Verdes pastos: Una introducción a los medios de gracia ordinarios Título original: Green Pastures

Confessional perspectives #1

by J. Ryan Davidson

Este es un libro maravilloso para ayudar a los cristianos a reconocer y utilizar las provisiones que nuestro Señor ha hecho para nuestra salud y crecimiento espiritual. Muy a menudo los creyentes son tentados a buscar grandes e inusuales eventos o experiencias para hallar fortaleza espiritual y estímulo mientras descuidan las provisiones regulares y comparativamente poco impresionantes como las Escrituras, el bautismo, la Cena del Señor y la oración. Sin embargo, son precisamente estas últimas disposiciones «ordinarias» las que el Señor Jesús ha dado para ser utilizadas con el propósito de edificarnos en la fe y establecernos en Su gracia. Así como se obtiene una mejor salud física mediante el compromiso con una nutrición cuidadosa que con una intervención médica correctiva, el camino hacia la salud espiritual también depende de los medios ordinarios de gracia y no de experiencias ocasionales y extraordinarias. J. Ryan Davidson entiende eso y quiere que el pueblo de Dios lo entienda también. Explica claramente lo que la Biblia enseña sobre la importancia de los medios ordinarios que Cristo ha provisto para Su Iglesia. Este libro es pastoralmente sabio, confesionalmente fiel y espiritualmente útil. Lo recomiendo encarecidamente. Tom Ascol Pastor de la Grace Baptist Church en Cape Coral, Florida, EE. UU. Director Ejecutivo de Founders Ministries El refrá «las cosas buenas vienen en envases pequeños» es apropiado para el libro Verdes Una introducción a los medios de gracia ordinarios, de Ryan Davidson. Este libro será para su alma lo que un anillo de diamantes escondido en una caja de terciopelo es para una futura deleite puro. En un lenguaje sencillo pero a la vez bien ilustrado, el pastor Davidson nos enseña cómo el Señor del pacto bendice a Su pueblo con abundantes dones de gracia. Todo pastor debería distribuir Verdes pastos a su gente, y el pueblo de Dios necesita maravillarse y deleitarse con sus verdades. ¡Desearía haber leído este libro hace cuarenta años! James M. Renihan Presidente del Seminario Teológico IRBS. Mansfield, Texas, EE. UU. Una de las cosas que une a los presbiterianos confesionales y a los bautistas reformados es su compromiso común con un ministerio delineado por los medios de gracia ordinarios. Un ministerio así no es un asunto de un gusto personal arbitrario, sino que es impulsado por nuestra comprensión de lo que es exactamente la gracia de Dios y de cómo se convierte en una realidad en la vida de los cristianos. Este pequeño libro es útil en ese sentido, ofreciendo breves y sólidos registros de la Palabra, los sacramentos y la oración de una manera que ayudará a todos aquellos que buscan un ministerio que refleje las prioridades y enseñanzas bíblicas. Carl R. Trueman Profesor de Estudios Bíblicos y Religiosos Grove City College Grove City, Pensilvania, EE. UU. Sobre la Legado Bautista Confesional es una Editorial que existe para dar la gloria a Dios al poner al alcance de la Iglesia de habla hispana escritos teológicos e históricos que proclaman la verdad de la Palabra de Dios desde la perspectiva bautista, la cual ha sido manifestada en sus Confesiones de Fe históricas. Existe con el propósito de contribuir al currículum de libros y lecturas requeridas para la preparación de pastores bautistas reformados de habla hispana, así como a la edificación y estudios de los miembros de sus iglesias.

Genres: Theology

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[j.j. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

A wonderful little introduction to the means of grace. Whether that phrase is new to you or you’ve been familiar with it for some time, this book will bring about a greater understanding and appreciation for the means of grace. This was especially helpful to read while going through a sermon series on the same topic. It helped emphasize some of the main ideas brought out in the sermon messages. I wish there had been a bit more on the church/fellowship as a means of grace, but that was the only area in which I felt this book lacked. I would recommend this eagerly to anyone looking to understand this topic better.

[Libby Valerio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nourishing to the soul, this one.

[Jonathan Josey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful little book about the ordinary means of grace for all believers — the preaching of the word, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. A very easy and simple read — one that would be beneficial to any layperson.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction into an often neglected subject within ecclesiology. Make the Means of Grace Great Again!

[Richard Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful book on how Christ is present amongst and feeds his flock through the Word, the Sacraments and Prayer, in the Church; especially on the Lord's Day.

This a simple and accessible book on what should be the basic structure of the christian life.

[Ivo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro

De lectura muy simple y entregando enseñanzas que nunca debemos olvidar, ya que es fundamental en la vida de cada creyente.

[Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Wharfe was kind enough to send me a review copy of their book, "Green Pastures: Ordinary Means of Grace for Ordinary Believers" by J. Ryan Davidson.

This book is part of their "A Confessional Perspective" series, which includes this and 3 other books, each of which explores a Particular Baptist doctrine found in the Second London Baptist Confession (1689). Think of it like a Baptist version of P&R's "Blessings of the Faith" series. It's the same basic idea, and it's a really wonderful idea!

This book in particular was one that I'm passionate about. The ordinary means of grace are key to Biblical theology, piety, and practice. Unfortunately, the ordinary means of grace have fallen on hard times in too many churches. The guiding section of this little book comes from chapter 14 of the 2LBC: "The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened." (2LBC 14.1).

Appropriately, there is a chapter in this book for each of the means of grace (the Word, baptism, Lord's Supper, prayer). In particular, I found the chapters on the preaching of the Word and prayer to be helpful.

As a non-Baptist, I found chapter 3 to be the weakest. That said, it's strong in many ways the other Baptist explanations of Baptism are not. In particular, it discusses what it means that Baptism is an "effectual means of salvation" (pg. 28), the unique jurisdiction of the church over baptism (pg. 30), and that baptism is a one-time thing (pg. 30).

Also worth noting, the book is to be commended for defending the spiritual presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper over and against transubstantiation and memorialism. It's officially confessed in the 2LBC, but I've never before come across a Baptist who unashamedly teaches it. For that, this book must be commended.

In general, I'd say that this book is a worthwhile (if imperfect) introduction to the ordinary means of grace. It is a good and consise examination of the relevant issues and it does a good job showing the importance of each means of grace. I don't agree with everything argued here, but what's good vastly outweighs the bad. I definitely recommend checking this out!

[Mitchell Shetenhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise resource on the reformed tradition of the Means of Grace. As a recent reformed Baptist, I found this book as a helpful tool to reinforce on my beliefs on the Means of Grace. I wish more Baptists would know about the Means of Grace, it would give rest to more people! The chapter that benefited me the most is on prayer as a means of grace. Davidson hits the nail on the head that prayer is not a transaction but it is an utter dependence on the Lord's grace. It does not mean that Christians must have this "posture" of total humility all the time to receive such grace, but as His children who are tired, weak, frail, and broken, He will give His grace at the gathering on the Lord's day and throughout the week. The Lord is kind and gracious!! Anyways, this is a must have resource for any reformed Baptist pastor/congregant to have (also other reformed Christian)! Christ is for us in our salvation and sanctification :)!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book J. Ryan Davidson presents a simple case from the Bible for the historic doctrine of the means of grace. He covers prayer, preaching, singing and other means of grace outlined in the Scriptures. The book is short and although it is merely an introduction to the subject, it does cover many of bases. Doctrinal and also devotional.