Man’s relationship to God in creation was based on works. What Adam failed to achieve, Christ, the second Adam, succeeded in achieving. Ultimately the only way one can be justified is by works.
—R. C. Sproul, Getting the Gospel Right (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999), 160.
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
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Indeed we are only justified by works – Christ’s works.
RC Sproul in his book on the Holiness of God (p 111) writes: “Mercy is not justice, but also is not injustice. We may see non-justice in God, which is mercy, but we never see injustice in God.” I appreciate Sproul’s distinction between law and gospel, between justice and mercy. But I disagree with Sproul when he teaches that God’s command to Adam not to eat of the tree was grace.
mark mcculley– I also disagree that grace is “non-justice”. Grace for the elect is always given on the basis of justice. That is why the Bible speaks of the righteousness of Christ, and not simply of the justification of sinners.
Sproul, Everyone’s a Theologian, p 69– “ Grace and mercy are outside the category of justice, but they are not inside the category of injustice” p 123– “For God to enter into any covenant with a creature, to give any promise to us whatsoever under any conditions, is in itself a gracious act. ”
mark mcculley– I don’t think Irons and Karlberg and Kline would agree.