Grace

by Lewis Sperry Chafer

Do you realize that grace is the very heart of Christianity and is almost unrecognized as such, even by Christians? Startling indeed, but only because Christianity is so generally treated as being merely an ethical system. Probably no book has appeared which more comprehensively states the glories of divine grace with their exact relation to everday life. In Grace Lewis Sperry Chafer clearly presents the fundamental distinctions between the principles of law and grace.

Genres: Theology, Christian Living, Christianity, Christian, Nonfiction

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 1922

About the author

Lewis Sperry Chafer was an evangelist and educator, founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary (originally Evangelical Theological College), and an influential proponent of Christian Dispensationalism and vehement opponent of covenant theology.

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best and most thorough treatment of the subject I have ever read. This book may open your eyes for the first time to what the Lord has actually done for you! Many believers live their whole lives without understanding what the Lord has for them, and desires for them. Grace is what we in the Church are made, by God, to live under. Are you living under grace? Do you know what that means? This book could easily change your life.

[David Cowpar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know what to make of this book.

In parts I loved it. There is so much of the truth of God’s grace in it. But in other parts I think the author too heavily relies on distinctions between dispensations. I think it certainly helps the argument he is making but I’m not sure if, for example, grace wasn’t operating in the lives of the people of Israel between Moses and Christ, as he seems to imply. Further I would say the same thing about the rule of the kingdom that he distinguishes in the early half of the Gospels and some prophetic texts in the Old Testament. Though we are not under law it seems to me the sort of character and conduct grace produces in our lives is that which is described by Christ when He came, and yes that it not a law, it’s by grace.

So I liked this book but it also left me scratching my head about how much of it you can take to heart and how much is dispensational theology that might be making too clean of a cut between the covenants.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on God's grace. It was refreshing to have a review of how God has related to man at different times. Example: "In the teachings of the Kingdom, the characteristic phrase is 'hear and do' (Matt. 7:24), while the caracterizing phrase under grace is 'hear and believe' (John 5:24). Good explanation of our relationship with God under law, age of grace, kingdom age. Lots of error comes from taking a verse from context and applying it to the wrong time in history/future. Of course, the bottom line of Chafer is salvation by grace alone. Works can be so subtle to take from basic grace. A good example: "The believer's responsibility is thinly changed from being a struggle of the flesh to being a reliance on the Spirit." (Sermon on the Mount vs. indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age) One more: "The sabbath under the law was a DAY. The sabbath under grace is a LIFE.... The law did not pass at His birth. It passed at His death. During the days of His ministry, He recognized, kept, and enforced the Sabbath as an integral part of the whole Mosaic system."

[Gerald Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for those that believe the idea of grace started in the 1990s. This classic, written in 1922, presents the grace concept clearly and talks about many potential errors people can fall into if they miss this concept. A must read for anyone who takes the grace position.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to grace, no one explains it better.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good

[Donald E. Sixt III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Well written, and by a man who has obviously made an impact for eternity's sake. Grace, grace, grace. Oh beautiful, wonderful grace!