Readability: 1
Length: 227 pp
Author: Michael Horton
Michael Horton is as excellent a theologian as he is a writer. God’s grace was on him in both ways, like the prophet Jeremiah, from his youth. As a teenage boy Horton’s eyes were opened to the doctrines of grace. He wrote a book titled Mission Accomplished at fifteen to explain to others the truths he had come to see in Scripture. While in college the book was published by Thomas Nelson and James Boice wrote the forward.
That book is since out of print, but it was added to and revised. It now comes to us as Putting Amazing back into Grace with a foreword by J.I. Packer. Mission Accomplished was published and endorsed by James Boice said something as to its value. That Michael has had so many years to deepen in his understanding and wisdom in communicating these truth speaks to the value of its successor. Whether you are newly investigating the doctrines of grace or are looking to freshly be warmed by them you will find this book helpful.
We can talk about grace, sing about grace, preach about grace, just so long as we do not get too close to it. Election is too close. When we give in to election, we finally give up on ourselves in the matter of salvation. This doctrine takes grace to its logical conclusion: If God saves me without my works, then he must choose me apart from them, too.
Everyone believes in election and predestination. The terms are found throughout Scripture, and to deny any and every notion of election or predestination is to flatly contradict God’s Word. The real question is whether one believes it is, as Paul affirmed, an ‘election of grace’ (Rom. 11:5) or of foreseen works. If grace means ‘unmerited favor,’ then the Bible clearly teaches that nothing, absolutely nothing at all including our response can be the one thing that merited God’s favor. If God chose you based on his having foreseen your response to him, it would not be an election or a salvation of unmerited favor.
When I was just discovering this teaching, my pastor—concerned that I was falling into error—asked me, ‘Son, when were you saved?’ Without really thinking about it, I heard myself answer, ‘Two thousand years ago.’ I am still reeling from that answer, which I barely understood that day. It is one of the most liberating and assuring truths in God’s Word.
No Other Boast 