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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Modern Classic, April 1, 2008
This review is from: Foundations of Grace (Long Line of Godly Men) (Hardcover)
Steven J. Lawson has begun a project that only be called ambitious. Through a series of five volumes, he has set out to trace the long line of godly men who have taught the foundational truths of God's sovereign grace. He will begin with the Bible itself and the godly men found there and history these individuals throughout history to the present. Lawson begins with this book, Foundations of Grace, which spans the years 1400BC - 100 AD.
Never before to my knowledge has such work been attempted. With such am ambitious goal, my expectations for this book were high. But Lawson did not disappoint.
Lawson begins in chapter 1 - "A Long Line of Godly Men" - with something of an overview of the book. Lawson talks about the foundations of the reformed theology finding root in the Bible itself, and shows briefly how those truths were brought into sharp focus in the reformation, spread throughout Europe, crossed the Atlantic to the Americas and continue to be cherished today. He also traces what these central themes of the reformed faith are - the sovereignty of God in life and salvation, the primacy of the glory of God, man's depravity and need of God's sovereign grace, and the doctrines of grace as a lens to see God's saving work accomplished and applied.
From there in chapters 2-8, Lawson begins with Moses and takes the reader through to the very end of the Old Testament with the Minor Prophets, demonstrating the continuing teaching and belief of these same truths about God, his sovereign grace, and man's need of them.
In many ways, the apex of the book comes in the controversially titled chapter "Christ, the Calvinist" (chapter 9). Here and in the next chapter Lawson demonstrates from the gospels that teachings of reformed theology have their root in Jesus himself. Just as the foundation was laid in the Old Testament, so Jesus - the Word incarnate - picks up those same themes and makes them essential to his ministry and teaching. Like George Whitefield, whom he quotes, one can say, "I embrace the Calvinistic scheme, not because of Calvin, but Jesus taught it to me" (pg. 240).
After this, Lawson moves through the rest of the New Testament in chapters 11-18. Beginning with Peter and the book of Acts, Lawson continues to convincingly show that the emphasis and understanding of the reformed faith (i.e., Calvinism) is not something imposed on the Bible, but naturally rises out from it. He demonstrates the fundamental coherence to the Bible's teaching on these issues.
One of the greatest strengths of Foundations is Lawson's writing style. Lawson is a more than capable pastor and it shows in this book. His writing is far from dry, but exhibits a style that is passionate and engaging. This shouldn't be surprising since the original idea and study for this material came from Lawson's Men's discipleship class at his church. (I have to say when I found that out, I struggled with envy over the great blessing those men have in Lawson!)
Another great strength is the book's organization. Each chapter is subdivided into the specific theological themes that Lawson traces out. Themes include things like sovereign grace, definite atonement, choosing and election, etc. This makes the book more coherent (and readable) than if he simply moved from chapter to chapter, book to book, pointing out every verse that spoke to every emphasis in reformed theology.
A final strength is the books the vast mine of material Lawson gives. This book is not only an exceptional work of exposition and biblical theology, it is also a storehouse for quotes and insights from other historic believers. Peppered throughout is something of a preview of Lawson's other forthcoming volumes, as he quotes and references others who in more recent centuries held this faith, once for delivered to the saints.
Few things can be more encouraging than to see the consistency of men and women believing the very truths you hold dear in your life. When I read the Bible or works like Foxe's Book of Martyrs and see God's people holding so dear the truths God has revealed - even to the point of suffering and death - it only serves to make those truths more cherished in my life, and encourage me to love more deeply the God who gave them.
Today, there is a slipping away from the theological truths of Zion. Doctrine is becoming of lesser importance than relevance and excitement. Though the reality is, theology that is truly believed will always be relevant and generate excitement, many want the latter without the former. Relationships and belonging have become more important than believing in some cases. This does not bode well for Christianity. Today more than ever we need a renewing of our understanding of who God is. That understanding should come from our own thoughts or the culture's popular ideas, but from what God himself tells us in his Word.
