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Amazing grace: God's initiative-- our response
Timothy George has given us a wonderful treatment of the doctrine of grace. A combination of biblical, systematic, historical and pastoral theology make this a helpful tool in teaching church members more about the grace of God in salvation. It is published by Lifeway Press, which is the former Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and contains on the back cover glowing commendations from David Dockery, Ken Keathley and Paige Patterson. In his characteristically irenic style, Dr. George directly addresses the "hot issues" surrounding the sovereignty of God's grace. He accurately defines the TULIP acrostic and offers his own ROSES--Radical depravity, Overcoming grace, Sovereign election, Eternal life, Singular Redemption (72). The Calvinistic-Arminian debate is outlined in its historical context as well as biblically and theologically. The author makes quite clear his own theological convictions while calling on those from both sides of the debate to recognize that we have much on which to agree despite our differences. Throughout the book Dr. George shows that the enemies of biblical Calvinism are Arminianism on the one hand and the "quagmire" of hyper-Calvinism on the other. Though one would expect no less from this author it is nevertheless refreshing to see the distinction between evangelical Calvinism and fatalism clearly and forcefully stated in various places.
126 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Timothy George
41 books21 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Timothy George is Dean at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also editor, together with his wife Denise, of the Library of Baptist Classics series. He previously was an associate professor of church history and historical theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.
Timothy George is Dean at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also editor, together with his wife Denise, of the Library of Baptist Classics series. He previously was an associate professor of church history and historical theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 15, 2018
This was a quick and refreshing read on the goodness of God's grace in Jesus Christ. While it's explicit purpose to explain evangelical Calvinism, it does a good job of trumpeting what all Christian's can affirm about God's grace. Like many of Timothy George's writings, he uses this as an opportunity to catechize his readers into what the church has historically affirmed about many things, not just Calvinism. I believe he makes a strong historical and theological case than he does a biblical one. However, he does a make a good positive case. While he spends some time answering practical criticisms, it is beyond the scope of the work to answer every objection to a strong belief in God's sovereignty.
Although this book is not academic, it was personally refreshing to be reminded of the pastoral and missional implications of an evangelical Calvinism. As always, George writes excellently and irenically. He would rather see Christians of all stripes have a greater appreciation for God's grace and kindness than to simply persuade others to become Calvinists. It's a graceful theology of grace.
Although this book is not academic, it was personally refreshing to be reminded of the pastoral and missional implications of an evangelical Calvinism. As always, George writes excellently and irenically. He would rather see Christians of all stripes have a greater appreciation for God's grace and kindness than to simply persuade others to become Calvinists. It's a graceful theology of grace.
October 15, 2017
Fresh and faithful survey of this great theme of the Christian life. Timothy George writes well, with an attractive blend of wisdom and honesty. As a reformed Baptist theologian he also takes stock of other Christian positions (including what is known as Arminianism), but he does so with balance and charity. Great intro!
September 14, 2019
It’s at least a book from a calvinist baptist perspective. I really like the ROSES acronym that he tries to put forward as a means to better explain what is known by many, and misunderstood for that manner, as Tulip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
I loved this book
March 31, 2011
Grace. The word gets tossed around in Christian circles a lot. What exactly do we mean by it? Amazing Grace: God's Pursuit, Our Response is a great introduction to the biblical theology of grace. Dr. George explains in the introduction:
"As wonderful as grace is, it has provoked some of the most heated controversies in the history of the Christian church. In this study, we shall look at some of these debated questions while never losing sight, I trust, of the reality we are discussing: God's free and sovereign favor to ill-deserving sinners. God's great ocean of truth is much deeper than our finite minds can fathom. I am keenly aware that there is much more to be said about grace than I am able to say in this brief study. My purpose throughout is more devotional than academic: God's grace should provoke wonder and worship among all God's children. This study is an exercise in theology in the sense that the great Puritan divine William Ames defined it-the knowledge of living in the presence of the living God. "(p. 13)
He points out that the word "grace" accurately sums up the entire message of the Bible. The old acronym "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" is actually a good way to put it. We shouldn't let the simplicity of this little phrase cause us to miss it's profundity-it tells us three essential elements to a biblical understanding of grace:
It originates with God
It is inexhaustible, irrepressible, and overflowing
It is at Christ's expense.
In six short chapters, Dr. George unpacks these essential elements, showing how they apply to God's Providence, our salvation, the Great Commission, worship, and our everyday lives.
He reminds us that:
"...grace is not an impersonal force or even a divine quality to be analyzed and studied abstractly. No, grace means God himself is operating in love to the praise of his glory. As Martin Luther once said, grace is God's middle name!" (p. 32)
Grace is not a substance or commodity that God bestows on us or gifts us with...it is God himself at work in us!! We experience this work at many different levels in our lives, including as:
pardon
acceptance
joy
peace
power
hope
love
gratitude
The historic understanding of God's sovereign grace through church history is briefly covered, leading up to traditional Reformed theology. Dr. George prefers the acronym "ROSES" (Radical Depravity, Overcoming Grace, Sovereign Election, Eternal Life, Singular Redemption) to the controversial and often misunderstood "TULIP".
The book wraps up with a brief discussion of the marks of a gracious Christian...a person "so thoroughly grasped by grace that he or she becomes a channel through which God's great love shines forth in relationships with others." (p. 136)
"The more we see our own unworthiness, the more astounded we are at God's gracious favor and mercy toward us. And the more we realize that our life-purpose must be to glorify God, to please him in every way, the more others will notice the results of God's transforming grace in our lives. "(p. 136)
As we're transformed, these five marks will become more and more apparent in us:
A grateful heart
A humble countenance
A forgiving spirit
A life of love
A passion for souls
In closing, Dr. George offers a benediction:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)
and exhorts us to "live the benediction"!
