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Justification By Faith: The Doctrine of Gratuitous Justification
The heart of the doctrine of gratuitous justification has tremendous theological significance and practical implications for the Christian life. Uncover the profound truth of justification by faith in this enlightening book by John Calvin.Calvin's meticulous analysis of Scripture and deep theological insights shed light on the foundational principle of justification by faith alone. He emphasizes that our righteousness before God is not earned through works or merit but is graciously granted by God through faith in Christ.'Justification By Faith' offers a compelling defense of this pivotal Biblical doctrine, emphasizing the transformative power of God's grace and the assurance it brings to believers. Calvin's theological precision and pastoral sensitivity guide readers to a profound understanding of the role of faith in their relationship with God and the freedom it brings from the burden of self-righteousness.Discover the liberating truth of justification by faith, embrace the profound doctrine of gratuitous justification, and experience the transformative power of God's grace in your life.
48 pages, Paperback
Published September 11, 2023
About the author
John Calvin
1,813 books561 followersFrench-Swiss theologian John Calvin broke with the Roman Catholic Church in 1533 and as Protestant set forth his tenets, known today, in
Institutes of the Christian Religion
(1536).
The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.
* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.
After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.
Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.
Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.
The religious doctrines of John Calvin emphasize the omnipotence of God, whose grace alone saves the elect.
* Jehan Cauvin
* Iohannes Calvinus (Latin)
* Jean Calvin (French)
Originally trained as a humanist lawyer around 1530, he went on to serve as a principal figure in the Reformation. He developed the system later called Calvinism.
After tensions provoked a violent uprising, Calvin fled to Basel and published the first edition of his seminal work. In that year of 1536, William Farel invited Calvin to help reform in Geneva. The city council resisted the implementation of ideas of Calvin and Farel and expelled both men. At the invitation of Martin Bucer, Calvin proceeded to Strasbourg as the minister of refugees. He continued to support the reform movement in Geneva, and people eventually invited him back to lead. Following return, he introduced new forms of government and liturgy. Following an influx of supportive refugees, new elections to the city council forced out opponents of Calvin. Calvin spent his final years, promoting the Reformation in Geneva and throughout Europe.
Calvin tirelessly wrote polemics and apologia. He also exchanged cordial and supportive letters with many reformers, including Philipp Melanchthon and Heinrich Bullinger. In addition, he wrote commentaries on most books of the Bible as well as treatises and confessional documents and regularly gave sermons throughout the week in Geneva. The Augustinian tradition influenced and led Calvin to expound the doctrine of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation.
Calvin's writing and preaching provided the seeds for the branch of Protestantism that bears his name. His views live on chiefly in Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, which have spread throughout the world. Calvin's thought exerted considerable influence over major figures and entire movements, such as Puritanism, and some scholars argue that his ideas contributed to the rise of capitalism, individualism, and representative democracy in the west.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 12, 2025
The doctrine of justification by faith alone never made sense to me, so I thought I should go back close to the source and see what Calvin had to say about it. Now I understand some of the arguments better, but it still doesn't resonate for me. Religious doctrines don't have to make sense to be right. They don't always resonate for people who are not properly prepared or in the right spiritual condition. So I have no final conclusion about this, but I remain uncomfortable with Calvin's positions.
I can appreciate the importance of faith. Faith is the common bond of the community. It is the gateway for joining the community. The promise of salvation through faith allows even the worst transgressor to have hope. Faith makes all of the rest of the doctrine a live proposition on which belief can grow. And faith can be an opening point for transcendent religious experience. Plus, of course, there are so many passages about faith in scripture.
But neither this book nor anything else that I have read have persuaded me that works are not also essential. Many people are more familiar with scripture than me, so maybe my view is naive, but there are plenty of places in the bible where the importance of good works is discussed, including, of course, the famous passage in James that tells us that faith without works is dead. You can dance around this all that you want, as Calvin and others have done, but to relegate works to something that God might consider a little bit for bonus points for the already saved just does not seem right to me.
Calvin argues that works can't count because works are always imperfect, tainted with some degree of false motives even among the best of people, but so what? Faith is always tainted to some extent the same way. Why was human imperfection ever a barrier to righteousness? He also says that people become vain about their good works, but, again, they become vain about their faith as well. He says that works cannot count because we can never be sure that our works are righteous. Really? He's pretty clear about what is sin and what isn't. But apart from that, why would it be part of God's plan that people should be confident that they are justified in the eyes of God? Aren't we doubters by nature? Doesn't uncertainty keep us working to be better?
And then there is the way that Calvin casually condemns the millions of good people who never were exposed to Christianity. Their works count for nothing for him. I'm not the first person to see that position as being cruel and wrong.
Maybe I am misreading Calvin. Maybe if I had true faith I would see it differently. Many other people will disagree with me. I don't mean to tell you that you are wrong if you do. I don't mean to condemn people of faith or to judge the quality of their righteousness. But after reading this, I found Calvin's arguments to be insufficient to support his position.
I can appreciate the importance of faith. Faith is the common bond of the community. It is the gateway for joining the community. The promise of salvation through faith allows even the worst transgressor to have hope. Faith makes all of the rest of the doctrine a live proposition on which belief can grow. And faith can be an opening point for transcendent religious experience. Plus, of course, there are so many passages about faith in scripture.
But neither this book nor anything else that I have read have persuaded me that works are not also essential. Many people are more familiar with scripture than me, so maybe my view is naive, but there are plenty of places in the bible where the importance of good works is discussed, including, of course, the famous passage in James that tells us that faith without works is dead. You can dance around this all that you want, as Calvin and others have done, but to relegate works to something that God might consider a little bit for bonus points for the already saved just does not seem right to me.
Calvin argues that works can't count because works are always imperfect, tainted with some degree of false motives even among the best of people, but so what? Faith is always tainted to some extent the same way. Why was human imperfection ever a barrier to righteousness? He also says that people become vain about their good works, but, again, they become vain about their faith as well. He says that works cannot count because we can never be sure that our works are righteous. Really? He's pretty clear about what is sin and what isn't. But apart from that, why would it be part of God's plan that people should be confident that they are justified in the eyes of God? Aren't we doubters by nature? Doesn't uncertainty keep us working to be better?
And then there is the way that Calvin casually condemns the millions of good people who never were exposed to Christianity. Their works count for nothing for him. I'm not the first person to see that position as being cruel and wrong.
Maybe I am misreading Calvin. Maybe if I had true faith I would see it differently. Many other people will disagree with me. I don't mean to tell you that you are wrong if you do. I don't mean to condemn people of faith or to judge the quality of their righteousness. But after reading this, I found Calvin's arguments to be insufficient to support his position.
Displaying 1 of 1 review