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Crucial Questions
How Can I Live by Faith?
Becoming a Christian doesn’t come at the cost of your intellect. In fact, the Christian faith provides the most compelling, logical explanation for life in this world.
In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul demonstrates that Christianity is rational because it is based on the promises of God, who has proven His trustworthiness in His Word. These promises provide an unshakable foundation for our salvation, faithful living, and hope for the future.
The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.
In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul demonstrates that Christianity is rational because it is based on the promises of God, who has proven His trustworthiness in His Word. These promises provide an unshakable foundation for our salvation, faithful living, and hope for the future.
The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2020
217 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Sproul
675 books1,975 followersDr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.
Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.
He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.
Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 19, 2021
This is one of the newest books in R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series, all of which are free in the digital edition. These books/booklets offer clear answers to the most common and difficult questions about the Christian faith.
Dr. Sproul tells us that trust in God, faith in Christ alone for salvation, is at the center of the Christian religion, and it is a key part of the Christian life to learn how to live out that trust in a life of faith. He writes that our God is utterly trustworthy, and to not believe Him is irrational.
Sproul writes that the cardinal doctrine of the Protestant Reformation was the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Through justification, God can be both just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. The Apostle Paul tells us that we are justified by a righteousness that is not our own. It is an alien righteousness. It is the righteousness of Jesus, and Jesus’ righteousness becomes the basis for our justification. Sproul writes that if we are to be justified, we must both get rid of our unjustness and acquire justice. These two things must happen, and the gospel says that both are provided by Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for our sins, to pay the punishment for our wickedness. At the moment we place our trust in Jesus, His righteousness is transferred to our account before God. Jesus takes our unrighteousness and gives us His righteousness in the sight of God. This double transfer can take place only through trusting in Christ. We are justified by Christ and by Christ alone. Sproul tells us that is a summary of the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Among the subjects covered in this book are justification by faith alone, the debate over justification by faith alone in the writings of Paul and James, Abraham as an example of living by faith, and righteousness.
As with all of Sproul’s teaching, he communicates what can be hard to understand subjects in an easy-to-understand manner.
Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
• Justification by faith alone means that justification is by Christ alone.
• The biggest difference between Christianity and every other religion is the atonement of Jesus Christ and the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.
• The marvelous truth of the gospel is that He transfers to us the righteousness of Christ and transfers to Christ our unrighteousness.
• Jesus was sacrificed by the Father for us. God kept His promise and offered the sacrifice Himself so that we can live by faith. That is a God worthy of our trust.
• The goal of the Christian life is righteousness.
• We are justified by faith, which means that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ. But the moment we are justified is only the beginning of the Christian life, and justified people are called to bring forth the fruit of our justification. We are called to conform to the image of Christ, to grow up into the likeness of Christ.
• Sin is ultimately a lack of trust in the character of God.
• What does God require of us? To do what is right, to love with loyalty, and to walk humbly with our God. That is the essence of the Christian life. That is the essence of what it means to live by faith.
Dr. Sproul tells us that trust in God, faith in Christ alone for salvation, is at the center of the Christian religion, and it is a key part of the Christian life to learn how to live out that trust in a life of faith. He writes that our God is utterly trustworthy, and to not believe Him is irrational.
Sproul writes that the cardinal doctrine of the Protestant Reformation was the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Through justification, God can be both just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus. The Apostle Paul tells us that we are justified by a righteousness that is not our own. It is an alien righteousness. It is the righteousness of Jesus, and Jesus’ righteousness becomes the basis for our justification. Sproul writes that if we are to be justified, we must both get rid of our unjustness and acquire justice. These two things must happen, and the gospel says that both are provided by Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He died for our sins, to pay the punishment for our wickedness. At the moment we place our trust in Jesus, His righteousness is transferred to our account before God. Jesus takes our unrighteousness and gives us His righteousness in the sight of God. This double transfer can take place only through trusting in Christ. We are justified by Christ and by Christ alone. Sproul tells us that is a summary of the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Among the subjects covered in this book are justification by faith alone, the debate over justification by faith alone in the writings of Paul and James, Abraham as an example of living by faith, and righteousness.
As with all of Sproul’s teaching, he communicates what can be hard to understand subjects in an easy-to-understand manner.
Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
• Justification by faith alone means that justification is by Christ alone.
• The biggest difference between Christianity and every other religion is the atonement of Jesus Christ and the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.
