First of all hi everyone and God bless you. It seems as though we’re all believers here so , I would like to respond. Though the actual words, “faith alone”, are not found in the Bible I would like to mention that the following “actual words” are also not found:
“blessed virgin”
“eucharist”
Yet they still have people who believe in them. The fact that an actual set of words are not found, in Scripture, does not change anything. The same foundational meaning is there. For your consideration, I submit the following in defense of “faith only” salvation:
1 Peter 1:9
Ephesians 2:8-10
I would also like to know how everyday Catholics respond to the authority of the Bible? Any questions please feel free to contact me either here or just shoot me an email.
Welcomed to the forum!
…as it has been stated the phrase “faith alone” is in Scripture; yet, it does not translate to salvation by faith alone; rather, it negates salvation by faith alone.
If you truly need to know… just listen to Jesus’ words:
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Clearly, Jesus must simply have some hang ups on this Baptism thing since faith alone saves!
Mark 10:17-27
17As Jesus started on his way… 20"Teacher," he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad… “Who then can be saved?” 27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Jesus demands that he take part in his own salvation by sharing with others his wealth; couldn’t the faith alone save this man? …could the treasure in Heaven not be works along side with his faith?
Here’s how St. Paul feels about Salvation:
Philippians 2:12-13
12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
If all that had been required was to have faith, why do you suppose that he taught that we should work out our salvation?
As far as the Authority of the Bible is concerned… I think that you mean the Authority of the Church…
Here’s what Jesus stated:
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (St. Matthew 18:15-17)
You see, Jesus does not Command His disciples to search the Scriptures (which at that particular time would have meant the Old Testament) to resolve an internal matter of the Church; rather, Jesus Commanded them to seek other Believers and if the matter was not resolved to bring it to the Church and the Church’s Authority would determine what should be done.
Conversely we find in 1 Timothy 3:15, that it is the Church that is the pillar and foundation of Truth–equally important is every single passage where Authority is mentioned by the Apostles… not once is there a passage that speaks of the Authority of Scriptures but rather the Authority of the Apostles.
Interestingly enough, it is St. Peter who demonstrates the Authority of the Church when he states that their writings are to be held as Sacred Writings:
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Interestingly the above passage also offers a response to the “once saved:” be on guard so that you do not fall!
Maran atha!
Angel
This is a great addition to this conversation. It helps bring home the fact that the things we believe from the Bible cannot be “proof-texted” – i.e. building a whole doctrine (or system of doctrine) from one or two verses that we find that seem to confirm a pre-conceived notions. That’s what happens when certain Protestants take a verse like John 3:16 and run with it. That’s why we must take the whole Scripture into consideration. No proof-texting, no verse-slinging, but everything in Scripture as it relates to other Scripture. And as Catholics, the content of Scripture is part of an “analogy of Faith” that Pope Benedict likes to talk about – it is of a piece with Sacred Tradition and confirmed by the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church. Together this makes the Word of God. That is why Catholics are the only real “Full Gospel Church”! 