In light of these things, Lawson's work shines like a light in the growing darkness. Here is a tracing of the some of the most important truths about who God is from God's own Word. If we heed Lawson's teaching from the Bible, we will catch a better glimpse of the glory of God, causing us to more deeply love him and give him the worshipful service of our lives.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Leadership Under God's Tutelage, November 9, 2007
This review is from: Foundations of Grace (Long Line of Godly Men) (Hardcover)
Stephen Lawson corresponds in this sizable book with the Christian who has a thirst for the grace of God. In all its magnificence, the men of faith who grace the Bible of God, is played out before us from the theocentric view of God. Beginning with Moses the lawgiver, Lawson delves into their lives as represented to us in the Word. Drawing out texts, Lawson reveals the 'ability of God' (grace) in their lives as sovereign, thereby resulting in what God determines. The aspect of our understanding that most lacks fruitfulness in this regard, is our limited view of time and life. God purposes and determines all man's ways. Illustrated time and again, Lawson beautifully resonates the heavenly directive will of God, brought to bear in the lives of the men of faith, linking generations of godly leadership. 'Regeneration is open-heart surgery, a soul-reviving work of the Spirit that probes to the deepest level of a person's being.' p 97 'Despite Israel's unfaithfulness God continued to call forth a chosen remnant from within the nation to be His elect people.' p 95 Yes, the doctrines of grace are expounded in true Calvinistic form, for therein the glory of God is brought to bear most beautifully: he systematically and extensively highlights the doctrines throughought the book, employing a helpful section heading denoting the particular doctrine under discussion. A likeable feature are the references throughout to expositors and Bible teachers, from Matthew Henry to John MacArthur, and an extensive Scripture index reveals a comprehensive and healthy respect for the Word. Lawson makes easy and light reading of a difficult topic, and reduces our intellect to that which it rightfully is: only enlightened once grace has entered our sinful lives. 'Over the thirty-plus years that followed Peter's bold preaching in Acts 2, the apostle never wavered from the doctrines of grace. Three decades later, when he wrote his two epistles - 1 Peter in AD 63/64 and 2 Peter in AD 67 - his doctrinal standard remained unaltered. Despite the passing of time, Peter continued to expound God's sovereign grace in the salvation of undeserving sinners.' p 315 A beautiful and God-glorying, soul-gratifying work which seeks to inform today's generation of old truths.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extols a Magnificent View of God, May 7, 2008
This review is from: Foundations of Grace (Long Line of Godly Men) (Hardcover)
Steven Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., and is widely known for his vibrant expository preaching.
This is the first volume in a planned series of five that will chronologically survey 3,500 years of men who believed in and upheld the doctrines of grace. This volume moves through the pages of Scripture and displays more than 40 biblical authors who delighted in the doctrines of grace and God's sovereignty in salvation. Volumes two through five will take their biographical studies from the pages of church history in the following manner:
Volume 2: Pillars of Grace (2nd - 16th centuries)
Volume 3: Forces of Grace (16th - 17th centuries)
Volume 4: Progress of Grace (17th - 19th centuries)
Volume 5: Triumph of Grace (19th century - present)
An excellent 13-page foreword by John MacArthur opened the book with "Divine Immutability and the Doctrines of Grace." He answers the question of "Why did God determine to elect the redeemed?" by showing the inter-Trinitarian relationship of love and promise and glory. I am glad to see this teaching in print because my audio tapes of MacArthur's sermons on these texts (Titus 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 1:9) wore thin from listening to them so much. I think that this Trinity-in-eternity understanding of the "promise of redemption" did more to help establish the beauty of sovereign grace in my mind than any other dimension of the doctrine.
Right from the beginning, Lawson establishes his belief that true revival comes to the church when biblical theology and doxology ignite the church in a flame of passion for the glory of God. He says, "Over the centuries, seasons of reformation and revival in the church have come when the sovereign grace of God has been openly proclaimed and clearly taught. When a high view of God has been infused into the hearts and minds of God's people, the church has sat on the elevated plateaus of transcendent truth."
You have to love an author that really believes in the power of God's truth to change lives, and who writes with the passion coming out of such a conviction. Lawson says,
"Never has the need been greater for the truths of sovereign grace to be firmly established in the church. ... Let us now embark on this God-exalting, Christ-honoring pursuit. Ultimately, our view of God is at stake. It will affect everything. May we elevate Him in our hearts to the highest place, which belongs exclusively to Him. To God alone be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
An additional strength of the book is his ability to provide a succinct historical context for the life and book of each author. Job, Hosea, Moses, John, Peter, Jesus, etc. - they each are set in their historical context. This has the effect of drilling home the truth that the "doctrines of grace" are not a product of Calvin or Augustine or Spurgeon, but instead are divine truth as known and taught throughout all of God's dealings with mankind. To know God in truth is to have a high view of God's sovereignty.
Lawson writes, "This survey from cover to cover in the Bible will lay an immovable foundation for the sovereign grace of God."
Indeed, that is exactly what this book accomplishes. I look forward with great anticipation to the publication of each of the volumes in this series.
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