It is obvious from the title that the book is divided into two parts. I am persuaded the book is worth reading for the benefit of its historical accuracy concerning the spread of Calvinism. One does not need to be a Calvinist to benefit from an understanding of the spread of Calvinism and its link to the modern missions movement, the rise of missionary Baptists, and the present state of Calvinism in the world today. While it is true, these issues are not fully developed in this book, what the author presents he presents very well.
The second portion of the book is much the larger in size, dealing with the theology of Calvinism. Again, one need not be a Calvinist to benefit from reading about the theology of Calvinism. One reason is that Calvinists talk about matters that most who are not Calvinists do not consider, much less discuss. The topic dealt with in this chapter under review, The Origin of Sin, is worth the book's price for any pastor, in my opinion. After all, a Gospel minister who does not study about and engage in discussions regarding the origin of sin should probably investigate a line of work for which he is better suited than the ministry. The Origin of Sin is one of those topics the Gospel minister must study and restudy, must discuss with his colleagues and discuss again, and must read about in thoughtful books devoted to the subject.
“Where did sin come from? If God foreordained it, does that not make Him the author of sin? Reformed theology has the biblical answer. It is not popular with non-Calvinists and is subject to practical misuse. But it is biblical and has good practical implications.”
This large chapter is subdivided into 14 subsections.
The Problem. Three paragraphs. “The problem can be stated succinctly. How can we harmonize three realities: (1) God is holy, (2) God is omnipotent, and (3) sin exists? Accepting any two of these creates a problem with the third. First, if God is holy, He must desire to prevent sin. If He is omnipotent, He is able to prevent sin. Yet sin exists. Why did God not prevent it? Second, if God is holy and wants to prevent sin and yet sin exists, it would appear that God was not able to prevent it. Yet God is indeed omnipotent and able to prevent it. Third, sin exists. Nothing exists except by the omnipotent creation of God. But that would imply that God is not holy. Yet God is holy.”
God Is Not the Author of Sin. Five paragraphs. “To make God the author of sin is as great a blasphemy as can be conceived.” “We must not picture God as in different to sin.”
Is Satan the Author of Sin? Four paragraphs. “Some have tried to answer the problem by saying that Satan is the originator and author of sin. He sinned before he tempted Adam and Eve to sin.” “Satan was created a good angel but sin. He led Adam into sin. But God did not lead either Satan or Adam into sin. In one sense, we can indeed say that Satan is the author of sin, for he was the first to sin.”
Foreordination of Sin. Three paragraphs. “Sin exists, therefore in some mysterious way it was foreordained by God, howbeit in a way that absolves Him from being its author.”
Augustine’s Theory. One paragraph. Augustine was one of the first Christian theologians to wrestle with the problem of original sin.
God Permitted Sin to Come into Existence. Two paragraphs. Comments by Jonathan Edwards, Peter Martyr Vermigli, and Charles Spurgeon are included.
The Paradox of the Problem. Four paragraphs. Reference is made to Augustine, John Gill, Vermigli, Stephen Charnock, and Calvin. “Clearly God forbids sin in the revealed will but permits it in the secret will. He is not sin’s author in one sense, but in another mysterious sense He permitted it to exist. In neither case does God approve or promote sin, for He is holy in all senses and wills.”
Some Provisos. Two paragraphs. Jay Adams, Gordon Clark, John Gill, John Calvin, and Duns Scotus are referred to.
Why Did God Decreed to Permit Sin to Exist? Five paragraphs. Included are comments made by W. G. T. Shedd, Thomas Watson, and the Apostle Paul.
The Felix Culpa. Eight paragraphs.
How Did God Allow Adam to Fall? Three paragraphs. “This has bearing on how God righteously allowed sin to enter in the fall of sinless Adam. This has mystified the greatest minds, Reformed or otherwise.”
Alternative Theories. Eight paragraphs. Mentioned are Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Eastern religions, Manichaeism, Deism, Jensenism, and Arminianism.
A Caution. Two paragraphs.
Conclusion. “John Gill
said, ‘The same decree which permits sin provides for the punishment of it.’ J.
C. Philpott added, ‘It is sufficient for us to know that sin is, and that it is
a blessing to know also there is a cure for it.’ We should discuss the whole
subject only in an attitude of humble repentance and grateful love.”
