RUINED SINNERS TO RECLAIM:
Sin and Depravity in Historical, Biblical,
Theological, and Pastoral Perspective
(The Doctrines of Grace)
Editors David and Jonathan Gibson
Crossway. 1040 pages. £47.99
ISBN 978 1 433 557 057
Not everyone will have the cash to buy this book nor the stamina to read it! For those who do this is a masterful overview of an important doctrine.
It is the second volume in a series of five books exploring the doctrines of grace. No stone is left unturned in exploring the Biblical material, historical and systematic theology, and the practical aspects of a Reformed doctrine of sin. Any book with 26 contributors will have a certain unevenness of style and quality, but no reader could read this book without being grateful for such a substantial examination of sin.
I was particularly delighted to see a chapter by the veteran preacher Albert Mohler on preaching, reminding us that the Christian preacher needs to see Christianity as a theological whole; a cautionary note not to read this book in isolation, because theological concepts do not work so well when they are broken apart from one another. Theology must hang together if it is to fuel authentic godliness, worship and proclamation.
