"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:4-5)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5)
"[God] will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile: But glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:6-11)
Where, how, and when do works fit into the spiritual scheme of things? This book is the outcome of a struggle with that question. Amid the varied answers commonly presented within Christian circles, I hope that it offers some clarification—clarification that is both doctrinally significant and spiritually uplifting.
It is a question that my beloved older brother, Bill (who is now in the presence of his Lord and Saviour), and I grappled with, not as unbelievers, but as earnest, Bible-studying Christians. It was Bill who challenged the views that I then held, views which he had abandoned. In 1960, as my thoughts on the matter jelled, I wrote an article entitled "The Nature of Salvation." The article pleased Bill, and he suggested that I write more on the subject and publish a book. After a long and circuitous path, this is the book. My thanks to Bill for his part in it.
It was in the 1970s that I seriously applied myself to the task of writing. My beloved wife Sue, a godly wife and mother (who is now with the Lord), rejoiced with me in the Biblical concepts that I desired to present in my writing. She willingly accepted the demands upon my time that were involved. At that time I was employed on the management team of the Management Information Systems Department of an aerospace company. Many evenings were spent writing the manuscript after work.
I am grateful for the work of Alma Reuther, who deciphered my less-than-artistic penmanship and typed the manuscript in 1980.
By 1982, the entire project would have stalled were it not for the encouragement and assistance extended by others. My son David, himself the author of a few college textbooks, reviewed the manuscript and offered several valuable suggestions. In addition to correcting my unbearably lengthy sentences, he advised that the original manuscript be split into two smaller books. This has been done, and "Trinity and Triunity" is the initial volume to be published. Thereafter, my grandson, Tim Heinze, transcribed the manuscript to computer disk.
In 1992, Pastor Robert Gifford, a friend of many years, invited me to present some of this material in a series of lectures at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Dale City, Virginia. The messages were well received, and the church offered to underwrite the cost of publishing the book. Since I always intended the book to be a nonprofit endeavor, I welcomed this proposition. I am sincerely grateful to Pastor Bob Gifford and the good people of Sovereign Grace, who again helped give new life to an all but dormant project.
Mark Weaver kindly coordinated all aspects of the publishing of the book, taking the book from Tim's original computer work, through the major editing, page layout, and cover design to the finished product you now hold in your hands. It has become obvious to me that this is a substantial management effort in itself.
Mark Horne and Jonathan Landrum performed the substantial and often difficult task of editing the manuscript and bringing order and good grammar to the text. My hearty thanks go to Jimmy and Mark Lawrence, Charles Orndorff, Chris Rhyne, Samantha Weaver, Stacy Wessel, and V. William Wessel for their work in the tedious task of proofreading the final copy.
The beautiful pen and ink drawing on the cover is the work of Dave Johnson. Paul Serrano graciously provided substantial technical assistance and design work for the cover layout. I am grateful to Ron, Jan, Steph, Jeff, Les, and all the good folks at Balderson's Insty-Prints in Fairfax, Virginia for production assistance and providing the use of their equipment. To George Grant, David Dunham, and Doug Wilson I extend my warm thanks for their advice on publishing matters.
Special thanks go to Ron Pierre and Ken Vanwingerden for their involvement in presenting the manuscript to John McArthur, and to Pastor McArthur for kindly writing the foreword.
Obviously, this book has been a long time in the making. Only by the encouragement and effort of all of the above-named friends and family has the task been completed. It is to their credit that the book is now offered. And behind and beyond all human effort, thanks be to God "who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).
—E. Charles Heinze