Customer Reviews

The Salvation Controversy

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This is perhaps the most clear and most charitable explanation of the Catholic view on Salvation. It is easy enough for the layman, and even the veteran Catholic scholar will walk away with some new insight into the Church. Akin does a great job of highlighting the key distinctions between Catholics and Protesants, especially Calvinists (he was a Catholic convert from Calvinism), yet does not resort to religious indiffrentism as so many other scholars do today.

Although I might disagree with his views on Paul and the Law, just about everything else is a great explanation of the Catholic faith. Highly recommended!

How much different are Catholic and Protestant views on the doctrines concerning salvation? As Mr. Akin clearly points out well, it really depends on how we define the terms. Perhaps the greatest roadblock between the two has been the misunderstandings about the meanings that each side places in the words they speak with regard to these doctrines. Mr. Akin describes where we are alike, no easy task since many Protestants seem to differ with one another as much as they do with Catholics, and where we are not alike.

The first and overarching distinction is the distinction between temporal and eternal salvation and how that understanding can affect what we believe is taught in particular scriptures. Without that understanding that distinction, we are left to assumptions leading to all sorts of misunderstandings about other salvation-related topics.

Mr. Akin then gently guides us into the difficult subject of indulgences and shows us the scriptural and logical basis for indulgences. Contrary to popular belief, the reformers were not opposed to indulgences - they were opposed to the abuse associated with indulgences at the time. A proper understanding of indulgences (on the part of both Catholic and Protestant believers) will go a long way to heal that misunderstanding.

One chapter I found most helpful was his description of the Calvinist acronym, TULIP. Many Protestants and Catholics alike have misunderstood or misrepresented these "doctrines of grace" as they are often called by Calvinists. Mr. Akin seems to have a very clear and concise understanding of these doctrines. And, it is refreshing that he did not choose to throw it out in entirety but instead chose to compare it with the rich study of Thomas Aquinas' works touching on these doctrines. In the end, he does not offer a replacement for TULIP but instead only a refined form of "Thomist" TULIP. All of this is done in a gracious manner without attempts to belittle or humiliate Calvinists. If you are a Calvinist trying to decipher what the Catholic church really believes on these doctrines, you will want this book for this chapter alone. Many Catholics will find this chapter helpful as well. As Mr. Akin assets in the beginning of the chapter that since scripture uses the word predestination, all Christians must have a doctrine of what predestination is. As a former Calvinist, I found this chapter to be the best and most concise I have seen on this topic and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Following the brief foray into Calvinist Protestantism, Mr. Akin takes us back to the more general topics of faith, good works, and boasting. This is, perhaps, the most difficult topic for most Protestants and Catholics to understand one another. Nowhere do they seem to suffer the symptoms of dueling-definitions worse than on these topics. Mr. Akin does a good job of making the Catholic views quite understandable and clear to the point where one wonders how any Protestant could argue with the Catholic once their definitions are understood. In one brief chapter Mr. Akin dispels one of the most difficult stumbling blocks caused by the reformation. I do not think I have read any description quite so concise and clear on the association between faith, good works, and boasting.

Finally, Mr. Akin draws to a close with an overview of the recent Lutheran-Catholic statement on justification. As is so often the case, outsiders such as the media, have misunderstood or misrepresented what the document contains. Worse, they have used those misunderstandings to make blanket statements about what the document accomplishes with reference to the reformation. Lutherans and Catholics are still at an impasse on many issues related to this topic - Mr. Akin clears up some of that confusion by indicating exactly where Lutherans and Catholics can agree. It may be surprising how much can be agreed upon.

For the concise and clear explanations concerning salvation doctrines, this book is a must have for anyone wanting to know more on this watershed topic of Catholic/Protestant contention. So much has been written from both sides with misunderstandings and misrepresentations of both sides. It is clearly time for all of us to seek out books such as this before we attempt to speak or write on this topic further. This is a wonderful start toward clarity in definitions allowing us to speak the same language at last.

This book jumped right into the topic at the get-go; when you read it, you're gonna hit the ground running. Yet, if you don't know much about the topics of salvation, justification, santification, redemption, and many related topics to salvation, the book won't be 'over your head', so to speak.

Akin's most powerful tool, other than the intense Bible studies he's done to write this book and his command of logic, is his ability to make analogies that make the topic easier to understand. His many analogies are always on-time, too, as in he always brought one up at about the time I thought he'd lost me.

And even with these methods for making it simple, it's still useful for advanced readers. He dives deep into salvation; first pointing out the controversy that comes from all the points of view, discussing all of them and their relation to the Bible (without being confrontational), their relation to each other, their relation to other facets of salvation, and, of course, making a strong case for the Catholic perspective.

Overall, this book is well worth reading. And, even though it can be read by anybody, it is hard to absorb after just reading once. There is much information in here, but, given the book's readability, it's not torture to read it more than once.

Jimmy (aka. James) Akin's strongest quality, in addition to his knowledge and high intellectual capacity, is his ability to write clearly and succinctly. As a former Protestant, he understands both the Protestant (especially Calvinist) viewpoints quite well, and articulates them in juxtaposition with the Catholic notion (especially as expounded by Thomas Aquinas).

