The full definition that concludes, “but the faith that justifies is never alone,” has recently been distorted by misguided movements

This distortion has to do with the removal of the second half of the definition “but the faith that justifies is never alone.” I think it should be obvious, that if someone were to tamper with the reformation doctrine of “faith alone,” that it would destabilize the soundness of the doctrine.

I. The “Faith Alone” Of The Reformation

The second half of the sentence, “We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone,” means that other things always accompany saving faith. Namely, saving faith is always followed by changes in a person’s conduct of life. That is to say, saving faith is never alone in a person, for some good works will always accompany saving faith in a person’s life and will be seen after a person comes to faith.

While the Reformers always took “faith alone” to mean that faith is the only thing that God responds to, historic protestant teaching has never taken “faith alone” to mean “faith that occurs by itself in a person, unaccompanied by other human activities”

II. Protestant Leaders Throughout History Have Consistently Proven This

John Calvin (1509-1564)

The first and most influential theologian in the Reformed tradition.

Therefore Christ justifies no one whom he does not at the same time sanctify. … Thus it is clear how true it is that we are justified not without works yet not through works. — John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 vols., trans. Ford Lewis Battles, 3.16.1

It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone … — John Calvin, Tracts and Letters: Acts of the Council of Trent, Antidote to the Canons of the Council of Trent, Canon 11.
Formula of Concord (1576)

The great summary and consensus of Lutheran doctrine.

III. & VIII. We believe, also teach, and confess that Faith alone is the means and instrument whereby we lay hold on Christ the Saviour … after that man is justified by faith, then that true and living faith works by love, and good works always follow justifying faith, and are most certainly found together with it, provided only it be true and living faith. For true faith is never alone … — The Creeds of Christendom, ed. Philip Schaff, 3 vols. 3:116, 118
Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England (1571)

Doctrinal standard for Anglican and Episcopalian churches.

XII. Of Good Works: Albeit that Good Works, which are fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification… do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith… by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit. — The Creeds of Christendom, ed. Philip Schaff, 3 vols. 3:494
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)

Doctrinal standard for Presbyterian and Reformed churches.

11.2: Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all the other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love. — The Creeds of Christendom, ed. Philip Schaff, 3 vols. 3:626
New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833)

Statement for Baptist churches.

VII. & VIII. Regeneration … is effected … by the power of the Holy Spirit … its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life. … We believe that Repentance and Faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God; whereby being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy … — The Creeds of Christendom, ed. Philip Schaff, 3 vols. 3:744-45
John Wesley (1703-1791)

Founder of Methodism.

We are, doubtless, justified by faith. This is the corner-stone of the whole Christian building. … So that if good works do not follow our faith, even all inward and outward holiness, it is plain our faith is nothing worth; we are yet in our sins. — John Wesley, “The Law Established Through Faith,” in The Sermons of John Wesley
Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths (1916)

One of the oldest and largest Pentecostal denominations.

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. … The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12). — “Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths,” sec. 5

III. Consequences

The difference between sound doctrine and heresy

Understanding James 2:24 is the difference between having sound doctrine, being legalist, or being antinomian. The second half of “We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone” protects us from antinomianism. While the first half protects us from legalism.

Verses against legalism (Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16,21; 3:10-12; 5:4; Ro 3:20,28)
Verses against antinomianism (1 Jn 3:6-10; 5:18; Jd 4 NET; Ro 6:1-2,15; 3:8,31; Heb 10:26-31; 6:4-6; Lk 9:62)
Verses for obedience after salvation (Jn 14:15,21; 15:10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 5:3-4)
Verses for Godly dispositions of Love (1 Jn 2:9-11; 3:10; 4:8,20; Jn 13:34-35)
Verses for Godly and Holy lives (Heb 12:14; 1 Tim 6:3-4; 2 Tim 3:12; Titus 2:11-12; Gal 5:22-23)
Verses for good works after salvation (James 2:14-26; Eph 2:10)

If the Bible is to work together, Eph 2:8-9 & James 2:24 must be reconciled together. We accomplish this by observing, carefully, the context. In verses where the Apostle Paul is teaching that we’re no longer under the law of moses^{Point 1}, he is teaching that justification in the sight of God is by faith only; whereas, James in James 2:24 is speaking of Justification in the sight of men^{Points 2-6}, the fruits of the faith, Godly dispositions of love, the good deeds and services that spring forth from a true and lively faith.

So we can confidently conclude that the second half of the doctrine of “We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone” is absolutely necessary!

IV. Conclusion

After reading the consistent testimony from all major traditions that came from the Reformation—Lutheran, Reformed or Presbyterian, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal—we should start to wonder why there has been a departure from their sound teaching.

As you can see, plain as day, none of them ever taught that “justification by faith alone” means “faith not accompanied by repentance or by good works.” In the historic protestant theological tradition, “faith alone” has never meant “faith not accompanied by other human actions.” Rather, “faith alone” has always meant that “faith is the only thing that God responds to with the act of justification.”

The Reformers are the biggest group to come out against legalism in the history of Christianity, even to this day. Which should make this ordeal that much more profound, when you hear misguided teachers twist the scriptures and the sound doctrines of the reformation. They died defending sola fide from legalists, and now, here I am defending it from antinomians.

If anyone says to you that “We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone” is contradictory, politely inform them that they are mistaken, and that both logic and English grammar disagree with their assessment.

There are two different verbs in the two halves of the sentence, which makes it clear that “faith alone” in the first half of the expression is functioning in a different way from “faith alone” in the second half. In the first half “faith alone” modifies “justified,” and in the second half it modifies “is.”

When false teachers remove parts of the full definition, they create their own contradictions. It’s also worth noting, something that results from something else, or follows after it, cannot contribute to it.

Genuine Saving Faith
Legalism Works = Justification Violates: Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16,21; 3:10-12; 5:4; Ro 3:20,28	False
Synergism Faith + Works = Justification Saving faith includes obedience. Violates: Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16,21; 3:10-12; 5:4; Ro 3:20,28	False
Historic Sola fide Faith = Justification + Works Saving faith results in obedience after justification. Defends: Eph 2:8-10; Gal 2:16,21; 3:10-12; 5:4; Ro 3:20,28 Reconciles: Jn 14:15,21; 15:10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 5:3-4; James 2:14-26; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Jn 3:6-10; 5:18; Jd 4 NET; Ro 6:1-2,15; 3:8,31; Heb 10:26-31; 6:4-6; Lk 9:62	True
Antinomianism Faith = Justification - Works Saving faith does not result in obedience Violates: Jn 14:15,21; 15:10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 5:3-4; James 2:14-26; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Jn 3:6-10; 5:18; Jd 4 NET; Ro 6:1-2,15; 3:8,31; Heb 10:26-31; 6:4-6; Lk 9:62	False

I think it should be clear that if any theology cannot reconcile Eph 2:8-10 with James 2:14-26; 1Jn 2:3-6; 3:6-10, then it is an unsound theology that doesn’t represent the Bible, and should be abandoned. The Bible must work together, as there are no contradictions in the word of God.

The Reformers were right. Justification is by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9), but the faith that saves is never alone in the person justified (James 2:24; Eph. 2:10).