Pierced For Our Transgressions

I’m very much looking forward to THIS when it comes out. Here is a selection (and it is only a selection) of what lots of clever, godly Christian men have to say:

This extended declaration and defence of the penal substitutionary view of Christ’s atoning death responds to a plethora of current criticisms, many of them in-house, with a thoroughness and effectiveness that is without parallel anywhere. The book’s existence shows that a British evangelical theology which exegetically, systematically, apologetically and pastorally can take on the world is in process of coming to birth. I hail this treatise as an epoch-making tour de force, and hopefully a sign of many more good things to come.

J. I. Packer, Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver

This book is important not only because it deals so competently with what lies at the heart of Christ’s cross work, but because it responds effectively to a new generation of people who are not listening very carefully to what either Scripture or history says. One of the delightful features of this book is reflected in the subtitle: the authors make no apology for their thesis, but underscore the glory of penal substitution. This book deserves the widespread circulation achieved by corresponding contributions a generation ago – the contributions of Leon Morris, Jim Packer, and John Stott.

D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois

Agreement on the nature of the atonement has long been a defining feature of evangelical Christianity. Today, however, all is in crisis. For some time the writings of a number of scholars reared in evangelicalism have eroded, even denied, that the heart of the gospel is to be found in Christ’s penal substitutionary death and his glorious resurrection. But now – inevitably – this view has begun to appear in books written by popular authors who are viewed as contemporary, cutting edge leaders. Sadly, much that is said and written unwittingly repeats what was long ago rejected as unorthodox. In the past, those views irrevocably led – within a generation – to a rejection of evangelical faith; unchecked, they will inevitably do so again. The stakes could scarcely be higher – the very nature of the gospel itself. Pierced for our Transgressions is a courageous, timely, comprehensive and welcome study. It is biblically sensitive and pastorally astute, with the added strength of being aware of where similar false steps in the past eventually led. Here is a sure-footed guide to the message of the cross – and therefore to Christ himself, and ultimately to God the Trinity. It deserves widespread and careful reading.

Sinclair B. Ferguson, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina.

The treatment of the biblical material is in itself worth the price of the book. A model of biblical-theological exposition. They expound the weightiest texts so concisely and so clearly – as they argue for the rugged truth about the rugged cross.

Dale Ralph Davis, Pastor, Woodland Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

As I was sitting on a log in the mountains of the Lebanon, my uncle explained to me, a fifteen year old, the gospel. It was the explanation of the cross that struck me and convinced me that I must trust Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. If he had loved me enough to pay the penalty for my sin, then I had to receive him. Since then I have sought to proclaim ‘Christ and Him crucified’ to everyone I can. It is sad that Pierced for our Transgressions has had to be written to defend the very heart of the Christian message, but I am delighted that the authors have produced a warm, biblical, thorough and endearing defence of Jesus’ great work on the cross. Whilst I would want to passionately argue that Jesus died for everyone, I commend this book and its great theme to all. As D. L. Moody said, ‘The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’

Roger Carswell, Evangelist

Thoroughly researched and documented, cogently argued and presented with great clarity, this is a timely and much-needed restatement of the central biblical doctrine of penal substitution. Its great strength lies in its comprehensive exegesis of the biblical text itself, explaining the positive content and answering its opponents with gracious fairness, but penetrating force.

David Jackman, President, Proclamation Trust, London

Happy Birthday ‘Blog!

Today, my weblog is one year old.

For what it’s worth, here are my highlights (in no particular order) from the past twelve months (and 160 posts):

1. My hymn on Limited Atonement
2. Thinking about the Trinity and the Cross
3. Keeping the Sabbath: When Biblical Theology Goes Too Far
4. Liturgy (1) and Liturgy (2)
5. The Regulative Principle of Worship
6. Particular/Effectual Redemption (1)

I’ve enjoyed reading and thinking and sharing about the Bible, Christian books, theology and divers matters and, if it’s all right with you, I’d quite like to carry on for a while.

Tolle aude!

Please may I draw your attention to a set of sermons preached by Matthew Mason on the Song of Solomon, which may be downloaded HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

I’ve only listened to the introduction and the first talk – they made the journey from Northampton to Oxford this weekend very productive indeed – but they were excellent. In the introduction, Matthew reminds us that the Song of Song (like all Scripture, of course) must be interpreted in the light of, not apart from, the Bible’s main plotline about God creating a people for himself, which finds its climax in the Lord Jesus coming, living, dying, rising and builing his church. He shows us that YHWH and Israel’s covenant relationship is described as a marriage in Ezekiel 16, a theme which is fulfilled n the NT as the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5). The Song of Songs isn’t about human relationships, but is about something far greater – the love of YHWH for Israel, or for the Christian believer, the love of Christ for the church. In the talk, Matthew refers to an essay justifying this interpretation, which I guess is the same as the one that may be found HERE on his weblog.