Although he does not diminish the differences, he explains that many points of contention are misunderstandings often resulting from the failure to define terms properly. Akin clarifies these terms and returns to the most debated Bible verses. He then defends the Catholic position using Scripture, history, logic, and common sense.

He also explains how some common sense notions such as "middle salvation" (eg: one man's preaching leads to another's salvation) and "temporal atonement" (eg: returning what was stolen) have been left out of the Protestant vocabulary. The result is that instances in Scripture that refer to these types of salvation are often mistaken for eternal salvation, thus creating more confusion.

Other topics he writes about are penance, indulgences, TULIP, boasting, and ecumenism. My only disappointment is that he only briefly touched on the belief of "eternal security" or "once saved always saved." I would have liked to have seen a whole chapter dedicated to that. Nevertheless, I believe the book still deserves 5 stars.

I really can't recommend this book highly enough. It's an easy read, yet it so effectively gets to the heart of the Soteriological debating points between Catholicism and classical Protestantism.
I think Akin's best point in the entire book is his analysis in Chapter 1 ("Salvation, Past, Present and Future"). Here Akin uses Scripture to show that St. Paul habitually refers to salvation in past, present and future tenses. This strongly suggests that Paul understands his own salvation as an on-going process - not only as the singular event that happened on the Road to Damascus. This is a very effective debating tool when discussing salvation with "faith alone" Protestants. If St. Paul was himself saved once and for all (past tense only) through faith alone, then why does he speak of his own salvation in all three tenses? Add to that the fact that he writes to his newly converted flocks in the same way. It's a good way to point out that St. Paul understands faith as something that plays out in the life of a Christian over a lifetime as a process of Grace working to transform the soul - not just as a one-time, over and done event. In all the debates I've had with Protestant friends over the years, I never thought to argue this point. Akin also uses all the soteriological references to the life and faith of Abraham - not just the one often quoted from Romans chapter 4 - to show that Abraham's faith was understood by Paul as a "work (of Grace) in progress" not just a one time event as recorded in Genesis 15. When was Abraham saved? Was it at Genesis 15 only? If a case can be made (and Akin makes it very well) that Abraham was "saved" in Genesis chapters 12, 15 and 22, then the Lutheran/Calvinist view of salvation as a one-time event falls apart at the seems. The book is packed with Scriptural insights in every chapter. Well-done, Mr. Akin!

If you want a thorough exercise in the issue of salvation here it is! I've not read a better explanation and analysis of this very central to Christianity topic. Mr. Aiken challenges-forces-the reader to think. If you can refute his analysis, you thoroughly know your material. This kind of book is a great advanced text for small group study.

James Akin does a masterful job in analysing the complete process of salvation as taught in the Bible. He provides clear and unrefutable scriptural evidence to support the Catholic understanding of salvation. This is a must read for any serious Christian (catholic or protestant) who wants a true biblical understanding of salvation.

An excellent layman-language approach to an important topic. Concise, accurate, comprehensive and understandable. Highly recommended for anyone sincerely interested in understanding the differences and common ground among Catholics and Protestants on the topics of justification, salvation and faith. Well done, Jimmy Akins!

I feel embarrassed to add my 5 stars to so many 5 stars, but I have no choice! This is one of the very best theology books I have ever read. Though it was written by a Catholic theologian, every Protestant should read it, as it goes beyond the words into the real theological differences of the two (or more) traditions, in a crystal clear and logical way through careful analysis of the Scripture, and going back to the original Greek texts of the NT wherever current translations (even KJV!) carry an ambiguity (see what he says about the difference between "works of the law" and "works of the Torah"). I think every Catholic also should read it, in order to know what is part of their own "required" faith and what is left open, and at least know why on scriptural grounds. Actually, this books offers a sound basis to future ecumenical dialogue, and shed useful light on what is different in semantics vs. what is only different in the use of words.
I recommend this book highly. Again, one of the very best, solid and biblically based theological books around.

Akin, seems pretty open & charitable here....and he even makes some interesting points.....but no matter how you want to package and explain justification, sanctification, faith, works, etc.....it all comes down to this......

Total Depravity (John 3:3; Rom. 7:18; 8:7-9; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:1; 4:21-24)

.....we are dead in sins.....works and faith are both fruits of salvation via (regeneration) Matt. 19:28 - Titus 3:5 - Acts 3:21 - 1 John 3:14 - 2 Cor. 5:17 - John 3:5 - Rom. 12:2 - Eph. 2:6, 2:1, 5

....Jesus is a complete savior, His blood removes our sins and our guilt.....God's truth and God's grace is made known to mankind, but many men remain hardened against these spiritual truths

RCC teaches that by grace thru the death and resurrection of the Savior we have a chance to save ourselves if we take it and live well.....the RCC teaches that human capability/spritual free-will (that resembles what Pelagius taught over anything Augustine expounded) trumps Jesus' atoning blood....shameful

Saving Grace/Faith, Election/Predestination is strong meat, but truth nonetheless....Paul taught it and it is revealed throughout holy writ......Augustine understood it.....the Reformers reemphasied it.....

see thru Akin's smokescreens and come to true faith in Jesus, it's an eternal life or death matter