One of the gravest threats to the Reformed churches since the synod of Dordt is the contemporary denial of justification by faith alone within the reputedly conservative Reformed churches.

This error is very old. Virtually all the Reformation confessions mention, expose, refute, and condemn it.

What is new about the contemporary form of the ancient heresy is that it bases itself on the biblical doctrine of the covenant. The particular view of the covenant, however, that the present-day denial of justification by faith alone appeals to is that of a conditional covenant.

That makes the new error very dangerous indeed.

All Reformed and Presbyterian churches recognize the importance, even centrality, of the covenant of grace in Scripture.

But many Reformed and Presbyterian churches embrace the doctrine of a conditional covenant. Because the doctrine of a conditional covenant does, in fact, imply a conditional salvation -- salvation dependent upon the sinner -- these churches are hard pressed to resist the contemporary error of justification by faith and works, if indeed resistance is even possible for them.

This booklet examines the contemporary heresy of justification by faith and works in light of its claim that it is grounded in the truth of the covenant. The booklet rejects the heresy, and calls all Reformed Christians to reject it, on the basis of the unconditional covenant of grace.