Al Mohler writes chapter 3 titled, “Guarded Through Faith.” In his chapter he discusses the gift of assurance, the urgency of biblical warnings, and the doctrine of perseverance and the gift of assurance.
I will summarize his chapter and give my response.
The world says we need to have a high self-esteem. Psychologists say it all the time and attribute many of the problems people have to the problem of low self-esteem. Even many Christians think it is important to have high elf-esteem. This is sad. It is sad because, according to Scripture, we all esteem ourselves too highly.
Let’s look at some biblical support…
Chapter two: Assured from Beginning to End
Philip Graham Ryken writes chapter two of the book. His chapter titled, “Assured from Beginning to End,” focuses primarily on Ephesians 1.
Ryken says, “Salvation is administered by the Father; he organizes and oversees the plan of salvation. Salvation is accomplished by the Son; he died on the cross for our sins and rose again to give us eternal life. Salvation is applied by the Spirit; he takes what Jesus has done and makes it our own.”
Ryken shows how work of the triune God is the salvation of men is the foundation for biblical assurance of salvation.
Gary-Gilley is the Pastor-Teacher of Southern View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois. I have read many of his book reviews and articles, and I always greatly appreciate them. I highly recommend his stuff.
I just read his article called, “The Lord Told Me - I Think.” In the article he considers the commonly held notion that God communicates to us today outside of Scripture. He lists “three competitors now challenging the Scriptures as final authority in our lives”: subjective experience, non-authoritative and fallible prophecy (as espoused by Wayne Grudem), and the “inner” voice…
Burk Parsons, minister of congregational life at Saint Andrew’s Chapel of Sanford, FL (where R.C. Sproul is the minister of preaching and teaching), edits this book dealing with assurance of salvation. Contributors include John MacArthur, Keith Mathison, Jerry Bridges, R.C. Sproul, Philip Ryken, Al Mohler, Richard Phillips, Sinclair Ferguson, and Joel Beeke. The line up is impressive.
My reading of this book is part of my preparation for a series I will be teaching at our church on the topic of “Assurance of Salvation.” I will summarize each chapter and then briefly provide my own response.
John B. Leuzarder has written a wonderful book which will be a great help to parents explain the gospel to their children. What greater responsibility do parents have than to help their children embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Here is a short review.
Alexander Strauch has written a helpful book on the study of deacons. I, along with the other elders at our church, are leading a study through the book. As we progress in the bookstudy, I will offer a review of the book.
As you read my review of the book you will find, in general, that we agree with Strauch’s understanding, though we do differ at some points.
I have just finished reading this great little book dealing with the New Perspective on Paul. I love the book!
The book is less that 100 pages and was published in 2006. It’s written by Cornelis Venema, the president of Mid-America Reformed Seminary.
I love it because it is short. Venema has summed up the essentials of the issue clearly and concisely. Those that aren’t familiar with the errant NPP teaching will be able to get a handle on it with this little book.
