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Chosen for Paradise: Reframing Election in Romans 9-11
The doctrine of election has confused theologians for centuries like a dog chasing it’s own tail. Does God choose us, or do we choose God?
Some believe that our own striving human willpower must somehow conjure up and maintain our own salvation. But how can we ever be certain that we have believed deep enough? Is it really up to us to save ourselves? To depend on my own decision for God?
Others believe salvation is God’s sovereign business from start to finish. But what about those who don’t believe? Did God choose some to fry in their own fat forever in Hell?
What if God’s predestination is not about choosing some for bliss and others for destruction? Following the lead of the great theologian Karl Barth, John Crowder explores the volatile passages of Romans 9-11 to shed new light on the debated topic of election.
God is not choosing one human over another. Jesus Christ is the chosen, elected man on behalf of all humanity. And you are fully included in Him.
John's shortest book ever aims to cheer up theology's biggest problem ever! Written as a companion book to Cosmos Reborn
Some believe that our own striving human willpower must somehow conjure up and maintain our own salvation. But how can we ever be certain that we have believed deep enough? Is it really up to us to save ourselves? To depend on my own decision for God?
Others believe salvation is God’s sovereign business from start to finish. But what about those who don’t believe? Did God choose some to fry in their own fat forever in Hell?
What if God’s predestination is not about choosing some for bliss and others for destruction? Following the lead of the great theologian Karl Barth, John Crowder explores the volatile passages of Romans 9-11 to shed new light on the debated topic of election.
God is not choosing one human over another. Jesus Christ is the chosen, elected man on behalf of all humanity. And you are fully included in Him.
John's shortest book ever aims to cheer up theology's biggest problem ever! Written as a companion book to Cosmos Reborn
- GenresTheology
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
18 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 7, 2015
This is a short, refreshing read on the seemingly complex subject of election in Romans 9-11. The author does a great job of inserting new ideas and fresh perspectives to the tired old debates on predestination and election.
The first half of the book covers the traditional camps on election: Calvinism and Arminianism. He discusses the pros and cons of each, their Scriptural bases, and also what he considers to be their fatal flaws. These aren't the only two choices on this matter :-)
The second half of the book is a detailed walk through of Romans 9-11. Overall I felt the author did a great job of analyzing the text and the contextual meaning of what Paul's saying in light of the Gospel.
I found the book to be very encouraging and well worth reading for anyone remotely interested in theology, especially if you've wrestled with this issue in the past. There were a few times in the book when I felt he jumped to a bit of a conclusion without the Scriptural backing (at least it wasn't cited in the book...I'm not saying it's not in the Bible somewhere), but it's very well done overall.
The first half of the book covers the traditional camps on election: Calvinism and Arminianism. He discusses the pros and cons of each, their Scriptural bases, and also what he considers to be their fatal flaws. These aren't the only two choices on this matter :-)
The second half of the book is a detailed walk through of Romans 9-11. Overall I felt the author did a great job of analyzing the text and the contextual meaning of what Paul's saying in light of the Gospel.
I found the book to be very encouraging and well worth reading for anyone remotely interested in theology, especially if you've wrestled with this issue in the past. There were a few times in the book when I felt he jumped to a bit of a conclusion without the Scriptural backing (at least it wasn't cited in the book...I'm not saying it's not in the Bible somewhere), but it's very well done overall.
January 25, 2018
John Crowder tackles the sticky subject of election with humor and scholarship, through the uncompromising lens of a lovely, merciful God, Who sacrificed for His kids, instead if sacrificing His kids. Thank you, John for this invigorating life giving work!
May 11, 2019
The book broke down wording that kept me trapped longer than I should have been. Realizing some language used in Romans 9-11 was used for temporal purposes not eternal.
The Election Series was more helpful to me personally. Maybe I'm a better listener than reader?? 🤷♀️
The Election Series was more helpful to me personally. Maybe I'm a better listener than reader?? 🤷♀️
July 31, 2020
Most Amazing revelatory subject
Learnt one of the most important revelation that the church has never teached me.John has so much insight into the heart of God and reveals wonderful truths.
Learnt one of the most important revelation that the church has never teached me.John has so much insight into the heart of God and reveals wonderful truths.
November 22, 2020
Great read
John does a great job breaking down the confusing subject of the Election! I really enjoyed seeing these verses on the election through a grace centered view! This was a refreshing read!
John does a great job breaking down the confusing subject of the Election! I really enjoyed seeing these verses on the election through a grace centered view! This was a refreshing read!
November 18, 2025
understandable explanation of grace.
This book was a good read and answered some questions and introduced more. Crowder pushed the boundaries of my learning and challenged me to think differently.
This book was a good read and answered some questions and introduced more. Crowder pushed the boundaries of my learning and challenged me to think differently.
March 30, 2015
Great study
This is so utterly refreshing as it makes election both clear and simple! This book was apparently born out from "Cosmos Reborn," and it serves well as a fast read and excellent extension of the former. I am really thankful for both books and all the minds that contributed to them.
At times redundant, Crowder explains why: "we have to go slow," not because election was ever meant to be a complicated subject, but because we're de-threading a complicated mesh of misunderstanding now many hundreds of years old. "Chosen" does more than reframe election but, in so doing, also tweaks the brain just enough to wrench you out of any ol' time traditional thinking that has made us dull of hearing or just confused. As much as I learned about election, I also learned about exegesis itself, and about the overall wonderfulness of our very able Savior.
This is so utterly refreshing as it makes election both clear and simple! This book was apparently born out from "Cosmos Reborn," and it serves well as a fast read and excellent extension of the former. I am really thankful for both books and all the minds that contributed to them.
At times redundant, Crowder explains why: "we have to go slow," not because election was ever meant to be a complicated subject, but because we're de-threading a complicated mesh of misunderstanding now many hundreds of years old. "Chosen" does more than reframe election but, in so doing, also tweaks the brain just enough to wrench you out of any ol' time traditional thinking that has made us dull of hearing or just confused. As much as I learned about election, I also learned about exegesis itself, and about the overall wonderfulness of our very able Savior.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews