One of the great foundational principles of the Reformation is sola fide, which is Latin is for "faith alone". The doctrine of sola fide argues that it is solely on the basis of God's grace through an individual’s faith alone that believers are forgiven their transgressions of the Law of God. Sola fide contends that, although all people have disobeyed God's commands, God declares those people righteous who place their confidence, their faith, in what God has done through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ because of His atoning work of redemption at Calvary. The obedience of Christ is appropriated by faith because it is the only meritorious basis of salvation. God's work in Christ is the true commendation for acceptance by God. The doctrine of sola fide can be found in St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The gracious words of Christ to a sinful woman also establishes this doctrine.

Luke 7:50 And he [Jesus] said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

A legitimate growing concern among some thoughtful Christians is that some that profess Christ as Lord and Savior do not act as if they have been born again. There seems to be no discernable difference between those who profess to be a Christian and those who do not. The infighting in the churches, the absence of grace and mercy, the unholy but bold attempts to dismiss pastors over disagreements, the constant threats to discredit ministries, the vicious maligning tongue of deacon’s wives, the demand for a lot of money before continuing in the ministry, the need for recognition, the willingness to write libelous letters, the deliberate mischaracterization of good works, the questioning of sincere gospel motives all begs the question being addressed: "Have you repented of your dead works?"

This is a good question to ask for the Protestants have historically summarized their view of sola fide with the formula: "Justification is by faith alone, but not by the faith that is alone". In other words, true saving faith is always accompanied by good works and not dead works.

Where there is disagreement, preference is to be given to others provided no biblical principle is violated.

Where the tongue of the deacon’s wife once secretly turned women against the pastor it is now seasoned with grace.

Where non gospel motives were ascribed in the face of good works, they are replaced with love which does not think the worse of others.

Professing Christian, "Have you repented of your dead works"? It is a valid question to ask of oneself for this is a foundational principle of being truly converted.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God .

I met a man that was an effective street evangelist for the Lord. He had a unusual holy boldness in witnessing. One of his leading questions was to ask, "Have you repented of your good works?" Many people believe that salvation is not so much a gift of God but a reward by God for living a good life. Most people believe they live a good life to the point where their good deeds will out-weigh their bad deeds and on that basis they will go to heaven. The biblical response to this line of thinking is that salvation is not based on works of righteousness which we have done but on the mercy of God.

Titus 3:5 [It is] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his [God’s] mercy he [Christ] saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The street evangelist was right to ask individuals, "Have you repented of your good works?" What he was getting at is this. Anyone who is ultimately depending on their good works to get them to heaven is building hope on a false foundation for the sad news is that no one is righteous.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

The Bible explains why no one is righteous in the sight of God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Because God is holy and just He must punish sin which is why we read in Romans 6:23 about the wages of sin.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wages is what an individual earns and deserves. The wages of sin is death. This death is not just a physical death, it is an eternal death called in Revelation 20, "the second death." What then must individuals do to be saved? Is there any hope? Indeed there is. Hope is found in the love of God. Hope is established in the death of Christ at Calvary.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

That is the good news. God loves us and Christ has died for us. But how do we appropriate the love of God and take advantage of the death of Christ? Romans 10:9-10 explains.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It is when individuals reject all other basis of salvation, confess faith in Christ and believe the gospel that salvation comes to the soul. We ask again, "Have you repented of your good work?"