Reviewed by: Caleb Amick, a Professional Writing major at Taylor University

Introduction

Title: Determined to Believe? The Sovereignty of God, Freedom, Faith & Human Responsibility

Author:  John C. Lennox

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: March 27, 2018

Format: Print

Length: 368 pages

OVERVIEW

For centuries mankind has wrestled with deep theological questions.  Can God’s sovereignty be reconciled with human freedom?  Do human beings have any participation in their salvation or is it all entirely God’s doing? These ponderings have been the subjects of major debates throughout church history, and many continue today to challenge the logic and the faith of believers. Oxford professor John Lennox, in his characteristically winsome manner, seeks to explore these questions in a way that is pragmatic, in-depth, and sensible. Rather than dig in his heels and insist he, alone, has all the answers, Lennox presents a theological conundrum and then summarizes a compendium of responses to this mystery, drawn from philosophy and science and history and, naturally, passage of scripture. Often, in doing so, he can point to a rational answer to the question that is confirmed by more than one source of analysis. This gives depth and merit to the theological position being asserted.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

5 stars

Suggested Audience

I would recommend this book for people who are really interested in theological matters, particularly that of Soteriology, as well as those who want a decent intro into the discussion of the mission of Christ. I would recommend this book for readers ages 14 and over because it is written in a conversational tone that doesn’t dilute the solid reference material it presents..

Christian Impact

What makes this book different from others is that it avoids rehashing tired debates, such as Calvinism vs Arminianism. Instead, it covers a wide range of topics with a very balanced and fair approach to these issues.

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