The book is short and a fairly quick read, but it still manages to tackle some profound topics. The writing is clear and simple. I really enjoyed the devotional rather than academic tone. After all, how on earth can the subject of grace be discussed in simply academic terms?! I don't see how the topic can fail to produce wonder, awe, and worship of the God who IS grace!
Although short, Amazing Grace: God's Pursuit, Our Response does much more than just skim the surface. There's so much here...from the nature of grace biblically, to church history, to how it all applies to our everyday lives. I think it will benefit any reader...from the newest believer with no knowledge at all to the seasoned student of theology. Definitely a worthy read!
Thanks so much to Crossway for the review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/#...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
"As wonderful as grace is, it has provoked some of the most heated controversies in the history of the Christian church. In this study, we shall look at some of these debated questions while never losing sight, I trust, of the reality we are discussing: God's free and sovereign favor to ill-deserving sinners. God's great ocean of truth is much deeper than our finite minds can fathom. I am keenly aware that there is much more to be said about grace than I am able to say in this brief study. My purpose throughout is more devotional than academic: God's grace should provoke wonder and worship among all God's children. This study is an exercise in theology in the sense that the great Puritan divine William Ames defined it-the knowledge of living in the presence of the living God. "(p. 13)
He points out that the word "grace" accurately sums up the entire message of the Bible. The old acronym "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" is actually a good way to put it. We shouldn't let the simplicity of this little phrase cause us to miss it's profundity-it tells us three essential elements to a biblical understanding of grace:
It originates with God
It is inexhaustible, irrepressible, and overflowing
It is at Christ's expense.
In six short chapters, Dr. George unpacks these essential elements, showing how they apply to God's Providence, our salvation, the Great Commission, worship, and our everyday lives.
He reminds us that:
"...grace is not an impersonal force or even a divine quality to be analyzed and studied abstractly. No, grace means God himself is operating in love to the praise of his glory. As Martin Luther once said, grace is God's middle name!" (p. 32)
Grace is not a substance or commodity that God bestows on us or gifts us with...it is God himself at work in us!! We experience this work at many different levels in our lives, including as:
pardon
acceptance
joy
peace
power
hope
love
gratitude
The historic understanding of God's sovereign grace through church history is briefly covered, leading up to traditional Reformed theology. Dr. George prefers the acronym "ROSES" (Radical Depravity, Overcoming Grace, Sovereign Election, Eternal Life, Singular Redemption) to the controversial and often misunderstood "TULIP".
The book wraps up with a brief discussion of the marks of a gracious Christian...a person "so thoroughly grasped by grace that he or she becomes a channel through which God's great love shines forth in relationships with others." (p. 136)
"The more we see our own unworthiness, the more astounded we are at God's gracious favor and mercy toward us. And the more we realize that our life-purpose must be to glorify God, to please him in every way, the more others will notice the results of God's transforming grace in our lives. "(p. 136)
As we're transformed, these five marks will become more and more apparent in us:
A grateful heart
A humble countenance
A forgiving spirit
A life of love
A passion for souls
In closing, Dr. George offers a benediction:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)
and exhorts us to "live the benediction"!
The book is short and a fairly quick read, but it still manages to tackle some profound topics. The writing is clear and simple. I really enjoyed the devotional rather than academic tone. After all, how on earth can the subject of grace be discussed in simply academic terms?! I don't see how the topic can fail to produce wonder, awe, and worship of the God who IS grace!
Although short, Amazing Grace: God's Pursuit, Our Response does much more than just skim the surface. There's so much here...from the nature of grace biblically, to church history, to how it all applies to our everyday lives. I think it will benefit any reader...from the newest believer with no knowledge at all to the seasoned student of theology. Definitely a worthy read!
Thanks so much to Crossway for the review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/#...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
December 22, 2011
Not much to say for this book. As Herm Edwards would say, they are who we thought they were. But seriously, there's not much to say because this book wasn't much of a surprise. I read the book because 1) it's on the list because a friend gave it to me back in '04 at my high school graduation and 2) because it was short and could be read before I got back to book series I am in the middle of. See my rules on my profile for more details. Anywho, I read it, a document that details the Calvinist Baptist heritage of the author and how that colors his theology of grace. What saddened me was how little, if any, of Jesus' life is of importance to this author and the way we live into the kingdom of God. There is such a disparity between God and the human with the only bridge being Jesus Christ that there's seemingly no point to live well or live righteously. All is summed up in praying the sinner's prayer and all will be made right. It's too simplistic and throws away the law completely.
It receives a two because it discusses m' boy John Wesley a bit and the book closes with a Charles Wesley hymn. Didn't know the Wesleys were important to a Calvinist Baptist, but I can be surprised.
It receives a two because it discusses m' boy John Wesley a bit and the book closes with a Charles Wesley hymn. Didn't know the Wesleys were important to a Calvinist Baptist, but I can be surprised.
January 10, 2017
I have never read a Reformed Baptist write so graciously and humbly towards those outside his camp. How refreshing! Having recently read much thicker words on Reformed Theology, this little book was just what I needed. Surprisingly good.
February 3, 2016
Both gentle and firm; this is a great view of Calvinism/Reformed thinking
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews