The Sovereignty of God

Rating:
Summary: Satisfied with Sovereignty!
Review: A.W. Pink's excellent work on the sovereignty of God is one of the best twentieth-century treatments of the subject. It is a carefully reasoned, Scripture-saturated, heart-probing, man-abasing, God-exalting book. It is theology with a view to doxology. This exposition will lead you to exaltation!

Pink begins by defining God's sovereignty. Then he applies this understanding of God's sovereignty to creation, administration (providence), salvation, reprobation, operation, the human will, human responsibility, and prayer. He ends by looking at what our attitude towards God's sovereignty should be, answering objections, and emphasizing the value of the doctrine. There are four appendices dealing with the will of God, the fall of Adam, the meaning of "world" in John 3:16, and the meaning of I John 2:2.

This book is a supralapsarian Calvinistic look at the doctrine of God's sovereignty. I do not agree with Pink in every point, but I commend this book. I know for a fact that God has used this for the conversion of sinners. And regardless of whether you will accept all of Pink's interpretation of Scripture, you cannot help but walk away from this book with a higher view of God than you had before. I count this as one of the most important books I have read. Read this book. Study this book. And adore the God of this book. Be satisfied with sovereignty!

Rating:
Summary: Read with caution
Review: In many ways this book comes as a refreshing antidote to much of the slush that is being published for the Christian reader. We live in a day when, because evil abounds, the love of many has grown cold. Frighteningly large numbers of church folk no longer want to hear of discipleship, discipline, long suffering, brotherly love, self control and denial of self. Instead, God becomes a kind of mentor to help you become "whole" - whatever that is meant to mean! This aim, which is just another fixation with self, makes God simply an accessory to our selfish ambition.

A W Pink's book redresses the balance and has God on the throne, where He truly is. That of course must be good. However, if you are going to buy this book let me offer a brotherly warning. Firstly, this book represents a refined doctrine. By that I mean that, just as the uranium the Curies extracted from natural elements became, in its concentrated form, a highly dangerous substance, so, this focus on God's Sovereignty, though a wonderful and necessary subject for meditation, can also lead into many dangerous and off balanced positions.

Though there are many good things in this book, it is not the complete picture of God. It is not irrelevant to state that this book tends to be championed by those who believe that if we lived in the 17th Century - or at least adopted the doctrines and life styles of 17th Century Puritans, we, the church, would be doing very well today. In reality, these people have brought little refreshment to the church.

OK, then, the short of it is this: Yes, read the Banner of Truth version (even they cut out some of the original material because they thought it was extreme - and later in life A W Pink himself thought he'd gone too far as well). Get excited over the Great God who Rules in the Heavens just as Isaiah did. But remember that God is not remote and He really does answer prayer. Indeed, some things will not happen unless we pray. Furthermore, balance this vision with another - for instance Frances Roberts devotional "Come Away My Beloved" (also available at Amazon). There you will get a Sovereign God and a God of intimacy.

Although in many Christian camps God has been depicted as standing pathetically by seeking to beg sinners to come to Him in a way that is not worthy of Him, do not allow strongly worded descriptions of this tendency to block out what may be true here. Many times the Sacred Writings picture God as pleading with His people, and sinners, to come to Him. "All day long I have held out my hands to a rebellious people but YOU WOULD NOT" is just one example.

Mr Pink is one of those writers who digs channels for you to go down. You aren't supposed to climb out of the channel and look around but simply to follow his line of thought until you are convinced that there is no other way of viewing the truths he deals with. For instance, I think he takes the illustration of being dead in trespasses and sins too far. The same figure of death is used for the Christian also ("dead to sin") but if Mr Pink were to press that application as far as the other he would be forced to conclude sinless perfection. Indeed, this sort of reasoning forces many, from his camp, to make saving faith a total gift of God in order to avoid the slightest involvement of man in salvation (which involvement they term synergism). In order to do this a teaching is developed which puts regeneration before faith. This flies in the face of the true Reformers who taught the biblical doctrine that a man is justified, by faith, while he is still a sinner. These unbalanced types, however, believe that we are justified by regeneration - it is an inescapable conclusion. Since regeneration is a kind of washing or cleansing, it follows, if regeneration came first (which it doesn't), that men are justified because they are justifiable rather than justified by the death of Christ. Voila, the first step toward Rome! The Biblical Christian need merely point out (from Romans 4) that the reason God chose faith as the door to salvation is that it is not reckoned a work of man (synergism).

