According to J. H. Alsted (1588–1638), “the article justification is said to be the article of the standing or falling of the church.” It was said to be such by the confessionally Reformed and Lutheran alike. The language was probably borrowed from various things that Luther had said but it was echoed by Calvin when he wrote that in order to understand justification, sanctification, and union with Christ we must grasp the truth that the doctrine of justification is the “principal axis” on which the Christian religion turns (Institutes 3.11.1). His student and the principal author of the Heidelberg Catechism, Zacharias Ursinus (1534–83), called justification “one of the two chief articles of the Christian faith.” William Perkins (1558-1602) called justification “the greatest question in the world.” In the 17th century, Francis Turretin (1623–87) called the doctrine of justification sola gratia, sola fide as the “rampart” (fortress) of the Christian faith. In the 19th century Charles Hodge (1797–1878) called justification on the basis of Christ’s merits the “great center” of the Christian system. J. Gresham Machen (11881-1937) called the doctrine of justification the “central doctrine” of the Christian faith. Each of these testify to the importance of the doctrine of justification to the Reformed confession of the Christian faith. Below are resources from the HB and in print on the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone. Read more»