Eschewing extremes, Bible scholar D. A. Carson explores the controversial subject of the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer and in the life of the church. Unpacking 1 Corinthians 12-14, as well as touching on relevant passages in Acts, Carson faithfully follows the evidence of the text and offers an honest look at the strengths and weaknesses of both charismatic and non-charismatic viewpoints. View More...
Following his well-received Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition, Craig Carter presents the biblical and theological foundations of trinitarian classical theism. Carter, a leading Christian theologian known for his provocative defenses of classical approaches to doctrine, critiques the recent trend toward modifying or rejecting classical theism in favor of modern "relational" understandings of God. The book includes a short history of trinitarian theology from its patristic origins to the modern period, and a concluding appendix provides a brief summary of classical trinitarian theo... View More...
No one word in all the Bible more fully describes God's plans and purposes than grace, and no one work more fully expounds the multi-faceted nature of God's grace than Lewis Sperry Chafer's Grace. Emphasizing the dispensational distinctions between law and grace, Chafer deals systematically and thoroughly with the relevant biblical doctrines on the topic of grace. The text is extensively indexed by subject and Scripture reference, making it a handy reference tool for Bible study. View More...
No one word in all the Bible more fully describes God's plans and purposes than grace, and no one work more fully expounds the multi-faceted nature of God's grace than Lewis Sperry Chafer's Grace. Emphasizing the dispensational distinctions between law and grace, Chafer deals systematically and thoroughly with the relevant biblical doctrines on the topic of grace. The text is extensively indexed by subject and Scripture reference, making it a handy reference tool for Bible study. View More...
What does God want for His Church? For your church? Building on each of the nine chapters of his latest book, Letters to the Church, Francis Chan urges Christ-followers toask honest questions about the structure and values of our churches;study God's commands for the body of Christ;pray in expectation of the Spirit's power; andget excited about doing whatever it takes to be the Church God desires.Journey with those around you--in your community, your church, or your small group--and take intentional steps toward living out the biblical principles that fueled a world-changing movement. Don't se... View More...
How could a loving God send people to hell? Will people have a chance after they die to believe in Jesus and go to heaven?With a humble respect for God's Word, Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle address the deepest questions you have about eternal destiny. They've asked the same questions. Like you, sometimes they just don't want to believe in hell. But as they write, "We cannot afford to be wrong on this issue."This is not a book about who is saying what. It's a book about what God says. It's not a book about impersonal theological issues. It's a book about people who God loves. It's not a boo... View More...
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are more than just water, bread, and wine. They are God's promises to us in physical form. What is happening when someone passes through the waters of baptism? What's the significance of eating bread and drinking wine together as a church on Sunday mornings? What's the point of these physical substances? Tim Chester guides us through the Bible, explaining how the sacraments, embodying the promises of God in physical form, were given to us to strengthen our faith and shape our lives. The physical bread, wine, and water are a confirmation of our union with Christ. C... View More...
Evangelicals are no strangers to the creation versus evolution debate. Now the argument has spread beyond the contents of the creation account and into Genesis 2-3, with speculation about the historicity of Adam, and the fall. But does it matter which position one holds? Is anything really at stake? The faculty of The Master's College come together to contend that the second and third chapters of Genesis are indeed historical, that there are excellent reasons for believing so, and that it is an essential issue within Christian thought and life. The contents of these chapters establish the his... View More...
Many Christians live as though they are effectively alone. However, there is another realm of intelligent life that plays a role in the world--angelic beings. This book explores the doctrine of angels and demons, answering key questions about their nature and the implications for Christians' beliefs and behavior, helping readers see their place in the larger biblical plotline that includes supernatural beings. An understanding of the reality of angels and demons encourages believers to be vigilant in the light of spiritual warfare and to be confident in Christ's victory on the cross.
This widely acclaimed study of biblical anthropology is available once more along with a substantial new preface by the author. Fully engaged with theological, philosophical, and scientific discussions on the nature of human persons and their destiny beyond the grave, John Cooper's defense of "holistic dualism" remains the most satisfying and biblical response to come from the monism-dualism debate. First published in 1989, Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting is required reading for Christian philosophers, theologians, psychologists, and students interested in the mind-body question. View More...
A recent string of popular-level books written by the New Atheists have leveled the accusation that the God of the Old Testament is nothing but a bully, a murderer, and a cosmic child abuser. This viewpoint is even making inroads into the church. How are Christians to respond to such accusations? And how are we to reconcile the seemingly disconnected natures of God portrayed in the two testaments?In this timely and readable book, apologist Paul Copan takes on some of the most vexing accusations of our time, including: God is arrogant and jealousGod punishes people too harshlyGod is guilty of e... View More...
The atonement is at the heart of Christian doctrine. But how does it relate to the life of the church? And what difference does it make for worship and liturgy? Highly respected theologian Oliver Crisp sets out a new, comprehensive account of the nature of the atonement, exploring how this doctrine affects our participation in the life of God and in the shared life of the Christian community. Crisp builds on key insights from other historic substitutionary models of Christ's work while avoiding the problems plaguing penal substitution. View More...
Is there hope for Calvinism beyond TULIP? For many, Calvinism evokes the idea of a harsh God who saves a select few and condemns others to eternal torment. Others find comfort in the Five Points of TULIP with its emphasis on the sovereignty of God's grace. Oliver Crisp thinks both sides have too small a picture of the Reformed tradition. There are ample resources for developing a more expansive Calvinism. Reformed Christians have inherited a vast mansion, but many of them only live in two rooms, reading John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards on repeat, while the rest of the house lies waiting for so... View More...
The proceedings of the third annual Los Angeles Theology Conference seek to identify the place of the doctrine of atonement in systematic theology. Locating Atonement: Explorations in Constructive Dogmatics intentionally excludes discussion of theories of atonement, typologies of those theories, and contests among various theories. Instead, it undertakes the question: What else is there to do in atonement theology besides rehashing types and theories?
The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to Christian theology, though sometimes daunting--error is probable when biblical texts are read selectively. A careful study of the whole counsel of God, however, will bring needed clarity. In a work geared especially toward leaders in the church, scholars of the Trinity--including Richard Bauckham, Robert Letham, Michael Reeves, and Scott Swain--overview Old Testament teaching, provide Trinitarian readings of the entire New Testament corpus, and explore the practical relevance of the doctrine to prayer, worship, and other aspects of Christian life ... View More...
This clear, compact introduction surveys what the Gospels tell us about who Jesus is by exploring his teachings and actions in their contexts. Darrell Bock, a leading evangelical New Testament scholar who speaks and teaches around the world, and Benjamin Simpson treat the Gospels as reliable sources for a plausible portrait of Jesus. Condensing years of extensive study on the topic, this handy, readable textbook presents fresh ways to understand the Gospels, especially the Synoptics in comparison with John. View More...