What is the biblical basis for salvation by faith alone (sola fide)?

Jesus says in many places that blindly following the Law of Moses will not lead to salvation, and is his primary criticism of practicing Jews of the time. Belief in Jesus' message and God is required for salvation.

Now, mainstream Christians take Jesus' statement "I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it" as evidence that he has completed the Law and belief in him is enough going forward to attain salvation by faith alone.

However, some Christians (e.g. Messianic Jews http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messianic_Jews), believe that Christians must believe in Jesus' message and God to attain salvation. But they also follow the Law of Moses as they lead their lives, not because the Law is required for salvation, but because otherwise they will be committing sin given that Jesus did not abolish the Law. Even these Christians believe in salvation by faith alone, but they do not excuse themselves from the Law believing that God will punish them for sins due to breaking the Law, before ultimately accepting them into Heaven.

There seems to be major misunderstanding of what Jesus says and preaches, and this shows in answers provided by others. Most Christians believe that Jews are wrong to rely on practicing the Law of Moses as a pathway to salvation. This is not the case. As far as I know, Judaism also believes in salvation by faith alone. The Law is to be followed to avoid displeasing God and not sin. Following the Law to the letter, without faith in the One God, is not enough.

Jews do not believe that abiding by the Law of Moses is enough for attaining salvation - belief in the One God is key to attaining salvation. Jesus saw that many Jews of his time were obsessed with details of the Law and its interpretation, and not on Moses' call to focus on the belief in the One God. Jesus came to correct them in their practice and reinforce belief in God.

I am not even close to being knowledgeable enough to answer the question in a scholarly manner, but the above difference in belief is what I have uncovered by practicing in discussions on this portal. Others may be better able to elaborate further.

In answer to the recent comment added, I will edit this answer to provide better explanation.

Luke 18:9-14.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Since salvation is salvation from God by God and related to the state of the relationship between God and mankind, then whether one is righteous (or in right standing with God) is what is the key issue. One is saved from the punishment of God, by God, via God's own provision of the means of being in right standing with him. That is the sin atoning work of Jesus, his propitiation, and imputation of his righteousness to all those that are his and who are to accept it (God's grace).

So the above passage is simply that, the means of being called righteous is that acknowledgement of one's sinfulness and the need for God's mercy. It is simply asking God to be saved from what one deserves. Humility, repentance and acceptance that it is God who saves.

‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

ESV. Luke 23:39-43.

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

And again, the one criminal simply recognized that he was a sinner and recognized who Jesus was. By asking Jesus to remember him when Jesus enters his kingdom is a fairly profound acknowledgment that Jesus is not of this world, and that his kingdom is after death, and whatever Jewish milieu of kingdom understanding.

In both passages that I chose, someone is justified by their acknowledgement of who they are and who God is, and their relation to him.

There are countless resources providing scriptural basis for salvation by faith alone, hence why I didn't reproduce those. I chose the two passages simply because you have a clear presentation that someone standing with God is dynamically changed simply because of their acknowledgement of their relationship to God, not because they have done anything to gain favor.

The book of Hebrews, chapter 11, is all about faith. HEB 10:38 says "the just shall live by faith." To help connect, John 3:15 says, "That whosoever believer in him should not perish, but have eternal life. " We believe in sunlight because we see it, experience it. But we also have faith that spring will come after winter, bringing warmth and sunlight. But biblically, as seen in Hebrews 11, faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things we don't see. HEB 11:6 says without it, we cannot please God. Vs 7 shows how Noah acted out of faith [Gr pistis], and became an heir to righteousness which is by faith. Also in Hebrews, whether accepted as doctrine or simile, we see in 11:31 that Rahab did not perish with the unbelievers having received the spies in peace, by faith.

Mark 11:22 says, "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." This portion of scripture goes on to talk about having what you believe, by faith, not doubting in your heart, and that so doing you shall have it. We could now go back Luke 23 and see the convicted thief who asked the Lord to remember him when He enters His kingdom...he believed, he had faith, and Jesus confirmed it with His words.

Acts 4:12 tells us there is no other name given men under heaven by which we must be saved. Eph 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:". Not of ourselves, not by our power or by effort, works, or design; only by faith.