The first talk on the Song itself is about Christ’s love for the church. Matthew starts with a literally spine-tingling poetic translation of the Song by Marcia Falk which I may have to obtain for myself. He has two headings – Christ longs to be with the church, and Christ is captivated by the beauty of the church, or something like that. He clearly explains the imagery and how it relates to the temple – doves/sheep/rams as animals of sacrifice, pomegranates and lilies being temple decorations evoking a return to Eden. He applies it well to the church, enjoying greater intimacy with God than Israel, but with a not-yet element still to come. This talk renewed my love for the gospel – it’s not just about forgiveness and justification and salvation, but it’s about sinful human beings being cleaned up and made the bride of the Son and enjoying fellowship and communion with that society of loving persons, God the Holy Trinity himself. Christ does not love the church like the husband in a Shakespeare sonnet which Matthew- depite her ugliness. No, she truly is beautiful in his sight. And the reason is because the cross worked. I was reminded that no matter how I felt about myself, Christ loves his people, I was reminded of my obligation to the church, for I am one who is to love the church as Christ loved her. That applies to commitment to church attendance, relationships within the church, going after the wanderer… And as part of the church which will be married to Christ on the last day, dressed in white, I am not to roll around in the mud, as it were, now.

That probably doesn’t do these talks justice – I am merely writing from memory so it’s not all that coherent. The best thing I think you ought to do is listen to them.

Library Thing

THIS is an excellent, free resource if you’re slightly obsessive-compulsive like me.

You type in the ISBN number of the book, it looks it up for you on Amazon, the National Library of Congress and wherever else you tell it to, and it comes up with all the details. Clicking on the book adds it to your catalogue. Occasionally, you have to type in the title and author, and very occasionally it won’t find the book, but then again, Christian books can be quite specialised. Apparently, if you have a fancy portable telephone, you can even check the catalogue when you’re in a bookshop to see if you already own the book. And when you buy things on Amazon, you can enter it automatically into your catalogue.

I catalogued all my books in Oxford last night (I’ve got quite a few at home, too) which you can find HERE if you’re interested.

If you’re a student in Oxford, the OICCU Library catalogue may be found HERE. Get in touch with me if you want to borrow anything. Please get in touch with me if you want to donate anything, too!

Dr. J. I. Packer Dr. Ian Paisley

Dr. J. I. Packer

Dr. Ian Paisley

Particular/Effectual Redemption (1)

Apologies for the dearth of posts of late: I have been rather busy.

On Monday, I had the pleasure of talking to a student on Cornmarket Street about the Lord Jesus Christ, and he asked a very perceptive question.

“But if Christ died for all people, then aren’t all people saved?”

I was able to tell the young man in question that in fact, I don’t think the Bible does teach that Jesus died for all people, but rather that he died for his follows, all those who would put their trust in him. That seemed to make sense to my interlocutor.

Subsequent to this, and a series of OICCU Mission talks, at which it was remarked that the speaker, Mr. Lee McMunn, preached Calvinistically, I am pleased to say that there has been something of a revival of interest in Calvinism (i.e. Biblical truth) and limited atonement in particular.

Lee McMunn: A Calvinist

This glorious doctrine, which makes perfect sense of the atonement, is often disparaged. It is often said that it is the consequence of elevating logic above Biblical truth. I think not. In this and subsequent posts, I intend to demonstrate that this is a thoroughly Biblical doctrine, to be believed and gloried in by all Christians.

For a helpful introduction to the doctrine of particular/effectual redemption, click HERE for an essay by Dr. J. I. Packer.

1. The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus’s mission was not to save every single human being, nor to make everyone saveable, but to save particular people for the guilty, penalty and power of sin, namely God’s elect, all those who would repent and put their trust in him. For example:

“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1.21

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10.11, 15

“For their [i.e. those whom the Father gave the Son, v. 6] sake I consecrate myself.” John 17.19

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5.25

2. The Passover, which is a type of Christ’s death on the cross, clearly shows that atonement is made for the people who are being redeemed only, and not all. The passover lamb is representative, proportional and substitutional for the family. None is left over. Any excess is consumed.

“And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.” Exodus 12.10

3. None of the texts stating that Christ gave himself for “all” or for “the world” teach that Christ took upon himself the penalty for all on the cross, if the context is taken into consideration.

4. The Bible teaches that Christ’s death actually achieved something – reconciliation, justification, sanctification and adoption. His death actually procured for all concerned in it these blessings. So if Christ died for all, then all must be saved. Unless you want to go down the route of universalism and say that everyone is saved (against the Bible’s testimony) then you have to have a cross that doesn’t actually achieve anything (against the Bible’s testimony). No, if the Bible is to be believed, then Christ’s death on the cross achieved salvation for all concerned in it, and those concerned are his elect, his people.