Vol 99 Issue 04

We have in these [manifold Bible quotes on justification that preceded this section] a most ample testimony of the whole sacred Scriptures. By these I have evidently enough declared, that God hath appointed, that whosoever doth believe in Christ, being cleansed from his sins, shall be made heir of life everlasting. This will I make more evident yet, by declaring how that faith alone, that is, that faith for itself, and not for any works of ours, doth justify the faithful. For itself I say, not in respect that it is in us a quality of the mind, or our...

Where were you in 1987? That was the last time the  Standard Bearer devoted an entire issue—the special  Reformation issue—to the doctrine of justification by  faith alone. It is high time we do it again, especially  since the PRCA has endured a schism in which the  doctrine was and is contended.  Having recently commemorated God’s grace in the  sixteenth-century Reformation, our writers take up  many of the important aspects of this doctrine regarded  by the Reformers as the heart of the gospel and the  main hinge on which religion turns, a phrase that you  will find repeated in this issue....

Introduction At the forefront of the recovery of biblical doctrine in the Reformation of the sixteenth century was the doctrine of justification. In fierce opposition to the Roman Catholic doctrine of justification by faith and works, with all of its accompanying practices, such as the buying and selling of indulgences and the doing of penance, the Reformation restored and advanced the gospel truth of justification by faith alone. What must strike every son and daughter of the Reformation as an extraordinary display of God’s faithfulness is the fact that the Reformers spoke with one voice on both the importance and...

The Bible teaches that we are justified on the basis of works. But the works on account of which we are justified are not our own works. They are the meritorious works of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. On account of His doing and dying we are justified before God. But how do sinners appropriate this righteousness? How does Christ’s perfect obedience become theirs? How can they be assured of their standing before God now and in the Judgment Day? The answer of the gospel is by faith in Jesus Christ. By faith we are justified—faith alone. We are...

What is the most important question in the whole world? It is the question that tormented Martin Luther until he discovered its answer in Romans 1:17. This question will cast you about upon the waves of dread and doubt unless you have the same answer Luther found. When you embrace it by faith, you enjoy peace and happiness that cannot be taken away. The all-important question is this: How can I, an unworthy sinner, be reckoned righteous, received into favor, and be accepted by the holy and just God? Put another way, how can an unholy man or woman draw...

There is a sense in which it could be rightly argued that the whole of the Reformation came down to one word: “alone.” The Roman Catholic Church taught justification by faith and works. In opposition to that false teaching, the Reformers insisted upon the biblical truth of justification by faith alone (sola fide), which is to say, by faith alone entirely apart from good works. In this article, for the sake of space, we are going to focus on what John Calvin taught on the subject. However, it should be noted that, while the focus here will be on Calvin,...

Introduction A good theologian must “rightly [divide] the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15), that is, make proper distinctions. The word translated “rightly dividing” means to cut straight. In our consideration of justification, we make distinctions. It is tempting not to do this or to be suspicious of those who do so. Nevertheless, theology without distinctions is impossible. One of the distinctions that theologians have made is between justification in eternity and justification in time. Sometimes that distinction is expressed as being between objective and subjective justification. Another distinction is between the fact of justification and the experience or enjoyment...

Doctrine and life The serious-minded Christian lives out of his or her beliefs. Ideally, what one believes should determine how one thinks and lives. Reformed theology, therefore, should shape the thinking, attitudes, lifestyle, and choices of a Reformed Christian. This is especially true when a Christian experiences adversity. When he encounters deep sorrow, pain, loss, hardship, disappointment or discouragement, his faith carries him through. This faith stands on the Rock which is Christ. This faith relies on God’s strength. This faith believes something or rather, believes in Someone. And what the Christian believes will shape his response to the adversity....