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Salvation belongs to our God

A fresh exposition of the Bible's teaching about salvation

No hesitation

SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD
A fresh exposition of the Bible«s teaching about salvation
By Chris Wright
IVP. 208 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978-1-84474-243-1

This is a book one could happily recommend to a Christian who is concerned to understand the biblical teaching about salvation. But even more, it will clarify much of the ambiguity and misunderstanding that is abroad today.

The book is the latest publication in the Global Christian Library series by Langham Partnership and IVP.

The author, Chris Wright, is well qualified to address this issue, having already published a number of well received books on both the Old and New Testaments. The template used to open up and elucidate the theme is Revelation 7:10 ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’.

The book is composed of seven chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of the main subject. The opening chapter, entitled ‘Salvation and human need’, gives an excellent introduction and overview of the various uses and meanings of the word ‘to save’ in both testaments. In a clear and easily understood way the author brings us to see that the need for salvation in both testaments lies in the ‘results of rebellion and sin in the human heart’. I found this opening chapter a clear and concise introduction to this doctrine as revealed in Scripture.

Chapters two to five establish the relationship of salvation to God and then to the Christian. Wright clearly shows that this salvation has its source in God alone, the God who has revealed himself in Scripture and particularly in his son Jesus Christ. He alone is the God who acts and saves through Jesus Christ, thus giving him a unique identity. Further, this act of deliverance brings those who respond to its message into a relationship with God, conferring blessings, but also bringing responsibilities to witness to this gospel worldwide.

Chapter six confronts the thorny question of the eternal future of those who have never heard the good news of Christ. It does this under the heading ‘Salvation and the sovereignty of God’. While I had some difficulty following part of the reasoning in this chapter, I nevertheless found it thought-provoking and challenging.

The seventh and last chapter clearly shows that God«s plan of salvation is Christ-centred. It reaches its climax and fulfilment in the person and work of Christ, his son, hence the title ‘Salvation and the Lamb of God’. The blessings of our salvation flow directly from his life, death and resurrection.

The contents of the book are rooted in Scripture and certainly give the reader a clear picture and understanding of biblical teaching on salvation. One of the helpful aspects of the way Chris Wright deals with the subject is his interaction with false, unbiblical application of salvation in, for instance, the prosperity gospel. Living, as we are, in a multi-cultural, multi-faith society, with the confusion that can bring, not least in respect of the question: How are we saved?, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to any Christian anxious to come to grips with the biblical answer to that question.

The Rev. R.J. Johnston (retired),
Chairman of The Evangelical Fellowship of Ireland and worshipping at Glenmanus Reformed Presbyterian Church, Portrush, Northern Ireland