Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neglected Theology Recovered!, February 5, 2002
This review is from: Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children (Paperback)
With the exception of Sinclair Ferguson's excellent, Children of the Living God, there are very few books that deal with the doctrine of adoption in the christian life. Adopted By God fills a great need for this generation of believers-to know the wonder and privilege that our Lord calls us His sons and daughters. Peterson makes it clear that God has taken those who are naturally His enemies because of their sin and rebellion, and through the finished work of Christ on the cross, has brought them into His family and made them His heirs. By mixing careful Biblical study and analysis with personal stories of application, Robert A. Peterson has given us a book that is understandable by all, and yet worthy of a scholar's study. This is a truth that needs to be studied and meditated upon over and over again. Highly recommended!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Popular Level Treatment of Neglected Doctrine, January 18, 2004
This review is from: Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children (Paperback)
It is ironic indeed that in a day where much of contemporary evangelicalism shuns theology and doctrine, the one doctrinal aspect of salvation that is probably the most palatable and appealing to those who disdain theology is perhaps the doctrine that has been the most neglected within the evangelical church - adoption. This book by Peterson attempts to remedy this peculiarity, and on a popular level, succeeds quite well. The doctrine of adoption has always been critical, but especially in today's culture, the truth of Biblical adoption has great potential to speak afresh to the secular masses. This appears to be the central conviction of Peterson in this book. Through many personal testimonies concerning the impact of adoption on the outlook and everyday lives of many different people, Peterson seeks to demonstrate an urgent relevance of Biblical adoption for today. Further, as will be discussed below, Peterson's book is arranged in a way that looks at the entirety of salvation and the Christian life within the rubric of adoption. Peterson seems to argue that understanding adoption is critical to understanding the other 'links in the chain' of salvation, such as justification, regeneration, election, etc. Tying adoption into the entirety of the ordo salutis is an approach that I found to be very good. It is true that the reader will find some redundancy both within and between chapters as a result of analyzing a handful of key passages multiple times and in multiple places. But there is a sufficient degree of separation of the concepts discussed in each chapter in such a way to build on each other without simply repeating each other. In particular, I thought Peterson's analysis of adoption as it relates to regeneration and glorification to be especially good. The other main strength of this book are the numerous personal testimonies and stories that Peterson introduces to bring the doctrine of adoption to life. Peterson is on a quest here to humanize theology and show how theology matters on the street and in people's lives, rather than having theology isolated to seminaries and libraries. This aspect of the book should make the book especially appealing to potential readers who aren't crazy about theology but intrinsically understand that good theology is better than bad theology and wonder whether good theology can translate into a good and vibrant personal orientation with God. This book shows that it can. Because so many in our society have personal experience with adoption, a book that talks about Biblical adoption and what it means to be adopted into the family of God is most welcome. This book has the potential of shining a needed light on a neglected doctrine that can speak very personally to countless numbers of folks who feel isolated, lonely, and cut off from their earthly families. As the testimonies of this book demonstrate, there is no shortage of hurting people who lack good family experiences and even lack family identification, and are walking amongst us everyday as wounded people. What better way to witness and care for them than to share the Good News of Biblical adoption and what it means. This book will enable Christians to do just that.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4.0 out of 5 stars
Adoption: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children, June 10, 2010
This review is from: Adopted by God: From Wayward Sinners to Cherished Children (Paperback)
This book by Robert A. Peterson, teaching elder and professor of systematic theology, is written on an important, but often overlooked subject of the Christian's Divine adoption. Even though God's adoption of a wayward sinner is an essential part of the believer's salvation and security, I have found few serious books on this doctrine. Peterson's book "Adopted by God" takes a detailed look at one of the clearest pictures of God's love in the Bible. I read J.I. Packer's magnificent book entitled "Knowing God" several decades ago and his chapter on adoption of the believer still sticks out in my mind as one of the book's most memorable sections. Peterson dedicates over 170 pages to this study of the Father's great love for His cherished children. He opens the book with probably the most obvious question--"Why Consider Adoption?" I won't go into detail, but, according to Peterson, his two-part answer involves the great needs of the human heart and the incredible richness of God's grace. After answer this question, Peterson launches into the heart of the study, beginning with a look at adoption in the Old Testament. This study takes the reader through an exegetical look at the involvement of each person in the triune Godhead, while carefully interspersing anecdotal stories and personal testimonies in each chapter. I usually don't care for these additions to a serious study of a doctrine, but Peterson does a fine job of making this literary device work in this case. He smoothly moves the theological study into periodic real life practical examples from those who have experienced adoption firsthand or have benefited from Peterson's previous pastoral sermons on God's loving adoption. The latter chapters were more the practical application section of the book. In a somewhat remedial way, Peterson applies, point by point, what he taught in his early exegetical study. He did it in such a fresh and appealing way that I didn't catch on to what he was doing until I'd almost finished the book. Peterson especially takes care to cover how God has built into our adoption a personal assurance of salvation. This was one of his better sections, addressing what should be an obvious characteristic of the believer's security, yet is rarely included in studies on the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Another of Peterson's strong chapters--probably the best in the book--is his chapter entitled "Loved by the Father," which covers a very nice exegetical look at Ephesians 1:3-14. I was really looking forward to reading this book, especially after it came highly recommended. Every book has its strong and weak areas. This one is no exception. At times, I could feel Peterson straining to make his point in certain areas of his exegetical study. For such an accomplished professor, this left me a bit flat at times. One example is his chapter "Is Adoption in the Old Testament?" Frankly, after reading it I simply don't know why he even included it in this book. Peterson's exegesis was notably weak and he struggled to clearly make his points. This chapter left me disappointed. Overall, the book adequately covered the material and did make some very strong points--some I had never even considered. This is one indication of a strong study. His addition of personal stories from those he has collected through the years really made the study interesting and gave it that personal, human touch. Kudos for this decision as it really brought out the author's pastoral side. Peterson does a nice job of citing his sources for those who are fact checkers. He adds a Notes, Index of Scripture and Index of Subjects at the end of the book. Recommended. SIDE NOTE: I am such an "old school" guy who prefers the old school way of including note citations on the bottom of the appropriate page rather than at the back of the book. I am aware that some notes are too large to add to the bottom of the page, but I check each note while I'm reading and the constant flipping back and forth is, in my opinion, not the most desirable method of fact checking. I suppose the use of end notes rather than footnotes is probably the decision of the publisher and not the author. It's easier to print it that way--but easier for the publisher isn't always satisfying for the reader. And after all, it is the reader who buys the book and reads the notes, right? Simply stated, easier isn't always the best or even the preferred method. Well, enough said about that.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
