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The Mystery of Christ . . . and Why We Don't Get It
 
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The Mystery of Christ . . . and Why We Don't Get It (Paperback)

~ Mr. Robert Farrar Capon (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Capon's theme is the understanding of the Christian concept of grace through faith; he feels that this "mystery" is in this world, not some mystical experience of another realm. The popular idea that the goal of Christianity and the church is to make people "nonsinners" is replaced, in his argument, with the understanding that God's grace makes people "sin-forgivers." This frees believers from living in fear of a god who is a CPA of sins and frees them to forgive others. Capon handles the topics covered in his dialogues with representative counselees with a light but not frivolous touch. His book is well suited for general collections and would be particularly appropriate for college students because of its treatments of contemporary topics. Mary Beth Vanderpoorten


Product Description

This stylistically unique book probes the meaning of salvation, spoken of in the New Testament as a "mystery". Reminding his readers that salvation is a gift rather than a transaction, Capon uses a variety of dialogues to drive home the truth that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 195 pages
  • Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (October 19, 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0802801218
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802801210
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #489,614 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Realization of TRUE Grace!, September 14, 1998
If such concepts as "Both heaven and hell are populated with forgiven sinners", "God isn't in the sin-prevention business....He is in the sin-forgiving business", and "the argument between Cheap Grace and Costly Grace is ridiculous, because Grace is FREE", are intriguing to you, then get and read this book. It is a thought provoking delight!
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31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Its hard to categorize this book!, April 23, 2001
With his characteristic wit, humour, digression and depth, Robert Ferrar Capon has delivered another book centred about grace. In his always inimitable way, Capon is able to present an old theme in a new way, using various writing styles and techniques to get his point across.

Having read "From noon to Three" and this book, clearly Capon wants to emphasize - no, pound into your head - the idea that God has done it all, that grace is free, that God simply does not see our sin anymore. He must have quoted the verse "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" and it is the entire world who is in Christ, and we are in Him. This is part of the mystery.

As a pastoral tool Capon's perspective is refreshing and greatly needed in our works-loving, bookkeeping Church. Capon writes like a prophet, warning us that we fall too easily into the danger of thinking we have to "do" something. I also enjoyed his discussion of ways that we can view the resurrection. This was an education and well thought-out section of the book.

Of course, I have a "but"....I was continually uncomfortable with Capon's approach which, while he claims is theological, often plays fast and loose with the Bible. He was unconvincing in his analysis of the sheep and the goats parable. Moreover, I did not appreciate his several jabs at Bonheoffer, nor his implication that the "medieval" theology of Luther and Calvin, qua medieval theology, was unacceptable. Capon claims that, instead, he is more "biblical" - a term too often bandied about these days.

He speaks near the end of ways that our lives need to be, not acceptable to, but "congruent" to the mystery of Christ. And this would seem to me to mean that congruent should be biblical, but no....instead it is okay to practice astrology as if it gave us even the "weather" of things. Meanwhile the bible specifically indicates that it is not a godly practice. How is it then congruent that his wife is a practicing professional astrologer? No, I do not "condemn" her for it, only to question how he can make this claim.

Given that Luther has expounded so well on the grace of God, I think Capon takes it too far somehow and goes somewhere that is not warranted. Now, if he read this, he would think that I was falling back into "medieval" or "works" theology. No, I just am not convinced that what he argues is fully biblical. It's not that I want grace to cost anything, just that I think he is not convincing.

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I think I get it, January 30, 2001
By A Customer
I read this for the first time shortly after becoming a Christian. Earlier, I thought Christianity meant constantly avoiding sin. Capon points out that we will always sin, but the Good News is that God loves us anyway. He emphasizes love and hope, and does not waste energy on the little questions. And he exhorts us also to remember that we do not need to waste our energy on the little questions, but to instead remember Jesus' commandment to love God, ourselves, and each other. This book increased my new-found joy in knowing God's love.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Cute, clever, and simplistic on a profound subject
Robert Capon is a dedicated thinker, but he is a bit too cute to get to some real meat of the thought problem. Read more
Published 12 months ago by W. D. Woodruff

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing grace
I am a fan of Robert Capon. This book is an addition to an already impressive list of books on issues of faith, forgiveness, grace and relationship. Read more
Published on March 10, 2007 by Martin Melvin

1.0 out of 5 stars Stay away from this book!
When I was just starting out in my new Christian faith I stumbled onto Robert Capon's writings, including this book. Read more
Published on May 22, 2006 by K. Manizade

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare Compilation of Brilliant Insights for Christians
Among countless commentaries on the Bible and Christianity in general, this one deserves this highest praise. Read more
Published on October 21, 2004 by T. Bacon

4.0 out of 5 stars No transformation...
James Carpenter's review on the back of this book states: "This is an exuberant, triumphant theology... Read more
Published on June 30, 2004 by Matthew Wright

3.0 out of 5 stars This book and astrology
Several of the reviews have mentioned astrology in relation to this book. Don't let this put you off. Read more
Published on February 15, 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian or not, read this book!
I am not a Christian, and certainly not well read on the subject. But after living around strongly Christian influences my whole life, I feel safe in saying this book is the... Read more
Published on December 30, 2003 by D. J. Lindeland

2.0 out of 5 stars I tried to "get it", but there were too many roadblocks
Robert Farrar Capon is a very enthusiastic, passionate author with a very definite point of view. It is definitely in his favor that he takes a biblical approach, patiently... Read more
Published on January 16, 2003 by Tom Hinkle

5.0 out of 5 stars Very thought provoking
This book was one of the most thought provoking books I've ever read on Christian theology. I read it my freshman year in college, shortly after I had renounced religion. Read more
Published on May 27, 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Capon is so readable
I have cherished this author ever since I discovered The Third Peacock as a young adult. He presents the faith in such a sensible way - no sentimentality - no self-righteousness... Read more
Published on February 23, 1998

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