Customer Reviews

The Grace of Repentance (Today's Issues)

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An excellent work on the doctrine of repentance. I have seen very little in print regarding the doctrine of repentance which I find to be rather odd with the plethora of books available in theology--perhaps because it is such a convicting topic. I find that the evangelical church is weak in this area as well as in the doctrine of sin. Though relatively brief Dr. Ferguson hits the nail right on the head and gets straight to the point in a very readable book. He weaves this important doctrine into the overall doctrine of God's grace.

In a mere 48 pages, Ferguson takes a topic that is scarcely written about and reveals what is at the heart of repentance. Drawing upon Luther's 1st of 95 Theses, he maintains that Christianity does not just begin with an act of repentance, but is marked by an entire life of repentance. In addition to helpful bibilical analysis, he offers a warning to the contemporary church against lapsing into Medieval religious practices. All in all, a clear and warm balance of truth and grace!

An excellent work on the doctrine of repentance. I have seen very little in print regarding the doctrine of repentance which I find to be rather odd with the plethora of books available in theology--perhaps because it is such a convicting topic. I find that the evangelical church is weak in this area as well as in the doctrine of sin. Though relatively brief Dr. Ferguson hits the nail right on the head and gets straight to the point in a very readable book. He weaves this important doctrine into the overall doctrine of God's grace.

I first became tuned in to Sinclair Ferguson's work through a children's bible study book that we have been using with our kids during family devotion times. I amazon searched his name and found many other titles. After reading (and reviewing) By Grace Alone, another of Ferguson's titles, I became a fan.

I recently read "The Grace of Repentance" by Ferguson and it did not disappoint. I definitely give it 5 out of 5 stars. This book is an easy read and very convicting. We take God's grace for granted in so many ways. We fail to realize that it is only by God's grace that we are even able to repent and turn to God.

Sinclair does a great job of bringing that out and bringing to light the scriptural truth behind our sin, God's mercy in offering Christ, and God's grace in forbearing our sin and granting the grace of repentance to the Christian so that they continue to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8).

It seems to have been lost in the last generations, but this book is a fresh Biblical reminder that repentance is not just a one time thing we do when God saves us, it is a lifestyle. Well said by Ferguson, "A life of repentance is ongoing, dogged, persistent refusal to compromise with sin." (p.25). Praise God for His grace and mercy in granting us repentance and allowing us the empowering of His Holy Spirit to continually turn from sin.

The topic of repentance can never get old. I really enjoyed this book because it caused me to examine myself as I was reading and drew me to prayer. I've heard many of the points in this book before, but I don't think one can really get tired of hearing them; you never overcome your dependency on Christ and your need for God's counsel. I also really like the way Ferguson uses concrete images to explain his points and his use of sarcasm. If you're familiar with his style in sermons, the style of this book is similar. Ferguson looks at repentance in the Old and New Testaments and links it to our covenantal relationship with a holy, gracious and merciful God. He also talks about sin, what true repentance is, and how evangelicalism today has diluted the importance of it. Ferguson also looks back on the days of the Reformation and the state of the Church then. He points out that the call for all of us, individually and corporately, is to repent and believe the Gospel.