His ideas here could be extended with some synthesis of the doctrine of union with Christ. Refresh and try again. A short book that is long on challenging doctrinal thoughts and clarifications on the love of God. Incarnation, central Christian doctrine that God became flesh, that God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity.Christ was truly God and truly man. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God at Amazon.com. Carson Format: Paperback Number of Pages: 93 Vendor: Crossway Publication Date: 2000: Dimensions: 8 1/2 X 5.50 X 1/4 (inches) Weight: 4 ounces ISBN: 1581341261 ISBN-13: 9781581341263 Stock No: WW41263: Related Products. This made it easier for me to read at a pace that suited my schedule. The love of God for us begets love in us for him and for others. He is a remarkable man with the understanding and confidence to tackle the most complex theological issues of our time such as evangelizing to post-moderns and the Emergent Church. Yet it does so without losing its personal emphasis: for in understanding more of the comprehensive nature of God’s love as declared in His Word, you will come to understand God and His unending love for you more completely. Everyone loved George at church, and he was respected at the hospital where he worked. My Growth Group at church has, for this year, been going through Cedarville University's Old Testament Literature course by Dr. Chris Miller. This book was originally lectures given at a variety of seminaries, so his vocabulary is not basic, and many parts will over the head of laymen, but Carson has a beautiful way of communicating deep truths with comedy and levity, and then in the next sentence, solemn seriousness and pastoral care. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love is a great read and it’s available for free as a pdf download… I’d recommend the book as a good primer to obtaining a foundation for this doctrine. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Put another way, God exercised His love for us in sovereignly bringing circumstances about the way He chose. The author, D.A. I recommend this for everybody interested in learning more about the Old Testament. We need more theologians like D.A. People who love Gods word will love this book. Connect with: Your email address will not be published. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. I enjoyed the book. Click to read more about The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D. A. Carson. The author reminds us that focusing on any one to the exclusion of the others misrepresents who God declares to be in His Word. Summary . Dr. Carson came and spoke at my Church recently, and I was very impressed with his preaching, so I decided to give this little book a try. 1 Herman Bavinck calls the doctrine of creation “the starting point of true religion.” It thus divides the world into believers and unbelievers. ISBN-13. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Grouped product items; Paperback. His discussion of how the wrath of God relates to the love of God is legitimately thrilling. This book isn’t long but it isn’t light reading either. Very good reminder of God's love for us, though undeserving. “If this were all the Bible discloses about God, we would read in its pages of a holy God of impeccable justice. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. DA Carson does a good job breaking the topic into distinct portions. Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God (Wheaton Illinois: Crossway Books, 2000), 23. Carson shows that the word 'love' has semantic range, but I found his way of categorizing texts to be fairly subjective and strongly guided by Reformed presuppositions. This is a theological book that will need to be read slowly by those who are not used to such wri. This book reignited my interest in theology and got me interested in reading more of D. A. Carson. Carson sets forth in this book to outline how Christians should proceed toward an understanding of this great doctrine. I will definitely be looking for other books by Dr. Carson. In this treatment of many of the Bible''s passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. A noted evangelical scholar presents a serious treatment of the doctrine of the love of God in an honest, biblically sound handling of questions it raises, misconstrued sentimentalities, and difficult passages. Dr. Carson did a good job of making sure the reader was sober in their understanding of God’s love in multiple facets, and defended essential truths of God’s love such as His immutability, wrath, holiness, etc. Sense and Nonsense About God's Love 1 John 4:8. Get this from a library! A friend loaned this to my daughter and the title intrigued me. The ... D. A. Carson speaks of the "difficult doctrine of the love of God," since "when informed Christians talk about the love of God they mean something very different from what is meant in the surrounding culture." 5 stars: 5: 4 stars: 2: 3 stars: 0: 2 stars: 0: 1 star: 0: User Review - Daniel DiGregorio - Christianbook.com. Did God love Pharaoh? Buy The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D A Carson in PB Large Format format at Koorong (9781844744275). [D A Carson] -- Noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson presents a unique treatment of the doctrine of the love of God and an honest, biblically sound handling of its difficulties and problematic passages. Add to Basket. Summary. I've really enjoyed going through these lectures each week, and despite having read the Bible many times, there is plenty that I have missed. User ratings. Everything God does is impelled and influenced by His love. ", I should have read this book years ago. I recommend this for everybody interested in learning more about the Old Testament. £4.99. In the first chapter, his reflection on the five ways the love of God can be defined in the Bible is the most helpful contribution. Reprobation is the Augustinian/Reformed doctrine that God has eternally decreed (1) to refrain from extending saving grace to particular individuals and (2) to judge them according to the strict standards of divine justice. The love of Allah is providential, which, as we saw in the first chapter, is one of the ways the Bible speaks of God. Spirit and Light are expressions of God's essential nature. 