Customer Reviews

The One True God

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know Paul Washer. I have sat under his teaching. I have conversed with him, both regarding his teaching, and regarding the faith. He speaks hard things, but he speaks honest things. If you are looking to get your ears tickled, don't buy this book, because instead of getting them tickled you'll be getting them boxed. Paul teaches hard things, but he teaches honest things, he teaches solid things, and he teaches the true things. So, if you want to know God as He really is instead of like the ear-ticklers would prefer He was, park yourself between the pages of this book and don't come up except to eat, drink, and breathe the Bible, which is the Word of God.

It is a question I am asked a lot: what Bible study curriculum do you recommend? I rarely know what to say. There are so many of them available; time would fail me to collect, examine and review them all. I was interested, then, to see that Paul Washer is releasing a new edition of The One True God, a title first released several years ago. It is published by Granted Ministries Press. No less than Iain Murray declares that it is "the best introductory work known to me. ... Young Christians could scarcely spend their time better than working carefully through these pages."

This is a 192 page hardcover book meant for serious study. "The great goal of this study is for the student to have an encounter with God through His Word. Founded upon the conviction that the Scriptures are the inspired and infallible Word of God, this study has been designed in such a way that it is literally impossible for the student to advance without an open Bible before him or her." And he is right. A person who seeks to skim through this study or who leaves it for the last minute will not only gain very little but will actually be unable to complete it.

Washer begins his book this necessary, valuable exhortation. "The study of doctrine is both an intellectual and devotional discipline. It is a passionate search for God that should always lead the student to greater personal transformation, obedience, and heartfelt worship. Therefore, the student should be on guard against the great error of seeking only impersonal knowledge, and not the person of God. Neither mindless devotion nor mere intellectual pursuits are profitable, for in either case, God is lost." The purpose of this study, then, is not merely to increase knowledge, but to increase devotion. At the same time, we must not downplay knowledge for "The mind is not the enemy of the heart, and doctrine is not an obstacle to devotion. The two are indispensable and should be inseparable." We must love God with heart, soul and mind; we must love God in both spirit and truth.

Each of the book's fourteen lessons looks to a specific attribute of God. Studies include "God is One," "God is Spirit," "God is Righteous," "God is Creator and Sustainer" and "The Names of God." The student will complete lessons only by looking to Scripture, studying it and understanding it. It is self-directed in that the benefit gained will be directly proportional to the work given to it. Says Washer, "The student will find that this is primarily a Biblical study and does not contain much in the way of colorful illustrations, quaint stories, or even theological commentaries. It was our desire to provide a work that only pointed the way to the Scriptures and allowed the Scriptures to speak for themselves." And this is exactly what he accomplishes.

The lessons are completed right within the book, ensuring that this is a book you will personalize and make your own. There are fill-in-the-blank questions, questions that will require turning to Scripture and completing a sentence or two of summary, and questions that will require thought and application. All of this is interspersed with solid, biblical teaching about the person and character of God. You can view an older edition of the book here if you would like to get a taste of the format (though you should note that the new edition looks quite a bit nicer, even if the content is the same).

Suitable for individual use, small groups or Sunday school classes, this is a valuable book and one that will serve you well. It will draw your mind, your heart and your affections to the One True God. I highly recommend it and agree with Iain Murray--a young Christian could scarcely do better than to work through it with care, keeping his Bible open all the while.

There are many excellent books on the attributes of God (e.g., Pink, Charnock Tozer), but this one meets a real need: the need for students of the Word to encounter the God of the Bible through the text of the Bible itself. This workbook is geared more towards new believers, but it should not be relegated to "beginner material" as there is plenty of meat here for all Christians to profit from. In short, if you desire a more intimate knowledge of the God of the Bible by digging into the Scriptures themselves, then this book is for you.

There are a thousand study guides out there--which one to choose... which one to choose? Topics are endless, choices are endless--it can easily discourage even the most ardent study guide pursuer. This study guide helps alleviate many of the frustrating and discouraging thought-processes that can tie up a person's decision for so long they might not start studying for a good amount of time... if ever. What makes this such a treasured find is its basic and easy-to-follow format. Paul doesn't confuse the reader with his vast, deep knowledge of theological rhetoric. He makes the the teaching and learning of the one, true God basic enough for even the most unchurched person and the most churched person--as regenerate believers.

But the interesting part is whatever season in life you're in, in your religious pursuits, this study guide will only serve to deepen your pursuits. My personal opinion is that starting out with a right perspective and knowledge of the God of the bible is the only way you can really ever practically apply what God is demanding of us as His disciples.

I don't know Paul Washer, personally, so I can't attest to his life or godliness. I have, however, listened and read enough of Washer to know that he is biblically sound and knows his theology proper material, thoroughly.

This study guide has eternal value written throughout its pages.

This book is designed to lead readers to God's word to learn about God's attributes from what He says about Himself. It will richly reward anyone who goes through it thoughtfully.

I'm a fan of Paul Washer but this book is not that super duper. It is a workbook inteneded for a pencil in hand reading. It would only be usefull for group study as far as I can tell. I've looked it over several times since I got it a few months ago but can't get interested enough to do it alone. I'm hoping an oppurtunity to do a group study will present itself soon otherwise this is only going to collect dust.

I have read the book and find it an insult for the reader. There are far more better books to be found on this subject than this one. I see no reason to recommend this book to anyone aslong there are far better books to be found on this whole subject i.e. AW Pink the Sovereignty of God and his book on the attributes of God, or Stephen Charnock's Existence and attributes of God.
This book is from my point of view a total waste of money.