Absolutely Sure

Rating:
Summary: Biblically Saturated and Doctrinally Sound
Review: Steven Lawson has given the Christian church an excellent exposition of I John in this engaging book. Understanding that the Holy Spirit's regenerating work in a person's life is powerfully transforming, Lawson focuses on nine "vital signs" of the new birth. There is absolutely no compromise of the historic Protestant doctrine of "sola fide" (salvation through faith alone), for Lawson understands what the Reformers taught, namely that the faith which justifies also sanctifies and that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Lawson is totally in harmony with "sola fide." But more importantly, he is in harmony with Scripture. This book is filled with exposition of specific passages of Scripture, especially the book of I John. No true believer risks a loss of assurance from reading this book. And for those with a sham profession or an ungrounded assurance, this book may be the very means God will use to bring them to true faith in Jesus Christ. I highly recommend this book, without reservation.

Rating:
Summary: Well written and intentioned, but unfortunately wrong
Review: This book attempts to provide a basis for the security of a Christian's eternal life by using the book of I John. Lawson provides nine things from I John he says every professing believer should constantly check to know if they are truly a believer or will be rejected from the kingdom. Although I John is written to the believer about his fellowship with God (I John 1:3), Lawson has used it as a book to determine if we have a relationship with God at all. As the book description says, "The greatest proof of the new birth is not a past event, but a present experience of God at work within a believer's life."

Fortunately, contrary to this view is scripture, in which the greatest proof new birth is what God has said is the requirement for salvation. Faith alone. Although Lawson passionately believes in faith alone, he says that a believer can only be asssurred of his salvation by his consistent actions and not on what the Bible says about his conversion. Rather than having faith in what God has promised, Lawson says if we stray from the path set in his tests from I John, we were never a true believer.

Lawson writes with deep conviction, and should be praised for attempting to remove the rampant lack of righteousness in the church today, but his conclusion unfortunately causes believers to wonder how good they must be in order to really know if they were ever saved. It is unfortunate that God's amazing grace is abused, but unless it has the ability to be so abused, it does not have the power to save so wonderfully as it does. The method of salvation is this "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved." Acts 16:30-31. This is our hope, always in God's promises, and never in our actions.

Rating:
Summary: Well written and intentioned, but unfortunately wrong
Review: This book attempts to provide a basis for the security of a Christian's eternal life by using the book of I John. Lawson provides nine things from I John he says every professing believer should constantly check to know if they are truly a believer or will be rejected from the kingdom. Although I John is written to the believer about his fellowship with God (I John 1:3), Lawson has used it as a book to determine if we have a relationship with God at all. As the book description says, "The greatest proof of the new birth is not a past event, but a present experience of God at work within a believer's life."

Fortunately, contrary to this view is scripture, in which the greatest proof new birth is what God has said is the requirement for salvation. Faith alone. Although Lawson passionately believes in faith alone, he says that a believer can only be asssurred of his salvation by his consistent actions and not on what the Bible says about his conversion. Rather than having faith in what God has promised, Lawson says if we stray from the path set in his tests from I John, we were never a true believer.

Lawson writes with deep conviction, and should be praised for attempting to remove the rampant lack of righteousness in the church today, but his conclusion unfortunately causes believers to wonder how good they must be in order to really know if they were ever saved. It is unfortunate that God's amazing grace is abused, but unless it has the ability to be so abused, it does not have the power to save so wonderfully as it does. The method of salvation is this "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved." Acts 16:30-31. This is our hope, always in God's promises, and never in our actions.