REFORMED WITNESS
Volume III, October 1995, Number 10
Saved By Grace
Editor's note: It has been 478 years since Martin Luther posted his ninety-five theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. In so doing he launched the Protestant Reformation, bringing the true gospel to the people of Europe, shattering mediaeval superstitions and the power of the Roman Catholic Church. The Reformers turned the world upside down, yet they preached nothing new. Luther had, by the grace of God, "rediscovered" the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ; that we are saved by grace alone.
Every year at this time we celebrate Reformation Day, remembering the work of Luther and the other Reformers. Even more we rejoice in the fact that the truth of salvation by grace alone is still as vibrant and earth-shaking today as it was 478 or 1995 years ago, for its source is the eternal, unchanging, and almighty God. This month we briefly examine two books and one pamphlet, writings both old and new, on this timeless and inexhaustible theme.
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Saved By Grace: A Study of the Five Points of Calvinism, by Ronald Cammenga and Ronald Hanko. Grand Rapids Michigan: The Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1995. 257 pp. (paperback). (Reviewed by Pastor Arie den Hartog.)
The Reformed Believer never tires of the study of grace. He feels constrained to testify of these great truths before the world. He believes that these glorious doctrines stand at the very heart of the gospel. They are not mere minor truths which if one denies he can still be called a credible Christian. They are foundational truths to the whole of the gospel. For this reason we rejoice at the publication of another treatise on these great doctrines by two of my colleagues in the ministry.
Many book have been written on the doctrines of grace and one might therefore say that there is no need of yet another. The justification for such a treatise however is first of all what we have stated above. Also over the years even in the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches there have arisen new interpretations of these doctrines that have, we believe, been serious compromises, not the least of these being the propagation of the false teachings of common grace and the well-meant offer of the gospel.
The excellence of this new book Saved By Grace is first of all that it is replete with scriptural quotations. The authors succeed in demonstrating beyond doubt that the doctrines of grace are indeed the teaching of the Scriptures. These doctrines are taught throughout the scriptures and are central to them. In many instances brief expositions are given to explain specifically what the cited passages have to say about the doctrines of grace. If I would have any criticism of these parts of the book I would only say that some of the more difficult passages could have received more detailed treatment. I realize however that one is always constrained to be as concise as possible in order not to discourage the average reader.
A second excellent feature of this book is that it begins with a chapter on the sovereignty of God. The authors show in this chapter how the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God underlies all the doctrines of grace. The doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty divides between true and false religion.
"The God Whom we must know is a sovereign God. Knowledge of God begins with the affirmation of faith that God is and that God is sovereign. Since God is, He is sovereign. If He is God, He must also be a sovereign God. If God is not sovereign, the inescapable implication is that He is not God. This is the great issue that divides true religion from false religion! This is the great issue that separates the true church of Jesus Christ in the world from the false apostate church! This is the issue that distinguishes faith from unbelief the sovereignty of God!"
The excellence of this book in the third place is that it sets forth the doctrines of grace boldly and unashamedly. It makes no compromise of these doctrines at the points where they are offensive to the natural man and even to modern day Christendom. It boldly maintains double predestination and refutes the commonly defended error of the well-meant offer of the gospel.
Also very helpful is that this book, in connection with each of the five doctrines, answers the commonly heard objections to the doctrine of the Word of God and lists the major heresies that over the years have arisen in the church in an attempt to oppose the truth of God. There is a great need always for Christians to remember the heresies of the past in order that we do not fall again into the same errors. The right understanding of the truth comes through its clear distinction from false doctrine. The condemnation of false doctrine, as unpopular as this might be in today's church world, is absolutely necessary in defense of the truth.
There are three other features of the book that we greatly appreciate. The first is that each chapter gives a statement of how the particular doctrine of grace being treated relates to the other. This shows how the doctrines of grace form a glorious unity. One cannot deny the one without also denying the others. There have always been those who claim to be "three point" or "four point" Calvinists. This is however an impossibility. All the doctrines of grace are aspects of the one central truth of the sovereignty of God in the salvation of men. Each chapter also includes a short section on the practical significance of the doctrine to the life of the Christian. The right confession and defense of the doctrines of God's Word requires that we see the practical implications of these doctrines for the faith and life of the child of God. The doctrines of grace are the living truth of God, in which we find our solid comfort and joy, and in which we glory day by day. There is a lengthy appendix to the main body of the book which lists statements from the great Reformed Confessions which relate immediately to the doctrines of grace.
Finally this book is accompanied with a short study guide to help promote the study of the doctrines of grace in the church.
We commend Pastors Cammenga and Hanko for writing this book. It is our hope and prayer that it may be greatly blessed of the Lord in the church as an aid for God's people in a life-long mediation on the wonders of the amazing grace of God. Also we hope that this book will serve as a means for Reformed believers to use in their calling to defend and to testify of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of God and the salvation of His people.
This book and its study guide can be obtained by contacting The Reformed Witness.
The Wonder of Grace, by Herman Hoeksema Grand Rapids Michigan: The Reformed Free Publishing Association, 1982, 2nd edition. 127 pp. (paperback).
This book was first published in 1944, selling many copies. It contains a series of messages first preached on the radio by the author. The messages are all careful expositions of passages of scripture that the author was so gifted in making. They represent an excellent treatment of "the wonder of grace" as revealed in the gospel. We also highly recommend this book to our readers. The following is a quote from the cover of the new edition of this book:
"The author develops the concept of salvation by grace from the choosing of the believer by grace to the glorifying of the believer through grace. Each of the fifteen chapters is devoted to one aspect of the grace God bestows on the believer in the process of salvation. And as he progresses through the chapters, the reader will grow in the knowledge and confidence that salvation is by grace alone and that God is worthy of all praise and glory."
Grace Uncommon: A Protestant Look at the Doctrine of Common Grace, by Rev. Barry Gritters. Byron Center Protestant Reformed Church, Byron Center, Michigan. 1994 2nd edition. 36 pp. (Paperback).
From the preface to this pamphlet:
"Although revised for publication, this booklet is the substance of a presentation given to the Dutton, Michigan, Christian Reformed Men's Society, and after their leader had presented the CRC (Christian Reformed Church) view of the doctrine, this paper was given.
The present study is not an analytic treatment of the "three points of common grace" as adopted by the Christian Reformed Church in 1924. Rather, it is a late 20th century consideration of that doctrine as the author sees it doing damage especially to three vital doctrines of the Reformed faith.
First, the paper clears up some common misunderstandings of the Protestant Reformed teaching regarding common grace. Then it explains how common grace denies total depravity, how the free offer of "the first point" contradicts the teaching of predestination, and finally how common grace undermines the historic teaching of the antithesis.
In the appendices the reader will find the original 1924 declaration of the CRC on common grace, a couple of historical notes, and a brief defense of the position that John Calvin does not support the teaching of common grace.
We pray that this presentation will be of value for the cause of the truth of Jesus Christ."
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me,
It was not I that found, O Savior true,
No, I was found of Thee.
It was not I that found, O Savior true,
No, I was found of Thee, of Thee.Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold,
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;
'Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me.
'Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me, on me.I find, I walk, I love, but O the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always Thou lovedst me,
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always, always, Thou lovedst me.
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