John Owen on the Christian Life

by Sinclair B. Ferguson

John Owen on the Christian Life expounds Owen's teaching on the fundamental themes. It also stands on its own as a study in pastoral theology.

Genres: Theology, Christian Living, Christian, Biography

316 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1987

About the author

Sinclair B. Ferguson is Associate Preacher at St Peter's Free Church in Dundee and also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina and prior to that, he was minister of St. George's-Tron Church in Glasgow.

Reviews

[Jack Schutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot imagine a better intro and guide to Owen.

[Cela Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to read John Owen (or thought that you should!) but felt intimidated by his challenging writing style, then this is the book for you! This overview of Owen's works is topically organized, focusing on the Christian life (e.g., the assurance of salvation, fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the mortification of sin, among others). It could serve as a helpful gateway into a deeper study of Owen; I found it encouraging in and of itself.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third time through after first reading in 2003, then again in 2011. Excellent overview of Owen’s thought - stirring and edifying.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what you would expect from an Owen scholar writing on John Owen.  It is clear and rarely goes off rabbit-trails.  While it is old in some ways, and not every locus of systematic theology gets treated, a careful study of this work will repay pastoral ministry.

Ferguson begins with Owen's covenant theology.  It seems, surprisingly, that Owen held to something like a "works-principle" in Sinai.  Covenant of Sinai: sometimes referred to as Old Covenant. Owen is aware of the tensions in saying that all covenants are administrations of the Covenant of Grace. Under the covenant of grace, yet in some way there were principles of the Covenant of Works (JO: 19:389). Sinai can’t simply be Covenant of Grace because of the sharp contrasts between “a better covenant.”

Covenant theology allows Ferguson to draw several inferences on soteriology: Union with Christ: the work of grace--”same instant wherein anyone is united unto Christ, and by the same act whereby he is so united, he is really and habitually purified and sanctified” (JO: 3.517). Effectual calling takes place in Christ, is an act of God the Father (JO: 20: 498), and binds the believer by the indwelling of the spirit (JO: 21:147). Effectual calling produces a change in both status (justification) and life (sanctification), yet it does not identity the two.

Sanctification is the pinnacle of this volume. Structure of sanctification.  The work of grace produces the exercise of duty (Ferguson 55). Owen gives a long definition in JO 3.369-370. In one sense it is an immediate work on believers, since it flows from regeneration and from our Head, yet it is also a process (56). The Lord Jesus is the Head from whom all gifts flow, yet the Spirit is the efficient cause who communicates them to us (Ferguson 58).

Very thorough chapter on Assurance and why the believer may experience varying degrees of it.  This lets Owen talk about the sealing of the Holy Spirit.  Owen: “No special act of the Spirit, but only in an especial effect of his communication unto us” (JO 4:400). He seals the believer by his personal indwelling, but there are no rules as to how/when the believer may recognize it.
With the volumes numerous quotations from Owen, from almost all of his works, we recommend this as a handy guidebook to navigating Owen.

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferguson here has provided a helpful summary of Owen’s theology as it relates to the Christian life. The nature of the task seems to have led Ferguson to give a digest of Owen’s theology in its entirety, and certain sections of the book drag on (in summary fashion, of course) as a result. Due to the density of Owen’s theological output, Ferguson ha rendered a great service to the church in distilling the theological-practical dimension of Owen’s production into a book of less than 300 pages.

[Stephen P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Owen from time to time over the years, but have always struggled with his difficult-to-me writing style. Ferguson has done a masterful job of overcoming that and has gone a long way in making Owen's profound thoughts understandable to the average person.

[G Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book... I make it a point to read everything by Ferguson... but that aside, this is a very helpful volume, not just on Owen, but the Christian Life in general. Fairly important and standard text. Worthy of owning, reading and studying... Good stuff.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gold.