Rating:
Summary: Biblical Truth Uncovered
Review: There's nothing like the doctrine of God's sovereignty that can cause a man to be humble and yet at the same time confident of his salvation. When I first read this book, I must admit that I found it hard to accept the doctrine of calvinism. Like many Christians in the charismatic churches, I was taught that I could lose my salavation, that Jesus Christ died for every person, and that free-will triumphs over God's sovereign will. Even so, this precious book has made me reconsidered my arminian beliefs until finally I began to see that salvation is from the Lord from the beginning to the end. How God has caused this book to impact my spiritual life is beyond measure to me. My whole outlook of life has changed dramatically, now that I know that He is in control of my life and my salvation. To Him alone then, be all the glory.

Rating:
Summary: Once in a while a book comes along that changes your life...
Review: This book is not suited for the spiritually squeamish or for the church-going theological relativist. Arthur Pink's book, though certainly not original, is the definitive book on God's sovereignty. This book is, without a doubt, a masterpiece. No other book is better suited for introducing Christians to God's sovereignty and yet still challenges those long acquainted with the subject. Pink's reverent treatment of the subject goes far beyond the typical dry theological essay, underscoring the importance and practicality of the doctrine. Pink carefully unfolds the secret counsels of God as revealed in Scripture - truths which few of today's churchgoers ever hear. Of all A.W. Pink's works, this is his finest. In this reader's opinion, this book is probably the most influential theological work of the Twentieth Century. Individuals who stick this book out and read it entirely through will have changed lives. (Readers should be aware that the Banner of Truth edition is greatly abridged and bowdlerized. I recommend the unabridged Baker edition.)

Rating:
Summary: A very convincing case for God¿s absolute sovereignty
Review: This little book has helped many to come to accept that God is absolutely sovereign over His creation. But this will only happen if one is willing to really consider this issue. And the way to consider it is to look up the Scripture references Pink cites in this book. And Pink references many, many such verses.

In fact, this book was one of the sources I used in developing the chapter on "The Sovereignty of God" in my book "Scripture Workbook: For Personal Bible Study and Teaching the Bible." My book also has two additional chapters addressing other aspects of Calvinism.

But be forewarned, studying this subject can be very distressing. I know of people who have gone through much emotional struggle when reading books like Pink's. It is simply hard to accept that God is in control of our destinies, not us. But that is why it is absolutely essential to consider carefully what the Bible teaches on this subject.

So yes, get Pink's book and look up the Scripture verses he cites. And for even more verses to consider see my "Scripture Workbook."

Rating:
Summary: The Sovereignty of God
Review: When first published in 1918 this book was very controversial. The reason for this is probably due to the fact that in Pink's day the doctrine of God's sovereignty was almost completely ignored, misunderstood or rejected. Why read or study a book on the doctrine of God's sovereignty? The author believed that this doctrine is the second most important doctrine taught in the Bible, the first being the Divine inspiration of the Bible,which is the title of Mr.Pink's first book that was published. Pink has this to say about the importance of this Biblical truth on p.19 "It is... the key to history, the interpreter of providence,...and the foundation of christian theology,p.215...it is designed as the sheet anchor for our souls amid the storms of life. The doctrine of God's sovereignty is a divine cordial to refresh our spirits. It is designed and adapted to mould the affections of the heart and to give a right direction to conduct. ...It affords comfort for the present and a sense of security respecting the unknown future." A right understanding of this doctrine places God on the throne where he belongs and under His blessing produces humility in His people. The Sovereignty of God is the most comforting doctrine in the Bible to a christian in the midst of trials. This reviewer is convinced that 'The Sovereignty of God'by A.W.Pink is one of the most important and influential books that has been written in this century.