Matt Swaim and Ken Hensley continue to discuss the Reformation doctrine of sola fide, or justification by faith alone, by digging more into St. Paul, specifically what he has to say about the idea of “works” in Romans, Galatians, and Philippians.

When Paul says that we are justified by faith apart from works of the law, what does he mean by “works of the law?” Does he mean that no obedience of any kind is necessary for salvation? Or is it important to understand Paul’s experience of trying to implement the reforms of the 1st Council of Jerusalem regarding circumcision of Gentile Christians in order to understand what he means when he speaks about “works” in those letters?