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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read Book!!, May 24, 2003
This review is from: Righteous Sinners: The Believer's Struggle With Faith, Grace, and Works (Paperback)
This book is original, profound, practical, and essential. It was extremely refreshing to read this book on the Lordship debate, which all too often follows extremely predictable patterns. It seems that all in this debate have intuitively realized the need for a solution that allows assurance, but excludes the possibility of license. This book is rare in that Julian clearly sets forth a deceptively profound, down to earth solution to the problem of assurance that maintains the balance. Those who think this issue is simple have not grappled realistically with the passages. I have been dealing with this topic for some time and have read everything from the Free Grace perspective writings, MacArthur's writings, to the more academic writings on this topic of Carson, Schreiner, Borchert, Gundry Volf, and many others. Oddly enough this book, written at such a popular level, may have made more gains toward a solution than any of the others. I could not more highly recommend this book and can hardly think of a book that could help more Christians, because of how vividly and accurately Julian describes what the average Christian often faces!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought Provoking and Clear; A Must Read!, August 6, 1998
This review is from: Righteous Sinners: The Believer's Struggle With Faith, Grace, and Works (Paperback)
This book should be given to every believer, new or not-so-new, young or old. It helps explain the many questions a Christian deals with, bringing up fears and doubts that many may have feared to admit. Grounded in Scripture, the clear writing style makes this book accessible to anyone, and yet manages to avoid the "dumbing down" that this reader has (sadly) come to expect in the Christian world. Questions regarding faith, failures, fears, trials, forgiveness, works, and God's magnificent grace are all dealt with and explained in a comprehensible manner. All I could complain about is that this is the only book he has available. "Give us more! I want a series, Mr. Julian!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Righteous Sinners... The Lordship Salvation View Affirmed..., October 6, 2004
This review is from: Righteous Sinners: The Believer's Struggle With Faith, Grace, and Works (Paperback)
That's what we are, that is those of faith, are "righteous sinners" not "perfect pretenders." We're righteous only because the righteousness of Christ Jesus has been imputed to our account and faith is the instrument of our justification. This book by Ron Julian addresses the believer's struggle with faith, grace and works. Julian tackles any number of issues and presents a Gospel message and reminds that there is no sin to great to be forgiven. Julian tries to settle an oft disputed question in light of Scripture: what is the relation between faith, grace and works? Legalist Arminians puport salvation is in man's own hands and he determines his faith. Adherents of Sovereign Grace like John Piper or Lordship Salvation View in dispensationalists circles like John MacArthur purport there is nothing more and nothing less than the free, unmerited grace of God that justifies the believer, and the fruit of saving faith is good works, that is those good works that the father has appointed that we should walk in them.
What must one do to be saved some ask? "Salvation comes to the one who has faith, but faith involves much more the mere doctrinal beliefs," notes Julian. "Faith is an active trust in God, a dynamic commitment of the heart and the will. True believers totally surrender to God, yielding their lives to Him in obedience." Julian goes on to point out, that true faith must be lived out, and it inevitably leads to good works. Indeed, faith without works is dead. Julian helps the believer reconcile faith and its relation to works, without falling into legalism (works-righteousness) or antinomianism (lawlessness). All those of faith are eternally secure in Christ Jesus.
The continious exhortation throughout the Scriptures is for the believer not to let sin have dominion over his/her life. Invoking the power of the Holy Spirit, and setting our sights on the promises of God, and the free and unmerited grace of God lets us experience the forgiveness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul's exhortation was to "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Phillipians 2:12-13
Romans 4:6 "Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."
God's grace is boundless, but Julian makes it clear that a true, perserving saving faith inevitably yields fruits of obedience and true repentant believers will become overwhelmed with guilt and forsake their sins when they walk astray.
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