The Doctrines
of Grace is an excellent book that speaks to the doctrines
of grace; and since 2009 is the 500th anniversary of
John Calvin’s birth, we decided to include the book in this
issue’s reviews.
While you
cannot think of the doctrines of grace and not think about John
Calvin, Boice and Ryken do so in an intentional way. This is a
good study book to work through these great doctrines since the
authors help the reader associate them with Calvin. Boice and
Ryken are clear that if the church is going to see great days,
these truths must be widely known, preached, and embraced. They
are further on target in maintaining that nothing is more needed
today than the recovery of these great doctrines.
In the forward,
R. C. Sproul writes about James Boice’s reaction to the news of
his terminal cancer. He was not able to complete this book, but
Ryken was able to do so quite admirably. Sproul said it was hard
to tell where Boice left off and Ryken took up the pen.
The book is
clear. It is not about any kind of Christianity but Calvinism
because Boice believed that Calvinism was good for the church
and its abandonment usually led to liberalism. Ryken’s comment
in the preface gives you an idea of what the book is all about.
From chapter eight, which Ryken calls the most important chapter
in the book, Boice wanted to portray a kind of Christianity that
was biblically based and theologically rigorous Calvinism but
also practical and warm hearted. Ryken said, Boice so “earnestly
wanted to convey the warmth and vitality of true Reformed
spirituality.”
There is
neither apology nor hesitation to set forth the doctrines of
grace so clearly present in Calvinism as over against
Arminianism. The author’s contention is that evangelicalism
needs what Calvinism has to offer. The nine chapters in the book
develop this sentiment clearly.
While part one
develops the broad themes of Calvinism and its place in history,
part two sets forth the five points of Calvinism. Part three
concludes with an excellent chapter on the true Calvinist and
how Calvinism has continued to impact the world.
The authors
sought to end the book on the same positive note voiced by the
late Abraham Kuyper at the close of his famous Princeton
lectures on Calvinism in 1898. Kuyper maintained that the future
looked bright for Christians because of Reformed, Calvinistic
theology. But Ryken is correct when he says, “Our ability to
fulfill this glorious calling will depend in large measure on
our response to the doctrines of grace.”
For a rich
blessing, we recommend this book for reading, studying, and
looking afresh at the glorious doctrines of grace.
-
Charles Dunahoo
CEP Coordinator |
Third
Quarter 2009 Book Review