• The marvelous truth of the gospel is that He transfers to us the righteousness of Christ and transfers to Christ our unrighteousness.
• Jesus was sacrificed by the Father for us. God kept His promise and offered the sacrifice Himself so that we can live by faith. That is a God worthy of our trust.
• The goal of the Christian life is righteousness.
• We are justified by faith, which means that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ. But the moment we are justified is only the beginning of the Christian life, and justified people are called to bring forth the fruit of our justification. We are called to conform to the image of Christ, to grow up into the likeness of Christ.
• Sin is ultimately a lack of trust in the character of God.
• What does God require of us? To do what is right, to love with loyalty, and to walk humbly with our God. That is the essence of the Christian life. That is the essence of what it means to live by faith.
February 11, 2025
I appreciate how Dr. Sproul made it clear that the central tenet of the Protestant Reformation is justification by faith alone. It it not faith plus works. Works will flow from gratitude, love, and obedience to Christ -- the object of one's faith. He goes further to say that Roman Catholics are not simply a works-based religion. They too believe in faith as part of justification. The error they make, however, is that they add works as another component of justification. Dr. Sproul explains how they come to that conclusion from a passage about justification in James. What he teaches is that the word justification in the Greek has up to four meanings. The justification that Paul describes in Romans is the one where God himself justifies. The justification in James is the kind that is a vindication of God's justification. That is, the justification in James are the works that flow from the gratitude, love, and obedience to Christ -- the object of one's faith.
May 30, 2021
Sweet and Succinct
The issue of faith was discussed in what it is, how we gain it, what it does for us and why it is important to our lives as Christians. It is the foundation of a faith not just a foundation of faith alone but a faith in God, Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.
Well written
The issue of faith was discussed in what it is, how we gain it, what it does for us and why it is important to our lives as Christians. It is the foundation of a faith not just a foundation of faith alone but a faith in God, Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.
Well written
February 3, 2022
“Therefore, for a Christian to live by faith means not only to trust God the Father but also to trust God the Son alone for our justification. Justification by faith alone means that justification is by Christ alone. The only way that we as unjust people can stand in the presence of a just God is if we have righteousness.”
April 8, 2022
Faith is an important aspect of the Christian life. But how exactly are we as Christians supposed to live by faith? R.C. Sproul takes a look at what faith is and how to live by it. In his clear, careful style, he discusses what it means to live by faith, to die by faith, and the importance of being faithful in our lives. This book is a great introduction to the basics of faith, and it’s perfect for new Christians and Christians who might need a refresher.
October 24, 2020
Faith and justification
In this book the author try to explain about faith and its connectedness with justification in soteriology. Its not in detail, and the emphasize not in the faith itself, but more like the continuation from the previous book in the series.
In this book the author try to explain about faith and its connectedness with justification in soteriology. Its not in detail, and the emphasize not in the faith itself, but more like the continuation from the previous book in the series.
February 21, 2023
Another 6 star book
Awesome, excellent short book on the topic. Highly recommend this book for those wondering what the balance is between a life filled and run on the gasoline of faith, and the works that come as a result of and not in place of that faith. 👌
Awesome, excellent short book on the topic. Highly recommend this book for those wondering what the balance is between a life filled and run on the gasoline of faith, and the works that come as a result of and not in place of that faith. 👌
March 10, 2024
Faith that Prevails
An empowering book that lays out the importance of faith in our everyday living. I love how the author shares the history of how faith prevailed among the generations
An empowering book that lays out the importance of faith in our everyday living. I love how the author shares the history of how faith prevailed among the generations
September 18, 2020
Good read
Concise and thought provoking. The way R.C. Sproul defines living by faith is radically different from how mainstream Christianity likes to put it.
Concise and thought provoking. The way R.C. Sproul defines living by faith is radically different from how mainstream Christianity likes to put it.
September 23, 2021
Another great book in the Crucial Questions series by Dr. Sproul.
December 16, 2021
This book helps us to understand our purpose as Christians. It clarifies what the word "trustworthiness" really means.
February 12, 2022
Right to the point. Can't believe how quickly I got through the book once I started reading it.
April 30, 2022
I received this book at a recent conference. I really enjoyed it. Very short book packed with deep truth. I will check out the other books in this series for sure!
March 3, 2023
Thought provoking read
April 25, 2023
Very quick read. On par with his other Crucial Questions books
January 8, 2021
a wonderful short book on living by faith by my favourite Preacher. As always an excellent read and full of wisdom.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews