zwingli quite helpful on this point.
Philip Melancthon [from his 1521 Loci communes theologici in Melancthon and Bucer ed. Wilhelm Pauck, Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1969), pg. 92, 109 and 112] –
Faith is nothing else than trust in the divine mercy promised in Christ…. This trust in the goodwill or mercy of God first calms our hearts and then inflames us to give thanks to God for his mercy so that we keep the law gladly and willingly.
Faith cannot but pour forth from all creatures in most eager service to God as a dutiful son serves a godly father.
For although faith alone justifies, love is also demanded…. A living faith is that efficacious, burning trust in the mercy of God which never fails to bring forth good fruits.
Ulrich Zwingli [from his 1531 An Exposition of the Faith, in Zwingli and Bullinger, ed. and trans. G.W. Bromiley, Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1953), pg. 272] –
But we must add at once that the pious will not cease from good works simply because it is impossible to gain any merit by them. Rather, the greater our faith, the more and greater our works…. For since faith is inspired by the Holy Spirit, how can it be slothful or inactive when the Spirit himself is unceasing in his activity and operation? Where there is true faith, works necessarily result, just as fire necessarily brings with it heat.
You may also be interested in reading my review of Getting the Reformation Wrong by James R. Payton Jr.. See also a previous “quotes to note” post where I shared some good thoughts from Zwingli on the gospel. And
Excellent reminder of the nature of the faith that saves. We need to let God, in His Word, define the words He uses. We do not define “grace,” God does. We do not define “faith”, God does. We do not define “all” or “world.” God does. I had to learn to let the Bible define it’s own terms. When I did, I better understood what it says. In my youth ignorance (and, at times, audacity), I insisted on inserting my definitions into the Sacred Writ. In such a manner, anyone can make the Bible say whatever he desires. But when we study word meanings, not only through word studies, but also, and perhaps most importantly, in context, we soon discover that Biblical authors often employed words in ways we probably would not have expected. Both humility, as well as reverence for Scripture teaches us to search carefully for the Holy Spirit intended meaning by learning to understand the words according to the definitions He intends, and not impose our prior understanding imported into Scripture from outside the Bible.
Amen, Greg.