The Federal Vision [Paperback]

Steve Wilkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2004

In this fresh and stimulating study of the nature of God’s Covenant with man, several of today’s most provocative Reformed theologians combine efforts to work toward a better understanding of the relationship between obedience and faith and the role of the Church and sacraments in our salvation. The Federal Vision communicates the importance of applying a more robust Covenant theology in our study of these things.

Steve Wilkins writes, "Covenant is the central teaching of the Word of God; it describes a relationship with the Triune God through Jesus Christ, His only Begotten Son. To be in covenant is to be in real communion with God, attendant with real privileges and real blessings. It is to be brought into the circle of the eternal fellowship that has always existed between Father, Son, and Spirit. It is to be made partaker of the divine nature. It is to be beloved of the Father for the sake of His Son and is founded upon union with Christ."

The ideas put forth in this collection of essays have been taught in every age of the Church – from the early fathers to the Medievals, from the Reformers to the Westminster divines, and on up to the present day. Rather than presenting a new novelty of doctrine, these writers together share the desire to stand full in the stream of classical Reformed Christianity, entirely submitted to the Holy Scriptures with the hope of promoting the growth and maturity of the Church.

Contributing authors: Steve Wilkins, John Barach, Rich Lusk, Doug Wilson, Steve Schlissel, Peter Leithart, James B. Jordan, and Mark Horne.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Athanasius Press (May 2004)
• ISBN-10: 0975391402
• ISBN-13: 978-0975391402
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,855,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Barach (Bachelor of Biblical Studies, Peace River Bible Institute, 1994; MDiv, Mid-America Reformed Seminary, 1997) is the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (CREC) in Sulphur, Louisiana, and a faculty member at the Martin Bucer Institute for Biblical Studies in Monroe, Lousiana. Previously, he pastored Trinity Reformed Church (URCNA) in Lethbridge, Alberta; Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Grande Prairie, Alberta; and Christ Church (CREC) in Medford, Oregon.

He is the author of an essay entitled "Covenant and Election" in Steve Wilkins & Duane Garner, eds., The Federal Vision (Athanasius Press). Together with Peter J. Leithart, he edited The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift in Honor of James B. Jordan (Wipf & Stock), which contains an essay of his on Psalm 8.

He and his wife Moriah are the parents of three children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it First Hand, September 15, 2004

By 

Keith R. Ghormley "the presbyteer" (Lincoln, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Federal Vision (Paperback)

There has been some strong reaction in Reformed churches about the recent Pastors Conferences at the Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Louisiana. Those who sound the alarm say the conference speakers have crossed the line in serious ways, and should be rebuked for their errant teaching. Those who have spoken at the conferences insist that their critics have generally not shown a clear understanding of what has been said and taught, are too quick to label them as "sacramentalists", and wrongly conflate their teaching with the New Perspective on Paul or other controversial schools of thought. In this book the conference participants present their cases so that those who are wondering what the controversy is about will be able to consider what these men have to say first-hand. Personally, I don't see how anyone who is concerned about the Auburn Avenue conferences can read these essays and still be on the warpath. You may disagree. But who can seriously claim that such teaching must absolutely put these men outside the pale of Reformed orthodoxy? These essays are well-reasoned, Biblically sound, solidly Reformed, and full of insight and understanding that will help the church be all that the Lord Jesus has called her to be.

63 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating collection of essays, September 15, 2004

By 

P. Duggan "heirodule" (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Federal Vision (Paperback)

I found this collection of essays on a locus of topics like the covenant, sacraments, and the objectivity of salvation to be refreshing and exegetically based. James B. Jordan's essay developing the themes of maturity from Genesis 2 and 3 is worth the price of the book. It is on the field of exegesis of texts like John 15 and Genesis 2 and 1 Corinithians 10 that the discussion should really focus, and this book lays the groundwork for that discussion.

Highly stimulating. Even if you disagree with some of the essays (as I do), you should find food for thought. An excellent book for anyone who wonders why so many times Reformed theology offers excuses or special pleading about the way the Bible itself sometimes speaks of salvation on sacrmantal efficacy.

Paranoia about the "trajectory" this book's writers are on should be avoided. What they say is what they say, and the "catholicism" promoted is nothing other than that of the Apostles' Creed.

Those who think John Murray's booklet on the Free Offer of the Gospel was a sop to Arminians will not like this book. Those who are followers of gnostic mystical occultists who they claim to be Calvinists definitely won't like this book.

48 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable collection of insightful essays, September 16, 2004

By 

Mr. Alastair J. Roberts "Mr A J Roberts" (Durham, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Federal Vision (Paperback)

Having already purchased and read 'The Auburn Avenue Theology: Pros and Cons' I wondered whether there was much that this book could contribute to the ongoing debate over the 'Federal Vision' theology. My initial doubts were soon set to rest when I started to read the book. There is a lot of original material here. My copy has already received its fair share of underlining and is beginning to manifest the evidence of extensive use.

'The Federal Vision' includes nine essays from eight different contributors. The careful reader will find much rewarding and valuable material in these pages. Two essays in particular stand out - James Jordan's essay on merit and maturity and Peter Leithart's essay on justification. Jordan's essay alone is well worth the price of the book.

Many of the critics of the 'Federal Visionists' will do well to observe the thoughtful and constructive theological work that is displayed in various portions of this volume. This constructive work seems to be indicative of a wish on the part of the participants in this movement to avoid become trapped in the sterility of an entrenched position. This volume consists of a number of distinct voices within an ongoing debate; anyone expecting to find a definitive presentation of THE Federal Vision theology will, I believe, be disappointed. The attentive reader will soon appreciate that the various contributing authors to this volume do not form a homogenous group. What they hold in common is a commitment to the Word of God, a love for the historic Reformed faith and a desire to address certain problems that they perceive in many forms of modern Reformed theology and practice. The result is a book that will challenge preconceptions and stimulate people to think.

Whilst, after consideration, I disagree with a number of the positions outlined in this book, I have benefitted greatly from engaging with them. I trust that there will be further books produced on this subject to explore other aspects of the continuing discussion on the Federal Vision.