11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Razor Sharp on Justification by Faith, August 10, 2000
This review is from: Justified by Faith Alone (Today's Issues) (Paperback)
There are some, perhaps many, in our day who think there is a possibility of evangelical churches and the church of Rome being united one day. They believe that perhaps the differences between them are not as great as they have been in the past. This booklet by R.C.Sproul would be a strong corrective to any whose thinking is along those lines. The way a person is justified is the most important doctrine related to a person's salvation. Mr. Sproul highlights one of the most significant differences between the evangelical understanding of justification and the church of Rome's teaching on justification on pages 12-13."Justification refers to a legal action by God by which he declares a person just in his sight. ... Catholics agree that justification occurs when God declares a person just. However,when evangelicals speak of forensic justification,...what is tacit is the assumption that God declares people to be just who in themselves are not just. Rome teaches that God declares people to be just only when they are in fact just." The Evangelicals insist upon the ground of a person's justification being the righteousness of Christ alone(based upon His perfect obedience to the law of God)whereas the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the ground of a person's justification is the work of Christ plus the work of the believer. Until there is agreement here there can never be reconcilliation that would be Biblically based. Another very helpful feature of this booklet is the concise chart on pages 46-47 which detail the significant differences(consisting of 11 points), between the Reformation view and the Church of Rome's view on justification by faith. This booklet is short but very helpful and concise on this vital issue.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Careful and Challenging Teaching on An Essential Doctrine, February 23, 2011
Martin Luther famously said that justification by faith alone "the article by which the church stands or falls." So certain of its importance to the Christian faith was Luther that it became the crucial dividing issue between the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.
Today, however, many evangelicals "know" that we are justified by faith alone but are not entirely sure what it means. And because of this uncertainty, we begin to ask--does it really make sense? And is it really that important?
In his (very) short book Justified by Faith Alone, R.C. Sproul answers that question with a resounding yes as he lays out the Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrines of justification.
One of Dr. Sproul's greatest gifts as a teacher is his ability to clearly and charitably examine positions with which he disagrees. In doing so, he manages to clear up a great number of misconceptions that Protestants have regarding Romanism.
A key example is whether or not Roman Catholicism offers a works-based salvation. Sproul argues that it is, in fact, not accurate to make this claim. As he examines Roman Catholic teaching, he reveals that faith in Christ is essential to salvation... it's just not all you need. The congregant's works of penitence, his acts of contrition, are also required. In essence, the Roman Catholic position is that of faith in Christ plus works equal justification (Justification = Faith + Works).
The Protestant position, however, is that faith in Christ alone brings justification, and our works are our response to and the evidence of our right standing before God (Faith=Justification + Works).
Sproul is also quick to address the common complaint against the Protestant position, which is that it is Antinomianism. In this error, we are saved by faith in Christ alone (justification), and there need be no evidence of saving faith (Faith=Justification - Works). However, the Scriptures are clear that one who says that he has faith, but there is no evidence of it in his life is a liar (cf. James 2:14-26).
Justified By Faith Alone is an important book, one that I believe readers of all ages and stages would benefit greatly from. Read the book, and gain a greater understanding and appreciation for this crucial doctrine--and praise God that it is by faith in Christ alone that we are saved.
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The review is based upon an audio production of this book provided through ChristianAudio's reviewer program
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent source of information on this topic, June 18, 2002
This review is from: Justified by Faith Alone (Today's Issues) (Paperback)
There is probably no other resource on the topic of Justification that says so much in so few pages. I admit that this was a tough read at times but the information in here is right to the point. It points out the differences between Roman Catholic justification and Evangelical justification in a well thought out and well reasoned way.
I highly recommend it.
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