Saved Without a Doubt (The Macarthur Study Series)

Rating:
Summary: Either you'll love it or you'll hate it...
Review: I found the book to be very biblical. The Bible does offer salvation free by faith, but MacArthur does a great job of showing that if you ARE saved by faith, then you will see signs of that in your life. MacArthur points you to scripture, not peoples opinion's. After all, I wanted to know what the Bible says, not someone who thinks they are saved but have never had a change in their lives. MacArthur points out that many want to say they are saved, but at the same time hang on to a lifestyle of lawlessness. If you just want to deceive yourself and say that a person can be saved by "faith" alone (read: a faith that does not lead to a new life), then DONT READ THIS BOOK. (Or for that matter, don't read your Bible). But MacArthur does a great service to the genuine gospel by making an iron clad biblical case to show that salvation that is by faith, is not alone. Genuine faith produces fruit, or evidence. And that fruit is what we look for to give us assurance so we CAN have biblical assurance.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe Saved if you....
Review: In a manner typical of John MacArthur, this book is filled with all of the works he thinks someone needs to do to be saved. The only condition for eternal life in the Bible is that one believes the promise Jesus made of the free gift of eternal life (John 3:14-16, 18; 5:24; 6:35-40, 47 ad passim). Christ's promise is the only valid means of assurance, yet MacArthur fires completely in the opposite direction. This book does not teach the Biblical doctrine of faith alone in Christ alone for salvation and assurance. Instead he tells the reader to check their works and HOPE they persevere in holiness until death. In reality, even this will not save you. Faith plus nothing = salvation, faith plus anything = damnation. This book preaches the latter; destoying assurance, decieving non-Christians, blinding their eyes to the gospel, and obliterating any hope for genuine Christ-likeness in those who have come to faith in Christ (through other means). MacArthur's book is a eisogetic and heretical mess. Read Confident in Christ by Bob Wilkin instead.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe Saved if you....
Review: In a manner typical of John MacArthur, this book is filled with all of the works he thinks someone needs to do to be saved. The only condition for eternal life in the Bible is that one believes the promise Jesus made of the free gift of eternal life (John 3:14-16, 18; 5:24; 6:35-40, 47 ad passim). Christ's promise is the only valid means of assurance, yet MacArthur fires completely in the opposite direction. This book does not teach the Biblical doctrine of faith alone in Christ alone for salvation and assurance. Instead he tells the reader to check their works and HOPE they persevere in holiness until death. In reality, even this will not save you. Faith plus nothing = salvation, faith plus anything = damnation. This book preaches the latter; destoying assurance, decieving non-Christians, blinding their eyes to the gospel, and obliterating any hope for genuine Christ-likeness in those who have come to faith in Christ (through other means). MacArthur's book is a eisogetic and heretical mess. Read Confident in Christ by Bob Wilkin instead.

Rating:
Summary: The Saint That Perseveres
Review: This book is not a detailed defense of the doctrine of eternal security and the passages that pertain thereto (like you would find with Pink, Ironside or Strombeck), but rather a study in personal heart-felt assurance. MacArthur moves beyond the objective assurance of doctrinal truth to the subjective assurance of the fruits of the believer. He advocates a balanced approach to the doctrine that understands "the perseverance of the saints" as saints who actually persevere in faithfulness and godliness! As James writes, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (1:12).

MacArthur's critics claim that teachings like those found in Saved Without a Doubt are contrary to scripture and serve only to undermine the pure doctrines of the reformation. Nothing could be further from the truth. MacArthur's understanding of this doctrine serves to deny security to tares and dead branches (Matt. 13:38, John 15:6) while giving full assurance to the one who has truly been chosen of God, come to genuine faith in Christ, and been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

May God raise up more men like John MacArthur who are willing to hold to the plain teaching of scripture even in the face of adversity and slander.