Customer Reviews

God Who Justifies, The

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those who want to understand the historic Protestant (and Biblical) understanding of justification this book should be the first place to start. White does an excellent job presenting the Gospel in its purity and wholeness without compromise. The structure of the book is well organized and easy to follow through. The first half of the book (pp. 17-123) deals with important themes related to the concept of justification. This includes topics like man's total depravity, sin, transgression, the meaning of justification, the reason for justification by faith alone, the grounds for our justification, and imputation of righteousness. The second half (pp. 125-374) is an exegetical defense of the historic Protestant understanding of justification. White goes over passages in Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, James, 2 Corinthians, and Titus. He makes a convincing and exegetically sound argument for the historic Protestant view of justification by faith alone. Though White gets very technical and detailed in his exegesis of these passages, even a layperson will have no trouble understanding what White is saying. Particularly valuable is his exegesis of James 2:14-26. Roman Catholics and pseudo-Protestants have often used this passage to attack the traditional Protestant understanding of justification by faith alone. However, White does an excellent job explaining what James REALLY meant to say in this passage (e.g., true faith is demonstrated before men by actions). This book is refreshing considering that in recent years the doctrine of justification by faith alone has not only been attacked by Roman Catholics, but also by those who claim to be evangelical Protestants! Yes, pseudo-Protestants are everywhere these days. This book, however, should set the record straight on what the Bible really teaches regarding justification. In fact, after reading this book one will realize that many groups who claim to be evangelical Protestants are actually NOT at all (e.g., Wesleyans, Holiness people, neo-Reformed groups, etc.). White has done the Body of Christ a great service by writing this book. This is an invaluable work that needs to be in every Christian bookshelf.

Dr. James White in "The God who Justifies" expounds on the doctrine of Justification like a true theologian can, but preaches like a preacher should. This book is not for the theologically shallow and uses alot of Greek. For the well informed lay Christian, even with out the knowledge of Greek can still benifit greatly.

Great job.

The God who justifies, by James White, is an excellent study on the doctrine of justification.

Really, the book can be divided into two main sections. The first section (which is about a third of the book) preaches the doctrine of justification. I found it powerful and convicting. He emphasized over and over again that this doctrine cannot be appreciated unless it is set against the backdrop of our sinfulness and God's absolute holiness. He is right.

The second section is a defense of what he preached. It is an exegetical commentary of the most relevant sections in Scripture (Romans, Galatians, James, etc.) pertaining to the topic at hand. He does an excellent job doing just that. It is not discursive and it is not shallow. Rather, it is focused and scholarly. And I appreciated the frequent quoting and interaction with various theologians.

I think that Roman Catholic readers will be challenged by this work. And because Dr. White is such a well known apologist against Roman Catholicism one can expect this book to be the focus of some debate. I think his format and approach will lend itself towards constructive dialogue, in that Dr. White does not resort to emotional outbursts nor unguarded statements. Also, the tone that has been set is good in that it encourages rigorous study of the Word of God and not counter rebuttals to what someone else has said in previous pieces of literature. You don't get bogged down.

One complaint that I want to register here is his failure to discuss the relationship between being justified by God and the function of warning passages. How is it that a justified saint can be told to continue in the faith or else face condemnation- or face the potentiality for condemnation at all (1 Cor. 11:32)? This issue is not discussed. For this reason I reduced the rating one star. This issue is a very important thought that needs to be explored, but wasn't.

All in all though, for the price, it is something to own and read and consider carefully.

Martin Luther described the doctrine of justification - the topic of this book - as the article of faith that determines whether the church is standing or falling. Speaking of Luther, James Buchanan writes, "By this he meant that when this doctrine is understood, believed, and preached, as it was in New Testament times, the church stands in the grace of God and is alive; but where it is neglected, overlaid, or denied, as it was in medieval Catholicism, the church falls from grace and its life drains away, leaving it in a state of darkness and death" (14).

Justification, properly (and here briefly) defined teaches that God, solely out of sovereign mercy and grace, declares repentant sinners righteous on the basis of the perfect righteousness and subtitutionary death of Jesus Christ alone. This gift of justifcation is accessed by the believer through faith alone and is wholly apart from any works. Faith itself is not a work, nor does it contain any merit - rather, faith is merely the empty hands of the sinner laying hold of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ - a righteousness that matches God's perfect standard of righteousness because it is, in reality, God's righteousness.

White, in his weighty, passionate, thorough, and nourishing treatment of justification, examines the historical and contemporary significance of a proper and highly nuanced understanding of the doctrine, and provides the exegetical basis for it from key texts like Romans 1-3:18, 3:19-31; 4:1-5:1 and 8:28-34. In the latter portion of the book, White also deals with problems raised in the book of James where some contend that Paul is contradicted by James' statement that Abraham was justified by works (James 2:14-26). White further bolsters the truth of justification by tapping into other texts like Galatians 1-3, II Corinthians 5:17-21, Titus 3:4-7 and Ephesians 2:1-10, demonstrating the unity of the New Testament regarding this particular doctrine.

