Salvation by Grace: Everywhere in Scripture (Hodge)

 "Salvation by grace alone" is a sweet sounding phrase in the ear of the Christian.  Here's a nice explanation of this truth by Charles Hodge: Another decisive fact is that salvation is of grace. The two ideas of grace and works; of gift and debt; of undeserved favour and what is merited; of what is…

The Marrow of Modern Divnity: Edited and Abridged (Wilson)

 Many of our readers are perhaps familiar with Edward Fisher's excellent 17th century publication called "The Marrow of Modern Divinity."  It is a wonderful treatment of the great Reformation themes of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, to God's glory alone.  I've mentioned it quite a few times here on the…

The Difference Betwixt the Law and the Gospel (Boston)

In my opinion, one of the best brief discussions about the law/gospel distinction was written by Thomas Boston and it's found in the second part of his comments on Edward Fisher's Marrow of Modern Divinity. In this section Boston explains why a law/gospel distinction is necessary, what the difference is between the law and the gospel,…

Excluding Our Righteousness (Buchanan)

 When it comes to justification, the terms "the righteousness of God" and "his righteousness" are very important (Rom 3:21-22, 2 Cor 5:21, etc.).  These phrases have to do with the fact that an ungodly sinner is not justified by his own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Another that is given by grace alone and…

The Denial of All Our Own Righteousness (Witsius)

 In his book on the controversies surrounding law, gospel, and grace in England around the year 1700, Herman Witsius (d. 1708) gave an excellent defense of justification by faith alone in Christ alone, based on God's grace alone.  At one point he talked about the errors of legalism, the Judaizers, and non-Christian views.  Following those…