Christian: If I Can Only Choose What God Has Already Decreed, Then How Can My Choice Be a Real Choice?
Predestination vs Free-will
If personal salvation is decided in advance by an immutable divine decree, what is the sense or urgency of the work of evangelism?
Canada on Mar 16, 2023
Penguin: This is a classic of Sproul. In a nutshell the book explains the five points of Calvinism as captured by the acronym TULIP. But more correctly stated the five points are: Radical corruption, Sovereign election, Limited atonement or Definite Atonement, Effectual grace, and Preservation of the saints.
We are by default Arminian in that we believe we somehow play a part in our own salvation. If this is true, it will make our salvation uncertain however small our part is because knowing ourselves there is no guarantee that we will cooperate with salvation. If the bible is true about our nature, we know for sure that in our own nature we will not choose Christ, so it will definitely fail. “If man is truly dead in sin and in bondage to sin, a mere potential or conditional atonement not only may have ended in failure but most certainly would have ended in failure. Arminians have no sound reason to believe that Jesus did not die in vain. They are left with a Christ who tried to save everybody but actually saved nobody.” (p. 180)
We are by default Arminian because before we have the Spirit dwell in us, we are blind to the spiritual truth. The doctrines of grace are...
United Kingdom on Apr 02, 2021
Gemma: Sproul knew how to right in a way that just makes sense. If you are looking for a clear and easy to follow explanation of one of the most controversial and complex doctrines of the Christian faith, the doctrine of predestination, I would recommend you get this wonderful book. Backing his views up with scripture at all times, Sproul's writing is informative, engaging and practical but with more than enough depth for someone who wishes to engage in some more serious study of the subject. This is by no means a complex volume of work but then it was never meant to be. It makes the doctrine of predestination accessible to everyone who is willing to engage in a little bit of serious reading and study without being overwhelmed by the subject.
United Kingdom on Jul 03, 2018
Keith B, a Christian Saved by Grace: This is an essential book for all Christians to read! It is a classic of Christian literature. Sproul is a great communicator of the truths of Reformed theology, which I have come to realise, after many, many decades of Christian living as an Arminianist deeply immersed in the Pentecostal tradition, is the right way to interpret the doctrines of God. You will be blessed in reading this book. It provides clearly in both thought and expression an outstandingly helpful treatment of the doctrine of PREDESTINATION. This is a worthy book to keep beside you throughout life, and reread now and again. As the author says, "predestination isn't just for Calvinists; it is for all biblical Christians." We choose God because He has opened our eyes to see his beauty. We love Him because He first loved us. Buy this book. If you are a true Christian you will receive joy in the assurance of your faith as a believer in Jesus Christ your Saviour, because in the reading of this book with the help of the Holy Spirit your eyes will be opened to see the truth portrayed. You will be a contented reader,
United Kingdom on Sep 20, 2013
JLJ: Dr. R.C. Sproul was my pastor for about ten years, and this is my favorite of the dozens of books he has published. My company (GREATSITE DOT COM - The Bible Museum) has displayed our rare Bibles at Dr. Sproul's Ligonier Ministries Conferences in Orlando and in Phoenix, and our facsimile reproductions of rare Bibles have been featured in Dr. Sproul's Ligonier Ministries Resource Catalogue as well.
In his book, Chosen By God, Dr. Sproul puts forth the best argument for a Calvinistic interpretation of scripture that I have ever read. So many Reformed theologians, when arguing for Calvinism, put up a "straw man" for the Armenian arguments against Calvinism, making it easy on them to "prove" their points. Dr. Sproul does not take this easy way out. Indeed, he is brave enough and confident enough to put up the very best and most convincing arguments against Calvinism (supporting the Armenian position)... and then he proceeds to systematically, with compassion but without compromise, destroy those arguments using not his opinion... but using scripture in its full context.
This argument of Calvinist theology versus Armenian theology has separated Protestant denominations for...
United States on Nov 10, 2012
Miz Brody: The topic of "election" or "Predestination" has been constantly misunderstood and mischaracterized. I was no exception, believing that there is something fundamentally unjust or unfair about God's choice of some and not others for salvation. I reacted emotionally to the very word, "election", because it smacked of elitism, of merit-based rewards by God and it even brought up images of the Holocaust. But as a non-denominational Christian, I had no real understanding of what election/predestination was until I read Sproul's book, then did the Bible study titled "Chosen By God". I thought I had it all figured out by insisting that predestination cannot possibly be true.
Sproul, probably among the top 10 living theologians, makes this doctrine easy to understand and difficult to refute, since he is using the Bible itself to teach it. He brooms aside our predispositions to view God as somehow unfair to choose some and not others. But it's not quite so simple as we think.
This doctrine, which I admit to once having abhorred for a very long time after becoming a Christian, is the minority view among committed Christians; if one does tackle this subject, one must put aside...
United States on Sep 07, 2010
| R. C. Sproul's "Chosen by God": An Exploration of Divine Election | Eitan Bar-Nefesh's Refutation of Rabbinic Objections to Christianity and Messianic Prophecies | Exploring the Relevance of Jesus in a Secular World: A Look at the Lasting Impact of the Person of Interest in the Bible | |
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| B2B Rating |
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| Sale off | $6 OFF | $2 OFF | |
| Total Reviews | 25 reviews | 472 reviews | 331 reviews |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0842313353 | 978-1792912900 | 978-0310111276 |
| Christian Spiritual Growth (Books) | Christian Spiritual Growth | ||
| Item Weight | 8.8 ounces | 1.04 pounds | 16 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.3 x 0.5 x 8.1 inches | 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches | 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches |
| Paperback | 187 pages | 320 pages | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0842313354 | 1792912900 | 0310111277 |
| Free Will & Determinism Philosophy | Free Will & Determinism Philosophy | ||
| Publisher | Tyndale Elevate | Independently published | Zondervan Reflective |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8/5 stars of 1,512 ratings | 4.8/5 stars of 2,130 ratings | 4.8/5 stars of 1,797 ratings |
| Christian Salvation Theory (Books) | Christian Salvation Theory | ||
| Language | English | English | English |
| Best Sellers Rank | #7 in Christian Salvation Theory #11 in Free Will & Determinism Philosophy#465 in Christian Spiritual Growth | #30 in Messianic Judaism #180 in Evangelism#273 in Christian Apologetics | #1 in Comparative Religion #2 in Evangelism#6 in Christian Apologetics |
It's a book you will and can read multiple times and continue to learn (similar to the Bible)
RC Sproul explains and describes Jesus profoundly and gives the reader a different, powerful perspective on divine election and predestination.
Many a professing Christian can and does struggle with this topic, while others who claim to be Christian deny it.
RC Sproul puts many of the arguments to the test, to the point where I personally was moved as well as convicted on some matters.
I personally and strongly recommend this book.
United Kingdom on Sep 26, 2023