I honestly love Calvin and consider myself a child of the Reformation, but he really missed it on one point that now Kills Assurance for thousands and thousands of true Christians

>Video

“Fred Lybrand’s analysis of the common saying, ‘Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone,’ exposes the logical and biblical fallacies inherent in Calvin’s famous statement. With careful exegesis he dissects James’ discussion of faith and works with fresh insight into this controversial passage. When I read his doctoral dissertation I immediately encouraged him to publish it so that many others could benefit. The book is well written and finally puts Calvin’s cliché to rest—where it belongs.”

Jody Dillow, ThM, ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary Co-Founder, BEE World

I’ve just finished reading an exegetical work on the second chapter of James that resolves the tension that most everyone finds in that chapter between James and Paul. Right from the start, by reading his dedication to both John MacArthur and Zane Hodges I realized this book was going to be different from anything I’ve read before.

Kevin Lane, Author, Fale-Safe for Fallacy

“In his initial edition of the Institutes, John Calvin defended

forensic justification by faith as an act by God which changed the position of the sinner before a holy God independent of his condition on earth. After years of pressure from the Council of Trent and their accusations of license, Calvin remarried justification and sanctification, a throw back to his Augustinian roots. Fred Lybrand addresses this remarriage with insightful exegesis from a dispensational point of view. The result is a valuable contribution to the discussion.”

Dave Anderson, ThM, PhD,

Dallas Theological Seminary

President, Grace School of Theology

“If the saying is true that sacred cows make good hamburgers, then Lybrand has served up a gourmet burger indeed by putting a longstanding cliché through the grinder of objective scholarship, logical analysis, and biblical exegesis. With forthright fairness he puts to rest a largely unchallenged cliché that asserts works are essential to faith. This saying has shaped Christian theology and practice for centuries, not without damage to the gospel and its believers. Lybrand unravels it one strand at a time until we are left alone with the simple biblical truth that faith and works can be related but are distinct. You will feast on and savor this book!”

Charlie Bing, ThM, PhD; Dallas

Theological Seminary

Founder & Director, GraceLife

“Many times in Christendom, phrases, slogans, and words are used as though they are Biblical, when in fact many times they are not. Fred Lybrand examines one of those statements and challenges the truth of it from a careful handling of Scripture. Any believer would be educated and edified through reading this work.”

Larry Moyer, ThM,

Dallas Theological Seminary

President & CEO Evantell

“It requires tremendous tenacity and expert dexterity to adapt a doctoral dissertation into a book that most readers will discover to be not only enlightening to the mind but spiritually satisfying to the soul. This is such a book. The theological implications of this study are staggering to certain formulations of Westminster Calvinism and the practical implications will both comfort and convict every Christian.”

Fred Chay, ThM, DMin, PhD

Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies,

Associate Professor of Theological Studies,

Phoenix Seminary

“God’s policy for saving the human race is grace. Grace, by definition, is not from works. But the Enemy has continuously diluted and destroyed grace with the subtle and not-so-subtle addition of works to faith and thus offered ‘another gospel.’ The cliché that ‘we are saved by faith alone, but he faith that saves is never alone’ is another of the most subtle and egregious attacks on grace. The statement may sound solid at first blush, but Dr. Lybrand’s thorough research exposes the multi-level fallacies hidden in this statement. The pure gospel of God’s grace excludes all human works as the basis or validation of God’s work which makes the sinner right with him. This study is much needed and should be read by every student of the Bible and theology.”

Dr. Robert Dean, Jr., ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary

Senior Pastor, West Houston Bible Church

Adjunct Faculty, Chafer Theological Seminary

“As Fred Lybrand points out, the Reformation cliché of ‘…the faith that saves is not alone’ has captured the minds of many for centuries. With convincing logic, thoughtful theology, and sound exegesis, as well as insightful practical observations, Lybrand sets the captives free. This book is a ‘must read’ for all who have been bothered by, flirted with, argued against, or who have embraced the idea that faith is not alone.”

Dr. G. Michael Cocoris, Pastor, The Lindley Church

René Lopez, BA, Trinity International University

ThM, and PhD candidate, Dallas Theological Seminary

Scripture Unlocked Ministries

“Maintaining veneration for Calvin, this work resolves inherent contradictions to the Gospel found in the Reformed tradition.

Lybrand reiterates “faith alone in Christ alone,” and works accompanying salvation are “normal but not necessary” while cogently requiring the reader to reexamine theological traditions. My prayer for the mindful Reformer: Read and wrestle with these words. Be willing to abandon all, for the clarity of the Gospel cannot be undervalued.”

Jay Quine, ThM, PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary;

President, College of Biblical Studies