These are only a few references to help outline the concept. I must say here that if faith were on easily-described concept, humanity would not have the struggles we have endured through the ages. I do not believe that there IS any ONE verse that answers this question. But it did cause me to post when I saw the rightful argument that there was only a single reference used. After many many years of preaching and teaching, Paul said, "that I might know Him", understanding he had yet to plumb the depths of understanding to be had in faith in Christ and salvation. In closing, I will give a scripture that keeps me studying to better understand:

Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

In other words, don't take my word for it, find it. (all ref was from KJV)

Salvation is described in the Bible as through justification. Justification is recognition by God that you are his sheep, his family member.

Salvation is fulfillment, the rescue of a failed mission, to subdue the earth. It's a hard task, made possible only by help from God. However only the pure can see God, and Adam's culpability through being mentally competent (knowing good from evil) has separated him from God. God's plan is to remove culpability, restore the immunity, not by making humanity mentally incompetent like Adam was, but by making the New Humanity a mercy seat, through Messiah. Being in the New Man in Christ would cover sin, make a person pure, able to be united back with God. A weak analogy is diplomatic immunity. We are ambassadors. Now man can subdue creation. Manifest God's great works done through himself, so that the world can be blessed, by turning people to follow God, like Rahab.

When a believer exhibits signs that identify him as being on God's side, shows faith, loyalty, he is justified, baptised, marked, recognised as God's sheep, as family member. Testing confirms he is clean, and only requires washing of feet, detailing, topping up.

Why does works not justify?

Works is part of another agreement. When Israel was led into the desert, manifestations of God's great works scared her. She desired an arrangement that protected her from God's wrath. She would follow a predetermined list of rules, and God would cease and desist from wrath, raining down death and destruction, like He did, on Egypt.

Deuteronomy 5:24“You said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. 25‘Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we will die. 26‘For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27‘Go near and hear all that the LORD our God says; then speak to us all that the LORD our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’

God would have preferred following the promise He had made to Abraham, but agreed, seeing the list as a good way of helping His People in recognising Messiah, when He was sent.

Jeremiah 7:22“For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23“But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’

Romans 3:1Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?

However, the new arrangement did not abolish the Promise, they coexisted. Believers could still be accepted as family, on showing faith, loyalty to God. Those who could try to be compliant could also be protected from God's wrath, if they flowed the rules perfectly. Ironically, no one could avert God's wrath or be justified by works, while it was possible to both avert wrath and be justified, through faith.

Galatians 3:17What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

To answer the question, the Biblical basis for the doctrine of faith alone is that works could only protect from God's wrath, according to the agreement. There was no benefit in the Sinaitic Treaty of being recognised as family, salvation. Even protection from wrath, curses, was only conditional of perfect compliance with the 613 rules. Which no one could fulfill. Faith, on the other hand could both avert curses, as well as result in blessings, by being accepted as family.

Genesis 15:6Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

All Scripture from the NASB.

I think it would also be helpful to say that 'salvation by faith' is not something that only Paul talks about. He maintained that this had its bases in Old Testament scripture too when he quoted Genesis 15:6, 'And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness' (AV/KJV). This is at a time way before the Law had been delivered to Moses, so that righteousness on the basis of the Law or good works could be discounted.

This of course becomes the basis of Paul's discussion in Romans 4:

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (ESV)

In addition to David's thorough answer, I would like to add (what I think) is the single most clear verse:

Galatians 2:16

We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

(I added verse 15 for clarity, verse 16 is in bold.)

The NIV Study Bible says:

Galatians stands as an eloquent and vigorous apologetic for the essential NT truth that man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ - by nothing less and nothing more - and that he is sanctified not by legalistic works but by the obedience that comes from faith in God's work for him, in him and through him by the grace and power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It was the rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians that brought about the Reformation. Galatians is often referred to as "Luther's book", because Martin Luther relied so strongly on this letter in his writings and arguments against the prevailing theology of his day. A key verse is 2:16 (see note there).

And that note is:

A key verse in Galatians. Three times it tells us that no-one is justified by observing the law, and three times it emphasises the indispensable requirement of placing one's faith in Christ.