Customer Reviews

A Right Conception Of Sin: Its Relation to Right Thinking and Right Living

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I have never read a book outside of the Bible that has impacted my thinking so much! The issue of sin, and how God reveals that he deals with it, is essential to every believer. To be wrong about our thinking in this area will inevitably affect the whole scheme of our theology. To be wrong here determines whether we will follow God's view of sin, or man's view of sin. It can affect if we will live according to God's will, or passively like dumb sheep, follow man's unscriptural idea of sin to our own potential destruction.
The first few chapters deal with a basic introduction to theology and how it works in a way that a layman can understand it. As I read the book the first time, I did not catch the importance of what he was saying. As I read on, I started to see how essential it was to truth to be consistent with Scripture, and with what I believed in other areas. Don't let the theological emphasis of the first three chapters dissuade you from reading the book! It is solidly Biblical, but exposes how we are all affected by theology. As for understanding theology, it is an eye opener! There are few books that I have read that I would use the terms "profound," "essential," and "must read" to describe it, but this is the one! I feel sorry for anyone that would neglect taking the time to consider this worthwhile book on such an essential subject that most Christians will never be clear or consistent upon.

Dr. Taylor is one of the most scholarly theologians in our day. More important he is a spiritual man with a heart for God and holiness that has inspired hundreds of thousands of students and laity. The comments: By A Customer clearly misses the point that "right thinking" as Dr. Taylor calls it is to have Biblical Thinking. That is what Professor Taylor means and does an excellent job of pointing out how John Calvin's position is not Biblically based, or Biblical Thinking. Dr. Taylor is a firm believer in true and correct exegesis of Scripture, and that God said what He meant and meant what He said. "Thus saith the Lord! True Calvinism (hyper Calvinism) which is to accept all of John Calvin's teaching which is necessary to support his whole premise is not Biblically Thinking. Lastly, neither Dr. Taylor, John Wesley, or any true Arminian would ever discount the truly marvelous, unmerited, undeserved, grace of God. We are saved by Grace, plus or minus nothing! Mercy and love found me, and redeemed this poor lost sinner. The Bible and my life both testify that I had nothing to offer, the best I had was as filthy rags. As the old hymn says so wonderfully, "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and Wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvelous, how wonderful my song shall ever be." Grace is not the only wonder though, nor did He save us to struggle and be defeated. The Biblical message throughout the Old and New Testament is that Christ conqueror sin and death, and we are more than conquerors through Him who gave himself for us. He came not to save people in their sins, but from their sins! That is Biblical! John wrote, "My little children, I write these things so that you do not sin! But if (not when) if we do, we have an Advocate (a Lawyer, a Representative who will plead our case for us." Arminianism is not omitting Grace; on the Contrary, it is Amazing Grace, Precious Grace, Abundant Grace to meet all our needs. Yes, (if) we fail, if we fall! But the plan and the Provision make failure unnecessary! TBS "For the weapons of our warfare are mighty for the tearing down of strongholds, . . ." We put on the armor of God to stand, having down all stand! We are not defeated, old split hoof is. The old hymn, "Would you be FREE from your burden of sin, there is power in the blood, would you o'er evil a victory win, There is power in the blood!" PTL! Wesley, as does Dr. Taylor preaches Victory, Deliverance, Power, Freedom, Abundant Living, in Christ as a result of His saving grace and His sanctifying power. We are to take up our cross and follow Him. In actuality we are to give up our life, He is not only Saviour, He is Lord! We are to surrender to Him, and His will. His way, not ours! It takes a surrender life, Apostle Paul said, am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Simply put, it's me, well, it's not me, it's Him living through me which makes me adequate for my world, where I live down on the street, day in and day out. If your tired of struggling with Sin and Temptation and feeling prey to the evil one I highly recommend this book as a step toward learning about God's wonderful grace, and your true standing in Him. Eternal Security, sure! I believe we can be saved for time and eternity. Not freedom to sin, and a pass, no way! Not cheap grace! But secure because we have victory in him. "Not of good that I have down, simply to the cross I cling!" He is my only hope of salvation, but He is all powerful and He is victorious. Through Him my friend, so can you be. If you're a layperson and would like a smaller simple version, try to get the out of print paperback A Right Conception of Sin. It is a very easy read and will bless your heart! May the Lord bless you richly, and may His Spirit lead you in wisdom and in truth, and in a Right Thinking!

This book is not a systematic theology, but emphasizes a doctrine which is absolutely crucial to having a biblical, coherent system of Christian thought. As Taylor suggests in this book, hamartiology is a core doctrine from which other doctrines stem. It certainly affects the way we live and think. If this essential doctrine of flawed, our whole system will be troublesome. Overall, Taylor is thoroughly biblical, citing numerous passages, in addition to being a careful theologian. I greatly appreciate this well-written work, and find it not only scholarly but easily accessible for all members of the church.

This has been a very helpful book and helps us to understand more fully just what sin is and the consequences of it. Richard Taylor, the author, is very well informed about the Scriptures, Highly recommend.

This book is the definitive resource for understanding and communicating the Arminian viewpoint. Although it is scholarly, it is not beyond the reach of the average Bible student.

I could not recommend it more highly.

This book is essentially an argument against Calvinism. If you like the idea of re-visiting well worn theological arguments, read on. If you desire to better understand and to overcome your sin, you would do better reading John Owen's "Sin and Temptation" (ISBN: 1556618301) Taylor obviously has a high view of right living, or a life that is righteous. And this is commendable. But for a person who is STRUGGLING with sin, the answer is not to work harder at being good; that person needs grace. (The biblical book of Galatians would be helpful, read along with Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians.) In seeking a "right conception" of sin, Taylor would have done better to do some biblical thinking rather than just "right thinking" which (in the case of this book) turns out to be just "wishful thinking." By the way, it is clear that Taylor doesn't really understand Calvinism. I hope that it's not that he wilfully misrepresents it; rather, I think that he seeks to understand it based on his own preconcieved views and describes it based upon human reason (and also largely upon his view of human experience). In some ways you can't help but reach his conclusions when you build the arguments the way he does. The problem is that Christian theology should be biblical, not based upon the faulty observations of human experience and the shifting sand of human logic. Some of what he says might "feel right" but it doesn't stand up to biblical scrutiny at all. As soon as he claims that "right thinking" rather than "biblical thinking" is the way to a right conception of sin, he starts with a wrong premise, and slowly, step by step, veers way into misunderstanding and misconception.