Book Review #1: Faith Alone by R. C. Sproul

"It is entirely by the intervention of Christ's righteousness that we obtain justification before God. This is equivalent to saying that man is not just in himself, but that the righteousness of Christ is communicated to him by imputation, while he is strictly deserving of punishment."

- John Calvin

I made a New Year's resolution to read one theology book per week, as we have so many books that I have not yet read. I wish to read them all, and I figure a book per week will take me a few years - not that long.  

As we are now into the second week of January, I am now on my second book. I finished the first one a little bit late - I took my time with it. 

Faith Alone by R. C. Sproul is an excellent book. It highlights the doctrinal issue of sola fide - Sproul brings to the table the importance of faith alone for Christians.

The background for the entire book is the debate between the Reformers and Roman Catholicism. What was (and is) the difference between the two parties? 

Sproul outlined the logic followed by the Reformers:

"1. Justification by faith alone is essential to the gospel.

2. The gospel is essential to Christianity and to salvation.

3. The gospel is essential to a church's being a true church.

4. To reject justification by faith alone is to reject the gospel and fall as a church."

Rome disagreed with the stand the Reformers took. It was agreed that faith is necessary for salvation, but Rome considered "faith alone" to be heresy.  They believe that faith and works sprouts justification, while the Reformation view is that faith sprouts justification and works. 

Let me clarify: Reformation belief does not negate the need for works. Faith without works is a dead (or barren) faith. Real living faith in a real living God brings about fruit in good works. We do not do works so that we may be viewed as good, we do works to please our God. We do them not for our sake, but for God's. This is the difference between Roman Catholicism and Puritanism, and it is a weighty difference indeed. 

It is, in fact, so weighty a difference that men and women were willing to stand up to the great Church no matter the consequences. 

The question comes up: were Paul and James at odds with one another? Paul states that we are justified by faith. James states that it is not faith alone that justifies but works also. (James 2)

At first it seems like James is contradicting Paul, until we look closer. What James is saying is that mature faith brings works - works are not the basis of faith but the result. 

This is where we need to understand that faith is the essential to salvation - but if you are not doing good works for God's glory, you need to search yourself to find if your faith is real and living. This is a warning not from me, but from the Gospel itself. 

Let me explain this in my own words.

1) No one is righteous, not one. (Romans 3:9-20) Mankind as a whole is corrupt, with no one being able to save themselves through the good they can accomplish. All the good we do is as dirty rags. 

2) If our righteous acts are filthy rags, they are a disgusting abomination to God. Even our good acts are sinful acts. How then can we think to save ourselves through any work of our own? 

3) Praise God that it is not up to our acts! God justifies us by grace as a gift through Jesus Christ. (Romans 3:21-31) 

4) Jesus died for our sake and was raised in order that we might be justified. Justification comes through Christ alone, not through any virtue we might possess. (Romans 5)

5) If righteousness were through the law, Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:15-21) This is an important thing to remember. If we could in any way earn our own righteousness through works or thoughts or anything else, Christ need not have died for us - He could have sat back and watched how many righteous men and women could make it to Heaven. This was not possible. Christ had to die because man could not help himself - we were dead in our trespasses and sins until Christ gave us life. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but through Him. 

6) The Law (and therefore works) was a guardian, and we no longer need it because Christ has come. Faith nullifies the need for a guardian. We do not now follow the Law because we must; we follow God's law because we wish to please Him. All things are lawful, not all things are beneficial - What brings Christ glory? This is what we should do. 

Roman Catholicism should take heed of this warning: 

Galatians 5:4 - "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."

If we rely on anything but God's grace through faith in Christ Jesus, we are on the wrong path. We need to repent and turn back to godly living, trusting in Christ and Christ alone. 

It is not faith + works = justification. It is faith = justification + works. They are not compatible - one is Biblical and the other is heretical. 

In closing, I would suggest this book to anyone who wishes to refresh their minds regarding just why we call ourselves Puritans. Sproul calls us to remembrance. Read the word and confirm your faith. 

As Calvin said, 

"Let it therefore remain settled that this proposition is exclusive, that we are justified in no other way than by faith, or, which comes to the same thing, that we are justified by faith alone."