9781844744275-grouped. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love." For example, the guiding principle of his book was to nuance the word 'love' (agapao), yet when juxtaposing John 3:16 with 1 John 2:15-17 he failed to do that for the word 'world'. Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. New this month: Scandal rocks an elite British boarding school in The Divines. Donate Now. However, D. A. Carson has masterfully displayed that the doctrine of God’s love is indeed difficult, and as such, is worthy of careful attention. in all its fullness to as many people as possible. Great Is Thy Faithfulness Lamentations 3:22-25. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson is just a short book (96 pages) that is drawn from four lectures he delivered in 1998. The true Word of love that we have in the Bible, if we have it truly, will abide in us, and will not return empty as, by miracles of grace, we make glancing reflections of the immeasurable love of God visible to others in our own lives. This is a brief book and is not meant to be a detailed exposition of this doctrine but rather offer doctrinal sketchings. There were some things I really liked about this book, in particular how he talked about five aspects of God's love, and the danger of absolutizing any one of them. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. In some ways I felt like he had things just a bit too well figured out though - as though he had God and God's love and wrath figured out so that it fit his theological viewpoint. Has this product helped you? 2010. I will summarize the direction and purpose of the book and then point out some startling statements made by Carson himself in relation to his perspective on the love of God. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. The love of God is broader than the measure of man's mind. Please check back soon to purchase this item. Before making his case for what the love of God looks like, … This book was originally lectures given at a variety of seminaries, so his vocabulary is not basic, and many parts will over the head of laymen, but Carson has a beautiful way of communicating deep truths with comedy and levity, and then in the next sentence, solemn seriousness and pastoral care. At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. The Doctrine Of The Holy Trinity 853 Words | 4 Pages. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. In fact, the Bible says that “love is of God” and “God is love” (1 John 4:7–8); in other words, love is a fundamental characteristic of who God is. It was excellent! Perfectly short and selective. He’s doing a good job describing at least 5 different ways the Bible speak about God’s love. intra-Trinitarian love,love for the world, and love for the elect). (A Call to Spiritual Reformation and How Long, O Lord are next on my list.) This book will yield many insights for all those who are willing to consider thoughtfully what he has to say. God loves the world because God is a loving God. A helpful and thought-provoking analysis of the part love plays in God's character, Carson's careful exegesis and insight provide food for thought in a context where the love of God is taken for granted, set in opposition to any idea of wrath, and caricatured easily. A Brief Instruction on the Eternal Approval & Disapproval of the Divine Mind, & for Explaining the Nature of so Difficult a Thing Robert Rollock The Value of Scripture For us there was no other name fitting for this child of God’s sovereignty than to name her “grace”. Exegetical Fallacies, Second Edition . John MacArthur is the author of hundreds of books on various theological subjects and biblical texts. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God John 15:9-17 If most people in our country were asked to name a characteristic of God, I believe the most common answer would be “love.” The Bible says, “God is love”. eBook. The only reason it is 4 stars instead of 5 stars is due to the length. A central doctrine to Christian belief would be that of the holy trinity. But here there is more: in eternity past, the Father loved the Son, and the Son loved the Father. This is one of the greatest books that I have ever read. There is a real need for preachers to make the necessary qualifications here so that the gospel can be understood. Carson blends his … At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. -This is how Christians must love. I should have read this book years ago. That is precisely what makes this doctrine so difficult. The Bible uses several different words for “love” in the Hebrew and Greek, interchanging them depending on context. 9781844744275 I wish I had seen it when I was a knew Christian, but I equally recommend it for those long in the faith, as there is always more to learn! The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. Certainly, God loves and is love; toddlers and adults alike can taste this truth with ease. Those pieces also made it easier for me to understand the concepts. To me this was a frustrating read because I take Carson to be a brilliant expositor, but his generalizations and inconsistencies seemed fairly patent. This is a collection of four lectures that Carson has put in book form. He does a good job of explaining cultural definitions of love over against the Bible's definition of love. D. A. Carson. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference. Carson who can handle the Bible with care, intelligently yet with real feeling, and who are brave enough to hold to the difficult doctrines of word of God. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Can He be defined? Though Christian doctrine recognizes the existence of only one true God, the doctrine of the trinity describes this God as being “three in one”, meaning that there are three entities to compose the singular God. A Forgotten Doctrine: The Wrath of God Romans 1:18-20. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. If most people in our country were asked to name a characteristic of God, I believe the most common answer would be “love. Here is the bottom line on love: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published About our ebooks. [xrr rating=4.5/5] Carson addresses a topic which has been so poorly handled so many times that many would find it difficult to imagine it as a “difficult doctrine.” I've really enjoyed going through these lectures each week, and despite having read the Bible many times, there is plenty that I have missed. “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” is the title of a book by prolific author D. A. Carson, professor of New Testament studies at Trinity Evangelical Seminary. Highly recommended. Add To Cart Add To Wishlist. A dark secret spans several... At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. What I took away from reading this was an awareness of the need to be cautious in adopting any viewpoint that claims to have this stuff all figured out. Share a Testimony, The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries is to proclaim the holiness of God This was my 2nd reading of this little book, and it was even better this time around. If “God is love,” then “Love is God.” So say virtually all of the founders of the “metaphysical” or “mind science” sects, along with many Eastern and New Age teachers. His discussion of how the wrath of God relates to the love of God is legitimately thrilling. ISBN: 9781844744275. But that is what makes the task of the Christian witness so daunting. We might reason thus: to explain a doctrine is so difficult and so complex that it must surely necessitate a great many pages, ergo this must be a long book. Share. D. A. Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, p. 17 -Application: -God loves not because the object is loveable. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. In some ways I felt like he had things just a bit too well figured out though - as though he had God and God's love and wrath figured out so that it fit his theological viewpoint. What I took away from reading this was. But the love of God? “Christian faithfulness entails our responsibility to grow in our grasp of what it means that God is love.” The doctrine remains central to the message of Christianity and therefore, especially in light of its complexity, should be the focus of disciplined study. Carson is just a short book (96 pages) that is drawn from four lectures Carson delivered in 1998. LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE James Moore tells about a man named George. Carson. D.A. In this treatment of many of the Bible’s passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. The content of The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God is no exception. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. This book is classic Carson. But that truth, which is never separated from other attributes of God, is rich and more powerful than a simple gushy feeling God is often projected as having. The … The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by carson quantity. Because pop culture has so distorted and secularized God’s love, many Christians have lost a biblical understanding of it and, in turn, lost a vital means to knowing who God is. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Reviews (0) Reviews There are no reviews yet. It would have helped me understand the love of God in a time when I was wrestling with various aspects of his love (I.e. The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being. The reason why so many people loved George was because he was always Yet the “love picture” of God our society holds today bears little resemblance to the picture we see in the Bible. Can He be described? In this treatment of many of the Bible’s passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Psalm 107:1. Carson begins by outlining five reasons why this is a difficult doctrine. Carson’s, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, implies length. We will reflect on it and adore him for eternity. D.A. It is surprising to find, therefore, that this book is … God desires the salvation of all men (1 Tim.2:4). While God's love is God's essence - i.e. By Don A Carson In stock. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. 7 Reviews. £7.99. God’s love generates within Himself. Peter said that many are "appointed" to doom (1 Pet 2.8). Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000. The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. The theme of the love of God is inexhaustible, both in our experience and our theology. Living in the Light of God's Glory 1 Corinthians 10:31. Carson addresses the fact that we water down the word love and lose the nuance and thus lose the power of God’s love. God is love, God's wrath is only a functional quality of His holiness; if there is no sin, there will be no God's wrath, and God will still be God. See Bavinck, In the Beginning, 23. Paul says, "He hardens whom he desires" (Rom 9.18). In his book. It is the nature of God to love. I do think what Carson does well in this book is to show that God's love and wrath aren't necessarily incompatible. Broken down into 5 distinguishable characteristics in this book basically a page at a time, this... At Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the Bible teach about God, we would read in its pages a... Have problems with it of how the wrath of God Romans 1:18-20 in. Or impossible one instead of 5 stars is due to the heart of this book is to show God... To those who are not used to such wri book and is not meant be. 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