Every New Testament text quarried is examined in the original language. For each key text studied, White provides the Greek reading of the text with an English translation following. White often references and discusses Greek words, phrases, and grammer throughout the book as well, so some knowledge of the original language is helpful, though probably not essential. A lay-person who does not have any working knowledge of Biblical Greek will, I believe, also greatly benefit from this book.

'The God who Justifies' a solid and heart-felt treatment of the glorious - and often neglected - doctrine of justification. It is not a quick read, and it is not an easy read. But the riches mined by a careful, prayerful and thoughtful reading of this book are more than worth it. I highly recommend it.

Like Jay Adams, who reviewed this book, stated, "In lost sleep over this book."
Once again, James R White delivers us an incredible examination of theology, this time with treatment towards the doctrine of justification.
From almost the start I found myself exploring and ruminating on what Dr. White was saying. The exploration into the depravity of man ("Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God") and why justification ~must~ be forensic broke me a thousand times over, and preached the Gospel to my heart anew. From beginning to end, we see sound Biblical exegesis, and a heart and passion for the truth from this great man of God.
I have been recommending this book to just about everyone who would listen, and do so here. If you buy no other book this year, get The God Who Justifies.

~The God Who Justifies: The Doctrine of Justification~ is a brilliant and erudite defense of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. This is a doctrine that is being ignored and misunderstood and is at the heart of the Gospel message. "Justification, in the biblical sense," notes White, "is a declaration concerning the relationship of a man to God and his law. It is a legal statement that man is no longer under the curse of the law but stands righteous, just, before the bar of God." Justification is a declaration that holds the believer just in the eyes of God and effectively free from the curse of sin. The crosswork of Jesus Christ, his perfect obedience to the law and his perfect righteousness is the diadem of the believer's justification, and that righteousness is imputed to the believer's account. "Justification is a matter of imputation (reckoning, charging): the sinner's guilt is imputed to Christ; the latter's righteousness is imputed to the sinner." Working from the theology of Martin Luther and Jonathan Edwards, James White soundly explains and elucidates how the Protestant doctrine of justification is one of the most perceptive Scriptural truths in the Bible. James White performs a sound exegetical reading of Paul's epistle to the Romans and even brings out the original Greek text. He eschews a synergistic works-salvation system and makes a sound exposition of orthodox Augustinian-Pauline monergism. James White also soundly and exegetically harmonizes the epistle of James with the Pauline epistles. White asserts that the epistle of James is attacking an empty faith with the assertion that "faith without works is dead." He expresses his confidence that a true, saving faith has the capacity to provide an external, personal demonstration. The crux of the book is "the faith that saves is a faith that clings in helpless dependence upon another: the God who justifies." Thus, it is not Christ's sacrifice plus anything that saves, but Christ and Christ alone who saves. Reformed theologian James White calls believers to a clearer appreciation of the great doctrine of justification and the meritous work of Jesus Christ.

The book may not sit well with laity as it is overtly technical in nature and essentially for college-level and seminary students, though the doctrine of justification by faith alone can very easily be elaborately upon and explained, and James White does just that. Moreover, he gives substantive elaboration upon the great systematic epistle of Paul to the Romans. This is a most excellent work and essential for deeper reflection upon the Gospel, and the doctrines of sin, atonement, and justification.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." -Romans 1:17

Sola Fide! Sola Christus! Soli Deo Gloria!

This is easily the best book on the subject available. In "The God Who Justifies," James White spends hundreds of pages exegeting the key texts which actually deal with the doctrine of Justification. This is in contrast to those who seek to go to texts which don't actually deal with "justification" and try to prove that justification is not by faith alone. I think that in order for those objections to hold any water, then they have to consistently do what James White has done, and exegete the primary passages where justification is discussed.

The first portion of the book provides some historical background behind the word "to justify." That is, the Hebrew Scriptures are examined in order for us to see how the Christian writers applied the term. The next portion of the book goes into great depth in exegeting the key passages in which "justification" is used and applied. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book because rather than seeking to establish a doctrine, White actually derived the doctrine by exegeting the passages from start to finish. And I think this truly separates this book from other attemps that have sought to merely "proof-text" rather than discuss the context of those passages.

If you are looking for an in-depth look at the doctrine of justification, then you must have this book. I can think of no other than deals with this issue at such a highly technical level.

The first half of this book is a thorough discussion of the doctrine of justification. The second half goes into even more depth via a verse by verse exegesis of Romans. Those who know Greek will be more advantaged, but anyone can read this and learn a ton of information about the reformed doctrine of justification.

Not only is Dr. White an extra ordinary scholar, he continues to address the most important issues concerning "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). There's nothing more important than understanding how mankind is justified before a holy and just God--this book lays it all out. You won't be able to put this book down once you start reading.... Every Christian needs this book in their library, period. God bless. ....

We are using this book for our church's Men's Theology class. The first part of the book is very interesting and thorough. Great treatment of the subject. Starting about half way through, the author uses a significant amount of Greek to go more in depth. Unfortunately, unless you are a student of the Greek language, it makes the book significantly more difficult to read. We just started the Theology class and our instructor will get us through it, but it could be tough for new believers or those without any knowledge of the Greek.