Book review
For Calvinism

Full description of book:
Michael S Horton, For Calvinism (Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 2011). ISBN 978-0-310-32465-2.

Review:

The book by Dr. Michael Horton is a companion volume to Roger Olson's book Against Calvinism, and the two of them are published in order to forward the conversation between Calvinism and Arminianism.

In this book, Dr. Horton sets forth to establish the biblical teaching of the Doctrine of Grace or Calvinism. The first chapter deals with the essence of Calvinism where Horton defines the terms and positions in the debate. Chapter two deals with the biblical teaching of Total Depravity, making pains to show the reader what Total Depravity is and what it is not. For example, on the issue of freedom of the will, Horton writes that "we need to distinguish between natural and moral ability" (p 43) and that "we need to distinguish freedom in relation to God and freedom in relation to other fallen human beings " (p. 46). Both of these are very important to see how we are indeed free to choose, but we are morally unable to chose what is good because we desire what is evil. At the same time, our freedom is truly free in the creaturely sense, as God's freedom is qualitatively different from ours.

Chapter 3 deals with the doctrine of Unconditional Election. Horton, after looking at the biblical basis for the teaching, deals with various issues pertaining to it. The first issue dealt with is whether election is unconditional, to which Horton states that resorting to foreknowledge is of no help since God in His perfection has perfect knowledge so therefore His knowledge is just as certain as His predestination, further stating that "mere foreknowledge without foreordination means that God does not have any larger purpose, that every natural disaster of human aggression is meaningless and random" (p. 59). Horton next shows through looking at Rom. 9 that election is individual not corporate (pp. 60-62). The next issue of fairness is refuted by Horton by stating that fairness imply that everyone goes to hell, and therefore we do not want God to be fair (p. 62). On the issue of agency in election and salvation, Horton utilizes the scholastic teaching of dual agency and the qualitative distinction between God and Man to show how divine sovereignty and human responsibility are possible (pp. 64-72). Horton lastly deals with the pastoral issue of election and assurance, showing how the doctrine of election is actually to be used unto assurance of salvation (pp. 72-77).

The fourth chapter deals with the doctrine of Definite Atonement/ Particular Redemption. Horton lists down the various atonement theories and agrees with them as long as the atonement is seen primarily as a "vicarious substitution" (p. 90). Horton next utilizes the categories created by John Owen in dealing with the extent of the atonement, namely 1) Christ's death redeemed every person, 2) Christ's death made the salvation of every person possible, and 3) Christ redeemed all of the elect. Horton then deals with the doctrine of Particular Redemption itself, followed by a response to objections such as the statement that the New Testament teaches that Christ died for the world, the issue is a sin issue, and the objection of fairness (pp. 96-98).

The fifth chapter is one long discourse on the doctrine of Effectual Calling and Perseverance, in which Horton deals primarily with the biblical witness to them. The specter of apostasy is shown to be applicable for those who are merely outwardly in the covenant but do not truly have faith (p. 120), not that they were once truly saved and then they lost their salvation. Horton finishes this chapter interacting briefly with other positions, dealing with Arminianism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism as one position since on this subject they are very similar, and then dealing with the inconsistent synergism implicit in the doctrine of "eternal security" (p. 121-2) .

The last three chapters in the book deal with the living of the Christian life in light of Calvinism, Christian missions in light of Calvinism and a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis regarding the embrace of Calvinism. Horton here shows how living unto godliness and missions can be approached much better through the lens of Calvinism., from a top-down God-centered perspective.

This book beautifully and winsomely portrays Calvinism especially in its application to Christian life and witness. It amply proves its case from the Scriptures. It is also very readable and accessible to the average lay-person and is recommended as one of the good primers to read on the Doctrines of Grace.