Customer Reviews

What Are Election and Predestination? (Basics of the Reformed Faith)

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Over the past three decades I have read much on the subject of Election and Predestination. (I find it a subject that most Christians stay away from because of its complexity, and many pastors are afraid to preach on.) Without a doubt, this is the best explanation on the subject I have read. It is well written, well- documented, laid out well, and easy to follow and understand. I would think that churches (who want their attendees to be better informed) would be buying this (brief, 30 page) booklet by the case! Kudos to Pastor Rick Phillips for making a very complex subject easy to understand.

Easily one of the most controversial doctrines in Scripture, Phillips tackles the issues of election and predestination head on in this short and concise booklet as part of the Basics of the Reformed Faith Series. With Scripture as his guide, Phillips lays out a compelling case for the Reformed view of salvation and addresses a number of the accusations which have been leveled against this position over time. Phillips also notes that the "Reformed" view could probably be more accurately described as the traditional Christian view since the election of the saints and the sovereignty of God was strongly supported by the earliest of the church fathers including Augustine. And, while the doctrine is old, so is the controversy: Augustine had Pelagius, Luther had Erasmus, Calvin had Arminius and the debate continues today!

While the booklet is easy-to-read and short, I was hoping that even in this cursory examination of the doctrines that Phillips would explore the opposing position and not merely the fallacies commonly leveled against this position. I've enjoyed every booklet in this series and this one is no exception, but it really wasn't as helpful or informative as I had hoped.

This has to be one of the best books I have read on election and predestination. Don't let the fact that this is a "booklet" fool you. Richard Phillips has clearly and simply explained the doctrines and gives ample scriptural backup. I highly recommend this book.