Having first read this book in 1998 (when it had already gone out of print), I am delighted that Crossway has now produced this updated and expanded volume. This book is the most lucid, accessible, and convincing defense of divine election I have ever seen. Sam Storms had a huge influence in my life when I was wrestling with the very question he takes up: Does God elect people because they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, or does God elect people in order that they will believe in Christ? This foundational question is truly at the heart of the who-does-what-in-salvation issue that we find … [Read more...] about Chosen for Life – Sam Storms
Theology
Brian Vickers on Imputation
Denny Burk provides an provocative review of Jesus' Blood and Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Imputation. Burk's closing thoughts: Vickers has done a masterful job in Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness. Not only is it an indispensible introduction to the issues at stake in the current debate, it also offers a compelling interpretation of Paul that affirms the traditional formulation of imputation. There are very few books like this one, and anyone who is concerned about having a biblical theology should give this volume careful consideration. Update: There is a good discussion on Denny's … [Read more...] about Brian Vickers on Imputation
The Horror of Abortion
On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that women, as part of their right to privacy, have a qualified right to terminate their pregnancies under certain conditions. Since that time, over 47 million innocent babies have been killed. Mr. John Ensor discovered that a disproportionately high number of abortions are committed in five states, one of which is Florida (the others included California, Nevada, New York, and another). And 40% of the abortions in Florida occur in Miami. John Piper's sermon this weekend (not yet posted) highlighted the ministry of John Ensor in Miami appropriately … [Read more...] about The Horror of Abortion
Evangelical Gender Debate
Dr. Russell Moore, Dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, posts a great article provocatively entitled, "After Patriarchy, What? Why Egalitarians are Winning the Evangelical Gender Debate". (It looks like something that came out in a recent issue of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.) Excerpt: "Complementarianism must be about more than isolating the gender issue as a concern. We must instead relate male headship to the whole of the gospel. And, in so doing, we must remember that complementarian Christianity is collapsing around us … [Read more...] about Evangelical Gender Debate
New Book Promoting Chastity
I've previously commented on an outstanding book called What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us: Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman by Danielle Crittenden. Here were my remarks: "What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us vividly captures some of the disadvantages women experience in the current male/female milieu prevalent in our culture (in general) and on college campuses (in particular). The book is not explicitly Christian by any means, yet her conclusions are very similar to mine. In short, if women in the 1950s saw themselves primarily through the lens of their uniquely feminine callings (wives, … [Read more...] about New Book Promoting Chastity
Believer’s Baptism – Schreiner and Wright
Tom Schreiner and Shawn Wright have done the church an excellent service by co-editing a volume called Believer's Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ with Broadman and Holman. The book's description (from Amazon): Is believer's baptism the clear teaching of the New Testament Scriptures? What are the historical and theological challenges to believer's baptism? What are the practical applications for believer's baptism today? Volume two in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE & THEOLOGY (NACSBT) series for pastors, advanced Bible students, and other deeply committed laypersons … [Read more...] about Believer’s Baptism – Schreiner and Wright