The story of the Good Thief (Luke 23:39-43) actually refutes the idea of Sola Fide because his salvation was not based on faith alone, but on a faith that included repentance, confession, and works. He acknowledged his sin (Luke 23:41), publicly defended Christ (Luke 23:42), and humbly accepted his suffering, which became an act of penance (Colossians 1:24). His confession aligns with Romans 10:10, which states that salvation comes from both believing and confessing. If salvation were truly by faith alone, he would not have needed to rebuke the other thief or proclaim Christ’s innocence, yet he did both. Additionally, his case exemplifies Baptism of Desire, showing that while baptism is ordinarily necessary (John 3:5), God’s mercy can extend beyond it. The Good Thief’s salvation perfectly aligns with the Catholic teaching that salvation requires faith working through love (Galatians 5:6), rather than mere intellectual belief.
The story of the Good Thief (Luke 23:39-43) actually refutes the idea of Sola Fide because his salvation was not based on faith alone, but on a faith that included repentance, confession, and works. He acknowledged his sin (Luke 23:41), publicly defended Christ (Luke 23:42), and humbly accepted his suffering, which became an act of penance (Colossians 1:24). His confession aligns with Romans 10:10, which states that salvation comes from both believing and confessing. If salvation were truly by faith alone, he would not have needed to rebuke the other thief or proclaim Christ’s innocence, yet he did both. Additionally, his case exemplifies Baptism of Desire, showing that while baptism is ordinarily necessary (John 3:5), God’s mercy can extend beyond it. The Good Thief’s salvation perfectly aligns with the Catholic teaching that salvation requires faith working through love (Galatians 5:6), rather than mere intellectual belief.
@CodeNameOFP I guess it depends on how you define faith.