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The Gospel According to Grace: A Clear Commentary on the Book of Romans
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$ 8.57
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| Item Number |
89528 |
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Item Description...
The book of Romans deals with a subject that we, as Christians, cherish... God?s grace. The Gospel According to Grace is a verse-by-verse commentary taken from the book of Romans that clearly proclaims the truths of God, revealed in Jesus Christ; His suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. Only this grace can save a man from the wrath of God.
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Item Specifications...
Pages 208
Dimensions: Length: 8.19" Width: 5.28" Height: 0.63"
Weight: 0.69 lbs.
Release Date Jan 1, 2024
Publisher WFT
ISBN 0936728124
EAN 9780936728124
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Availability 5 units.
Availability accurate as of Jul 15, 2024 02:01.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Johnson City, TN.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | The Gospel According to Chuck Smith May 7, 2009 |
I read The Gospel According to Grace, by Chuck Smith, quite a number of years ago. I spotted it again recently and thought I would write a book review of it.
Thankfully, I didn't buy this book. Instead, I borrowed a copy from someone who had just finished reading it. I was interested because I consider the Epistle to the Romans a Gospel Masterpiece, the "Jewel" of the New Testament. The cover of this book identifies itself as a Clear Commentary on the Book of Romans. In all fairness, this is no commentary on Romans. At best, this book is a devotional about Romans, plus the addition of Chuck Smith's personal theology. I expected more from Chuck Smith, so I was disappointed with this book.
The Epistle to the Romans contains so many of the wonderful foundational doctrines of the Christian faith; all in one letter. Like justification, election, predestination, and sanctification, and God's glorious salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Unfortunately, there is way too much human effort applied in this book.
In all due respect to Pastor Smith, the title of this book should be The Gospel According to Chuck Smith. It is filled with Chuck's own opinions and his personal theological position rather than an exposition, with attention to scriptural context and a careful exegesis of what a text actually teaches. His view of biblical election is clearly more anthropocentric than theocentric. According to Chuck, we, not a sovereign God, ultimately determine our own election according to our own free will, independently choosing to accept or reject God's gift of salvation. As an example, Chuck's treatment of Romans 8:28-30 is very surprising. Nowhere in that text is the sinner described as actively participating in any of God's sovereign actions mentioned in that text. Instead, the sinner is viewed as a comparatively passive recipient of God's glorious work.
I was surprised to see in texts that are clearly biblical examples of God's sovereignty (choosing Jacob over Esau, for example), Chuck instead describes God as looking forward in time to see what spiritual development and decisions the sinner will eventually make as a basis for his election! That's not divine predestination. It's post-reactive destination. That's selection by committee (man + God), rather than the sovereign will and purpose of God like scripture describe!
It is worth pointing out that a passage Paul quotes in Romans 9 is Malachi 1:2-3. In this passage, God is speaking of two nations, Israel and Edom, merely calling them by the names of respective ancestors. The words "I have hated Esau (Malachi 1:3) have an intent that goes beyond Esau himself and encompasses the whole evil nation of Edom. The hatred this describes is not a petty, spiteful loathing, but a holy abhorrence of people who were thoroughly and absolutely drowning in a sinful lifestyle.
Elsewhere in chapter 9, the text is clearly using Esau and Jacob as representatives of an entire nation, not individuals. Yet Chuck treats the text as if Jacob's future spirituality determined his election. Are we to understand here that Chuck believes scripture teaches the Almighty God submits his divine prerogative to man? That is truly disturbing, and less than acceptable scholarship for a teacher of Chuck Smith's stature.
Furthermore, chapter 9 of Romans is loaded with clear references that election is not according to the decisions or lifestyle of man, but according to a sovereign act of God, apart from the will or sinfulness of man. Immediately after Paul's example of the national election of Jacob (Israel) over Esau (Edom), he states in verse 16, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." How can Chuck come up with such a man-centered application of this chapter? What is actually in the scripture needs to be proclaimed, not our own personal theology.
Overall, it is my opinion that this so-called commentary is much less than it should be. I realize all commentaries and other resource material include the author's own bias, whether accidentally or intentionally. I have attended services at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa numerous times a number of years ago when I lived in California and spoke with Chuck Smith on a number of occasions, so I am more than generally familiar with his testimony and personal theology. I have only noted in this book review a couple of the problems I see in this book. It should be examined carefully and comparatively with the rest of scripture. If you do use it, use it carefully. There are certainly better commentaries on Romans available.
| | |  | We all need grace Mar 19, 2009 |
| Pastor Chuck Smith has written such a fantastic commentary on the book of Romans. The Gospel According to Grace is such an enlightening book. I highly recommend reading this for clarification on the whole topic of grace and forgiveness. | | | | Love the book of Romans Mar 10, 2009 |
The book of Romans is one of my favorite books in the Bible and Pastor Chuck Smith is my favorite pastor. What more could I ask for? :-)
A great book...if you have questions about the book of Romans, or would like to study it a bit more in-depth. Pastor Chuck Smith has a great way of writing, its almost like he is just talking to you...its a great easy to read commentary and I would recommend it to any who would like to further their walk with the Lord. | | | | Romans rocks my face off! Feb 25, 2009 |
| If you have not studied the book of Romans in-depth, then you may need to rethink the purpose of your life...and then you need to read this book! | | | | Clear is right! Sep 13, 2007 |
| One of the best, most informative and easily understood commentaries on Romans I have yet to read. I like Chuck Smith's non-dogmatic and honest approach. Let the scriptures speak for themselves without the normal biast slant. Thanks Chuck! | | | Write your own review about The Gospel According to Grace: A Clear Commentary on the Book of Romans
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