Many, many books and booklets have already been published on the five points of Calvinism. Why another book? Well, this book is quite unique. It is not written by a well-known writer; it is not eloquently written; it is not fully annotated unlike a scholarly work; it is not even approved by an ecumenical publishing house. But it is written by one who had come to the Reformed Faith mostly by self-study; it was first written for instructing a nascent Reformed congregation where members had come out from Arminian and Dispensational churches; it tries to be faithful to the Canons of Dort where the five points are elucidated, and faithful to James Arminius and his followers whose efforts resulted in the convening of the Synod of Dort in 1618; it attempts to navigate through common deviations without fear of offending powerful and influential scholars; it seeks to make the confusing aspects of the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism easier to grasp by providing illustrations, and yes, actual diagrams; and finally, it tries to demonstrate that one can be soundly biblical, and yet rational. Like it or hate it: regardless of whether you profess to be an Arminian or a Calvinist, or in between, you may find this book challenging your commonly held assumptions about the correctness of your thinking in regard to the doctrine of salvation.It is hoped that at least some of us will benefit from this little book to the end that Christ, who laid His life down for His sheep and lambs, may be greatly exalted. He will be exalted when we disabuse our minds of wrong thinking about Him and His work. He will also be exalted when the visible church is more and more populated by members who are transformed by the renewing of their minds rather than by superficial assurances of a place reserved in heaven. He will be exalted when we lift up our hearts in gratitude to praise Him for revealing to us by His Word and Spirit the wondrous truths about what He has done, is doing and shall do for us, his unworthy brethren.
Many, many books and booklets have already been published on the five points of Calvinism. Why another book? Well, this book is quite unique. It is not written by a well-known writer; it is not eloquently written; it is not fully annotated unlike a scholarly work; it is not even approved by an ecumenical publishing house. But it is written by one who had come to the Reformed Faith mostly by self-study; it was first written for instructing a nascent Reformed congregation where members had come out from Arminian and Dispensational churches; it tries to be faithful to the Canons of Dort where the five points are elucidated, and faithful to James Arminius and his followers whose efforts resulted in the convening of the Synod of Dort in 1618; it attempts to navigate through common deviations without fear of offending powerful and influential scholars; it seeks to make the confusing aspects of the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism easier to grasp by providing illustrations, and yes, actual diagrams; and finally, it tries to demonstrate that one can be soundly biblical, and yet rational. Like it or hate it: regardless of whether you profess to be an Arminian or a Calvinist, or in between, you may find this book challenging your commonly held assumptions about the correctness of your thinking in regard to the doctrine of salvation.It is hoped that at least some of us will benefit from this little book to the end that Christ, who laid His life down for His sheep and lambs, may be greatly exalted. He will be exalted when we disabuse our minds of wrong thinking about Him and His work. He will also be exalted when the visible church is more and more populated by members who are transformed by the renewing of their minds rather than by superficial assurances of a place reserved in heaven. He will be exalted when we lift up our hearts in gratitude to praise Him for revealing to us by His Word and Spirit the wondrous truths about what He has done, is doing and shall do for us, his unworthy brethren.
