Heckel, Matthew C.2019-09-252019-09-252016-12-312004http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/161582"R. C. Sproul’s thesis in his book, Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification, states that justification sola fide (by faith alone) is the essence of the biblical gospel. He marshals the witness of Scripture in support of this assertion and brings the testimony of the Reformers, specifically Martin Luther and John Calvin, to bear as secondary witnesses. From this evidence Sproul draws the implication that without the doctrine of sola fide, the gospel is so deprived of vital content that it ceases to be the gospel. Sproul draws the further implications that those bereft of the doctrine of sola fide, like the Roman Catholic Church, are apostate, and that modern evangelicals who declare unity in the gospel with Rome are guilty of compromising the good news. The declarations of such gospel unity with Rome and the denials of the same constitute this justification controversy that Sproul addresses"engWith permission of the license/copyright holderMartin LutherJustificationDoctrineBibleGlobal Church History and World ChristianityReformationBiblical TheologyDogmaticsSalvation/liberationArticle