Product Description Christians desiring a better understanding of God's sovereignty will learn about the implications of God's strength and how it relates to this life and the life to come.
Item Specifications...
ISBN 080105964X EAN 9780801059643
Pages 186
Dimensions: Length: 8.5" Width: 5.52" Height: 0.54" Weight: 0.58 lbs.
Release Date Mar 1, 1999
Availability 2 units. Availability accurate as of Mar 20, 2010 08:16.
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Books > Subjects > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > General [8607 similar products]
Reviews - What do our customers think?
very disappointing Sep 12, 2006
I was eager to read this book... but was mightily disappointed with it's very simplistic approach (solving a crime) to determining God's sovereignty. There is little scripture used; instead, Sproul Jr. stakes his claims on J. Edwards' writings and his own reasoning and devotion to Reformed thought. In a nutshell, Sproul Jr. believes that God ordained Adam and Eve to sin, and that every action we commit is determined by God -- from blinking your eyes, to stubbing your toe, to glancing away from this review. If only Sproul Jr. had given Scripture to back up that claim -- now that would've been some book! Some pleasant inklings in here to be sure, but that's not what I paid for. I want to know what Scripture says about God's sovereignty and man's free will. As it is, Sproul's is a very lopsided, narrow argument, and without using much Biblical support, I found it difficult to follow the path he was blazing. And when Sproul near the end states that he could be wrong about the whole thing (!), I almost wanted to throw the book across the room.
God is sovereign, but this book is sorely lacking Feb 21, 2005
Though you might find some nice thoughts in this book, a Biblical or cogent defense of God's sovereignty it is not. (And I approached this book as both a Reformed Christian and someone who believes in God's sovereignty.)
For one, Sproul's basic premise doesn't spring from Scripture so much as it springs from Jonathan Edwards and Sproul's already-firm belief in Reformed Theology.
Sproul's first task is to convince you that Jonathan Edwards was a genius (which he just might have been). Then Sproul gives you Edwards' thesis -- all men everywhere always act according to their strongest inclination at a given time. (If you're good, you can't act bad; if you're bad, you can't act good.) Given this thesis, two perfected people -- Adam and Eve -- could not have acted against their perfect natures and committed sin. Satan himself could not influence such perfected natures -- unless their natures changed.
So what's Sproul's conclusion? The only other culprit left in this crime mystery -- God Himself. Therefore, God changed Adam and Eve's perfected natures -- God made them evil so that they could fall into sin.
Sproul never once acknowledges the very "logical" or Scriptural alternative that God allows Free Will, that God permits man's actions, however circumscribed by God's desires and pleasures and will. In fact, the only alternate viewpoints Sproul presents are easily defeated straw arguments. (Nothing like a fixed contest.)
Now, had Sproul used more Scripture and less crime-solving techniques, it might have lent weight to his words. Instead, he squanders an opportunity. Unfortunately, he is the son of R.C. Sproul, Sr. and there are many people who will read this book for that reason. It's a shame. What is truly irksome is that Sproul gives himself an easy out in the book's last chapter. There he basically asserts that though he believes what he writes in the book, he could be wrong. Some might take this as humility, I take it as someone who, when he approached a veil past which he could not see, reported upon unseen events anyway.
Reads like a conversation between reader & RCSJR.. Aug 12, 2004
Written in a "conversational" style, this book is a wonderful introduction to the issue of God's Sovereignty and how it applies to every area of life. While not a deep treatise on this issue, RCSJR does manage to tackle the issues of God's Sovereignty in relation to suffering, redemption, history, sanctification and eternity. Personally, caused me to look more deeply at Who God is and exactly what He has promised and How faithful He is to do it! Perfect for the newly converted or those new to a Reformed perspective.
A Disturbing Book that finds God Guilty of Sin! May 8, 2002
It has long been known that many Calvinists tip-toe over the issue of who's to blame for sin, but the fact remains that in their construct and theology, the blame for sin rests squarely upon God and God alone! Mr. Sproul Jr. makes this assertion in no uncertain terms in this horribly unbiblical book.
At one point in the book he goes so far as to say that even burnt toast has been foreordained by God. I find that to be a little nutty. Sure, God could have a purpose for someone's toast burning, but all toast at all times?
Further, Jr. goes so far as to lay the interjection of evil in the universe squarely at the feet of God. It was God's idea. His argument is such: God, as he contemplated the beauty of his attributes in eternity past became so enamored with the loveliness of his wrath that he put (I'm paraphrasing) iniquity into the devil and even caused Adam and Eve to fall from their original state of innocence so that he would have opportunity to display the perfection of his wrath before a watching universe so that he might receive glory from the objects of his mercy (the elect).
Is this twisted or what? In my thinking this makes God to be the evil one and we know that that is not the case.
This book does have value - it makes it crystal clear that Calvinism is a completely bankrupt theological system that cast doubt on the character of God! Not for the newly saved. Only those that know the Word of God should purchase such a book that has tremendous potential to undermine the faith of Christians!
For all the seekers of truth and the meaning of life. Jan 28, 2001
This book clearly puts life into perspective by making clear the basic truths of the most important thing in life THE ALMIGHTY GOD. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone.
