Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent treatment of the issues that confront evangelicals in the 1990s -- Reformation and Revival

An exhaustive analysis of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. . . . There are plenty of people. . . who in their concern for "togetherness" are in danger of marginalising the gospel. It is to such people that Sproul speaks. The book is not a light read, but it is interesting and the author has taken care to provide plenty of helps in hard places. . . .it is certainly a book that many of us need to read today. Highly commended -- Mike Adams

Dr. Sproul writes with clarity and regularly shows the implications of his propositions. . . .his primary purpose was to give his readers a solid understanding of justification by faith alone and what is at stake in defending this great doctrine. This he has done, and those committed to the infallible Scriptures need to understand and appreciate it -- Calvin R. Malcor

In a day of rampant theological confusion and compromise, R. C. Sproul provides a voice of conviction deeply rooted in biblical truth and the faithful heritage of the gospel. He makes clear what is at stake in current patterns of evangelical compromise-the gospel itself -- R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

R. C. Sproul has done a masterful job of reminding us of the true nature of the gospel. Faith Alone is one of the most important books to be published in this decade -- Jerry Bridges, The Navigators Community Ministry Group

The doctrine of justification is at the heart of everything. When theres an assault on the doctrine of salvation, we would expect Sproul to stand up on the front lines. As a stalwart, he has done just that in Faith Alone. With characteristic clarity he marshals historical and biblical defense against those who would undermine the foundation of orthodoxy and tolerate another gospel -- John Macarthur, president, The Masters College and Seminary

The evangelical church is in a perilous condition, even to the point of abandoning the gospel which brought it into being. In this timely and relevant book, R. C. Sproul recalls us to the true apostolic gospel, justification by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone -- James M. Boice, pastor, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia

Product Description

What can we add to Gods mercy to be saved? The Reformers broke with the Roman Church when they answered that Christians are justified by faith alone. But evangelicals no longer seem certain about that keystone of faith.

In Faith Alone, a Gold Medallion finalist and Evangelical Book Club main selection, R.C. Sproul discerns a softening of the doctrine of justification and explains why Christians must return to the biblical, Reformation view. He provides biblical evidence and theological reasons why Protestantism and Roman Catholicism divided in the first place, and why that division remains an uncrossed chasm.

Now in paperback, Faith Alone offers a clear explanation of classic Protestant teaching on salvation, helping readers understand why this teaching is so important.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Baker Books (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080105849X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801058493
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #413,533 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In many ways very strong, in some ways weak, November 17, 2002

By	J. F Foster - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

RC Sproul's effort here is a solid contribution to the ongoing debate over justification. It's not perfect, as I'll discuss below, but the strengths of the book are sufficient enough to warrant serious consideration.

Sproul wrote this book in 1995 in large measure as a response to a specific event that occurred in 1994 - the publicizing of the ECT document. Sproul writes with great concern that this ecumenical document signed by a number of prominent evangelicals and Roman Catholics inappropriately dodges the central point of disagreement between the two camps (justification). I think Sproul is absolutely right in expressing this concern and believing that the document's effort to minimize and even not acknowledge such a fundamental disagreement is deceptive because the document ends up claiming a level of unity that does not exist. While some have criticized the book for dwelling too much on the ECT document, I thought Sproul's treatment was quite appropriate and necessary. It once again moves to central stage the issue of justification by faith, and what evangelicals and Roman Catholics believe about the doctrine and why it's important.

Sproul's brief summary of the history of justification in the church is very educational for the beginner. I also felt that Sproul nuanced the discussion very well by showing how important this issue was to Luther, Calvin, and the other reformers. By doing this, Sproul draws a clear distinction between the weight the original reformers gave to this issue versus the modern day tendency to downplay its importance within evangelicalism (and Roman Catholicism) in order to achieve a superficial unity. It is very insightful to see very clearly that the issue itself hasn't changed, the disagreements which led to the reformation haven't been resolved. All that's changed is the church's unwillingness to thoughtfully engage in the debate because many Christians believe that in the whole scheme of things, the doctrine of justification is no longer an issue worth debating and simply isn't a big priority anymore. I thought Sproul handled this attitudinal change well and effectively demonstrated that the doctrine of justification is not merely a dusty theological issue of no current importance, but remains a central part of the gospel that we dare not water down.

