Arminianism — Another Gospel. By Rev. William MacLean, Westminster, Standard.
The steady demand for this book first published in 1965 has called for a second edition and as long as this error remains prominent in the professing church and even amongst evangelicals such a defence put in brief compass provides a handbook of ammunition against a most prevalent, subtle error.
The position of the writer is suggested in the words of the title — another gospel. Here is an uncompromising, clear cut distinction between the truth of the gospel and the error of Arminianism. In his foreword, the author states that the difference between Arminianism and Calvinism is much more than the one stressing man’s responsibility and the other God’s sovereignty.
Those who profess the Reformed Faith would do well to note the real position of Wesley set out in this booklet. The true character of Wesley’s Arminianism was that it manifested a spirit of bitter persecution against the truth. With copious quotations from Dr Kennedy, one also sees a very different side of D. L. Moody’s evangelism from what is currently believed about him amongst evangelicals.
The second part of the booklet details those doctrines, under attack by Arminians known as the Five Points of Calvinism. The booklet is commended to all who love the Reformed Faith and who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ as opposed to another gospel. Here is information which is truly enlightening and is a defence against false apostles and deceitful workers in whom Satan is transformed into an angel of light.
E.R.
The Christian Warfare by Dr D. M. Lloyd Jones. Banner of Truth Trust. £3.
Sociologists, criminologists and, alas, professed ministers of the Gospel too, frequently think, speak, and write of the ‘christian warfare’, as merely a fight against immorality — disease, and social injustices. Of the nature and scars of the real conflict, they know nothing, and often deny the supernatural element of true religion. No such charge can be made against the writer of this Exposition of Ephesians chapter 6, vv 10-13.
In this book, readers will find much food for thought. Finely tempered with a good measure of sanctified common sense, it is also characterised by a proper emphasis of the necessity of the believer’s thorough, spiritual experimental and practical knowledge of the Word of God. In tone — polemical — in spirit devotional, in detail useful and discriminating, the volume is worth reading. We therefore think that those who are born again, and realise the virulence of indwelling sin and the terrible reality of the power of Satan, will find much in these pages that gives lucid expression to their own temptations and experience.
While the reader may not find himself in total agreement with certain statements of the author, he will discover plenty to elucidate and edify, especially in this sophisticated age, when the authority of Scripture suffers so frequently at the hands of science falsely so called. Although reminiscent of much that has already been written on the subject, the originality of the Doctor’s contemporary approach and application can be clearly discerned and appreciated.
If, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we would be helped and encouraged to persevere in the good fight of faith, and have a clearer perception of the tactics of Satan and the all sufficient provision of the Captain of our salvation, let us peruse this further contribution from the pen of Dr D. M. Lloyd Jones.
F.M.
Collected Writings of John Murray, Vol. I. Banner of Truth Trust. 374 pp. Price £3.50.
This well-bound volume contains a selection of short articles on varied topics which were written over a period of many years. The book is the first volume of a 4-volume series. The articles in this first volume are ranged under the following headings:—The Holy Scriptures; Jesus Christ; Westminster Theological Seminary and its Testimony; The Gospel and its Proclamation; The Christian Life; The Moral Law and the Fourth Commandment; The Church; Historical; Issues in the Contemporary World. The whole volume is sub-titled, The Claims of Truth. Some of the articles have already appeared in print, others appear in print for the first time. The wide range of topics enable the reader to become acquainted with Professor Murray’s thoughts on many issues.
This first volume, along with one other volume in the series, are thought by the publishers, because of their less technical character, to be more suitable for the general reader than the two remaining volumes of the series. After reading Volume I we find it hard to share this optimism, as, in our view, the general reader is unlikely to find even this first volume easy reading. Professor Murray’s life-work was to teach divinity students and his writings reflect this. His style of writing, too, tends to be epigrammatic and terse which does not lend itself to ease of comprehension. He does not seem to have adopted that simplicity of expression which is often the sign of genius.
For the benefit of anyone who may wish to assess their own ability to cope with Professor Murray’s writings we give a quotation from Volume I. In speaking of the coming of Christ into the world and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he says that these comings are redemptive, reparatory, restorative in character and then goes on to state that “the revelation involved is always redemptively conditioned, redemptively revelatory and revelationally redemptive.” If the reader finds this easy going, the rest of the book should be plain sailing.
The articles of the Finality and Sufficiency of Scripture pp. 16-22, the Atonement and the Free Offer of the Gospel pp. 59-85, the Advent of Christ pp. 86-95 and on God and the War pp. 344-355, the present reviewer found particularly good. So, too, the Message of Evangelism pp. 124-134, which disallowed much that is found in present-day evangelism. In dealing with the Atonement and the Free Offer of the Gospel, Professor Murray defends the view that the offer is not limited though the atonement is and goes on to relate it to the missionary task of the Church (p. 81f). On page 83 he states: “It is not the opportunity of salvation that is offered; it is salvation”, and on page 84 he guards against declaring to men indiscriminately that Christ died for them. Earlier he says: “It must be said without reserve that there is no limitation or qualification to the overture of grace in the gospel proclamation”. In dealing with the Advent of Christ he emphasises the place that hope should have with reference to this event and states that the focal point of the Christian hope is the advent of Christ in glory. Later in the article he says: “Life here and now that is not conditioned by faith in Jesus’ first coming and orientated to the hope of his second is godless and hopeless”. In closing his article on the Advent of Christ he declares that “the final abode is not one unrelated to the creation, but the renovated creation without the least trace of sin’s curse”, but he does not go on to elaborate his view on this point apart from quoting 2 Peter 3:1-3. In dealing with the Law of God, Professor Murray is at pains to warn of the danger both of antinomianism and legalism. He makes clear, however, that it is not legalistic to have a tender conscience toward evil. Some erroneously stigmatised this as legal. In the article on the Significance of Creation, he explains that “sin was not a necessity arising from that creation nor a necessity arising from the nature with which man was endowed” but “originated as a free movement of defection and apostasy within man’s own bosom.” One quotation may be given from the excellent article of God and War. Writing during the Second World War he says: “It would be better for us (America and the Allies) to suffer the humiliation of defeat, if thereby we should learn righteousness, than to be crowned with sweeping military victory if thereby we are to be confirmed in the way of ungodliness”. On the question of the visible and invisible church in the first article on the church Professor Murray not only questions the “felicity or even propriety” of the term ‘invisible’ but goes even further by declaring that “the distinction between the church visible and the church invisible is not well-grounded in terms of Scripture.” It is difficult to see how this viewpoint can accord with the teaching of the Confession of Faith.
We understand that the second volume in the series will soon be issued. D.B.M.