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Book Reviewswhich had invaded the thinkingand practice of evangelicalChristians, undermining the biblicalgospel ofthe grace ofGod"(p. vii). John Cheeseman is quickto point out that he believes"both in the absolute sovereigntyof God and in the clear scripturalcommands to preach thegospel" (p. viii). Thus the workis somewhat polemical, intendingto set forth the truth of sovereigngrace, pointing out someof the ways in which the doctrinesof grace are being compromised.At the same time, hewill maintain emphatically thecalling to do evangelism.This book has many goodand commendable aspects, andfor the most part, it was a delightto read. The author setsforth the sovereignty of God,and particularly in the salvationof man. Consider his descriptionofthe gospel. It isa proclamation ofdivine sovereigntyin mercy and judgment.... The gospel tells ofthe glorious triumph ofGod'slife-giving, free and savinggraceoverthe will ofman....This grace is that free andunmerited favour of God tosinners, by which God theFather loved us and hadmercy upon us; by which theNovember, 2001Lord Jesus Christ came toearth to die for aUf sins; andby which the Holy Spiritcalled us and drew us out ofdarkness into God's marvelouslight (pp. 7-8).Again he writes,The gospel we find in theBible is concerned with God.It seeks to glorify Him, andHim alone (pp. 8-9).Cheeselnan is emphaticabout the sovereignty of God.God is the "sovereign Creatorofall things" (p. 9). He affirmsthat God "'works all things accordingto the counsel of Hiswill' (Eph. I: 11), not out ofnecessity,but freely for His ownglory" and "to that perfect will,all things, and all men are subject"(p. 9). Also the sins ofmenare subject to that will and to theprovidence ofGod, though that'~in no way lessens man's responsibilityfor his sin" (p. 10).As to the state of naturalman, Cheeseman insists thatman is '"totally fallen" as a resultofAdam's fall (p. 21). "Everyman, woman and child borninto this world, with the exceptionofour Lord, is a slave to sin... and dead in sin, ... [and] sinsin all things" (p. 23). Not only83
that, but man has a corrupt nature(p. 24).Cheeseman rej ects the notionthat fallen man has a freewill. He writes that "man'swilllike every other part of him, i~depraved, and in bondage tosin"(p. 25). Thus man's will "is·The salvation of man,therefore. is not a cooperativeeffort between God and man; itis rather God's work. EveryReformed believer will appreciatethis emphasis in this book.Cheeseman writes (p. 32):It is evident, then, that. farfrom the Lord Jesus Christwaiting patiently and impotentlyat the door of our lifefor us to make up our mindsto let him in, if left to our'free-will' we would be foreverlost and no-one wouldbe saved. Yet God, in Hismercy deliver....·. saves, sinnersfrom that death, by drawingthem to Himself. This is thework of the Holy Spirit. theLord and Giver of Life, awork ofirresb;tible grace, aneffectualcall, by which a manembraces the salvation Christhas won for him and by whichhe is truly born again of theSpirit of God. 'No one cancome to Me' (because of hishardness of heart. and sinfulunwillingness) 'unless theFather who sent Me drawshim' (John 6:44).Later this exclamation'free' only to sin" (p. 25). He point is added to the above recommends Luther's Bondage "The doctrines of irresistibleofthe Will on the question (p. ~race and.of God's uncondi52). tlOnal electIon destroy free will"(p. 41).The work points out thatGod demands repentance andfaith in Christ, but "repentanceand faith are gifts of God andtheyfollo'w, but do not precede,the new birth" (p. 35).The next crucial doctrineof concern is the atonement ofChrist on the cross, or to bemore specific, for whom didChrist die? About this, too,Cheeseman affirms the biblical(and thus Reformed) position.He writes, "I hold that the atonementdescribed in Scripture isparticular - the Lord JesusChrist died specifically for theelect, as theirrepresentative andsubstitute. to secure their salvation:'He adds, "Christ died forHis church, and not for the sinsof each and every individuar'(p. 72).Cheeseman does not waverin this crucial point. The84 PRTJ
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ProtestantReformedTheologicalJourna
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EDITOR'S NOTESProf. Russell J. Dyks
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For there are many, even l unruly,
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happen to hold unwittingly to some
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tion oftheir false teachings. II Pe
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est, they are very weak, at worst,
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truth~' (see I Tim. 4: 1 - 4). Ever
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Thomas Bradwardine:Forgotten Mediev
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ated grace and uncreated grace. Unc
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Bradwardine faces the question ofth
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the age, namely, that having set fo
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did not identify Thomas Bradwardine
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The first is that Bradwardine was a
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to Bradwardine as oneof"two pre-emi
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Gospels, Acts, and Revelation. Sir
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power of the papacy in Bradwardine'
Page 33 and 34: The Serious Callof the Gospel -Is t
Page 35 and 36: elieve th~s proclamation with uprig
Page 37 and 38: to bring good news with their "fig
Page 39 and 40: nation, we read of Melchisedek, the
Page 41 and 42: official activity ofa monarch's her
Page 43 and 44: 8): "Calling is ofthose elect and r
Page 45 and 46: ut all his posterity unable to obey
Page 47 and 48: alone, and He saves whom He will. E
Page 49 and 50: have moved away from the notion oft
Page 51 and 52: every member ofthe visible, institu
Page 53 and 54: fulfilling this calling is their pa
Page 55 and 56: contingent. Further, Calvin did not
Page 57 and 58: ofacceptance in terms of merit, ins
Page 59 and 60: covenant ofgrace and works, or it i
Page 61 and 62: Spiritual, Suffers Them to DefileTh
Page 63 and 64: the gospel is preached" (p. 212).In
Page 65 and 66: "They do not hold that JesusChrist
Page 67 and 68: II Corinthians 3:6 that "the letter
Page 69 and 70: is to oppose and to repulsethat sec
Page 71 and 72: Rightly Divided: Readings inBiblica
Page 73 and 74: is necessary speaks volumesabout th
Page 75 and 76: Guilt, Grace and Gratitude,Lectures
Page 77 and 78: 76ted under the new? If it wererigh
Page 79 and 80: er to keep himself holy; forthe Sab
Page 81 and 82: there is room for both positionsin
Page 83: Dr. Gannett's eschatologyalso effec
Page 87 and 88: the love of God is "universal"(p. 5
Page 89 and 90: ever, throughout the book thereis n
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