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Book Reviewssalvation" (p.52) It is, in fact,"God's universal offerofsalvation"(p. 82). Sometimes it appearsthat he might be using theterm "free offer" in the sense ofa "presentation of Christ, withthe call to repent and believe inChrist." With that every Reformedbeliever would agree,though one might take issue withthe appropriateness ofthe term"free offer," due to the use ofthe term by Arminians. Yet,what the author intends is notsufficiently clear. Ironically, althoughCheeseman rejects thepossibility of contradictions intheology (p. 60) and affirmswithout embarrassment the needto be logical (p. 62), when hearrives at this apparent contradiction,he resorts to the wornoutdevice of "mystery." Hewrites: "It is indeed a mysterywhich we cannot understand thatGod sincerely offers the gospelof salvation freely to all, whileHe has purposed to save onlythose whom He has chosen. Yetwe are to believe both. for Scriptureteaches both" (p. 54).Oneofthe problems manifestedin the book is a lack ofclarity at certain points. This istrue in the use 0 f the words "wiII"or "willing" or even "desire."When these are applied to Godand the matter ofsalvation, it isnot always clearwhatthe authormeans. It could refer to the willofGod's command, namely, thatHe commands all men to repentand believe and turn to Him. Orit could refer to the will ofGod'sdecree - that He has willed thatall men repent and believe, andtherefore strives to attain thatgoal. I think that the authormeant"will" in the sense ofcommand,but the author could clearthis up by being more explicit.Secondly, there is a lack ofclarity concerning the relationshipbetween faith and salvation.Due to this lack ofclarity.someone could argue that theauthor maintains that faithcomes first, and then one is (i.e.,gets) saved by using his faith.That would leave room forworks in man's salvation, whichthe author otherwise clearly rejects.An example ofthis lack ofclarity is found in the statement:"Faith is the holding out to Godof empty hands in order to receivethe white robes of salvationwith which God has promisedto clothe all who believe inHis Son"(pp. 36-37). This statementcould be rightly understood,I suppose, as referring tothe appropriation of the blessingsofsalvation by faith. How-November, 200187