Sproul also does a good job here of contrasting the imputation of righteousness that undergirds the Reformed view, versus the infusion view that undergirds Roman Catholicism. I think a reader who is willing to seriously interact with this issue will get a great deal out of Sproul's discussion here and will see very clearly that Rome's view has been and continues to be antithetical in many ways to the Protestant view of justification.

The biggest negative of this book is the lack of Scriptural exegesis. I found this book to be an examination of justification not from a Biblical perspective, but from a church history and denominational perspective. This book is about what Reformed Protestants and Rome think about justification. It is not really a book that attempts to ground either side's views in the Bible. This is a disappointment. Sproul goes to great lengths in arguing that justification by faith alone is at the heart of the gospel message every bit as much as the deity of Christ is at the heart of the gospel message. Yet it was surprising to me that having argued for the centrality of justification to the gospel, Sproul doesn't spend much time actually interacting with the text of the gospel to solidify his point. Sproul unnecessarily leaves open the possibility that the reader may walk away from his book believing that the importance of justification is a matter of man's opinion rather than Scriptural reality.

So overall, this is a solid book that effectively contrasts the Protestant and Roman Catholic views on justification and why these views are important and should be central in any meaningful dialogue between Protestants and Roman Catholics (which the ECT did not do). But the lack of Scriptural grounding is a weakness that unnecessarily limits the scope of this book to human opinions, creeds, bulls, and councils - none of which are inerrant. The importance of the doctrine of justification should have first been established in the pages of inerrant Scripture, and it is here that Sproul's work comes up short.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Luther, et. al. would be very pleased!, July 31, 2001

By	Rocco B. Rubino "Rocco R." (Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Rev. Sproul's work compels the reader to "earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints." He logically, scripturally, and systematically destroys the eccumenical position on salvation as its proponents have arrogated to themselves the responsibility to decide what is "essential" for man to be saved, even though Jesus Himself said that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Papists and their apologists will hate this book, for Rev. Sproul leaves no doubt that there cannot be "two Gospels." He masterfully shows how the signers of the ECT have been duped into thinking they have achieved some great milestone for "unity," when what they really have done is compromised on a key doctrine (justification)the loss of which threw Christendom into 1000 years of the Dark Ages.

A classic work to be read by all Christians in order to gain a foundational understanding of our faith. Far too many who profess Christ no so little about what His Word teaches. This book is an exhortation to all to "endure sound doctrine."

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift you have to work for isn't a gift!, April 15, 2000

By A Customer

This is a fine book which should help the reader understand the gospel and the true relationship between faith and works. It deals in part with the "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" dialogue as well as "Lordship salvation". It's sad how gullible people fall for the inane argument that James taught salvation by faith AND works. If James did, then he absolutely contradicted Paul and the rest of the NT. The "faith alone" that doesn't justify according to James is the (intellectual) faith that demons have who simply believe there is one God. (James 2:19). James speaks of being considered righteous before men (2:18) whereas Paul speaks of how a sinner is acquitted and declared righteous at the judgment seat by God. Paul says unequivocally that Abraham (and Christians) are justifed before God by faith, APART FROM WORKS. (Rom. 4:1-6) which can mean nothing other than by faith alone!

Justification/salvation is FREE and is a GIFT (Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 3:21-24) received through simple faith/trust in Christ. If one is still trying to partially merit it, then he is really not trusting 100% in the sufficiency of Christ and therefore does not possess saving faith at all--there is no middle ground. Christ fully saves those who trust 100% in him--not those who trust 50% in him and 50% in their own righteousness. Christ doesn't give a person an unmerited job and train him to become righteous through sacraments and works so he can save himself. Such a salvation would NOT truly be FREE, nor be GRACE (meaning unmerited favor), nor be the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). If you are broke and someone gives you $10,000 and it's free that is a gift; if he says, oh by the way you have to paint my house to get the money, then that's not a free gift IT'S A JOB.

When the pope went to Israel recently, Larry King, on his cable show, asked two Catholic priests what the fate of a person would be who had works but NO faith. They replied and said he would be saved. Modern Catholicism also teaches Muslims and Jews will be saved and has wandered so far from the gospel as to make Christian faith unnecessary. Compare this to Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."