Determined to Believe - The Sovereignty of God, Freedom, Faith, and Human Responsibility

Written for those who are interested in or even troubled by questions about God's sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility, this resource helps readers come to grips with the biblical treatment of this issue for themselves.

List of contents

Acknowledgments
Prologue
What this Book is About

Part 1: The Problem Defined
1. The Nature and Limitations of Freedom
2. Different Kinds of Determinism
3. Reactions to Determinism - The Moral Problem
4. Weapons of Mass Distraction

Part 2: The Theology of Determinism
5. God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
6. The Biblical Vocabulary

Part 3: The Gospel and Determinism
7. Human Capacity and Its Limits
8. The Human Condition - Diagnosis and Remedy
9. Drawn by the Father and Coming to Christ
10. The Irreversibility of Regeneration
11. The Gospel and Human Moral Responsibility

Part 4: Israel and Determinism
12. Israel and the Gentiles
13. Why Doesn't Israel Believe?
14. The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart
15. Is Israel Responsible?
16. Has Israel a Future?

Part 5: Assurance and Determinism
17. Christian Assurance
18. With Faith in God Endure?
19. Warning in Hebrews
20. Assurance in Hebrews

Epilogue
Questions for Reflection or Discussion
Index

About the author

John C. Lennox (MA MMath. MA (Bioethics) PhD, DPhil, DSc, FISSR) is Professor of Mathematics (Emeritus) at the University of Oxford and (Emeritus) Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College, Oxford. He is author of a number of books on the interface between science, philosophy, and theology, including, God and Stephen Hawking, Determined to Believe, Can Science Explain Everything? and Cosmic Chemistry: Do God and Science Mix? Prof. Lennox is a widely recognized public intellectual who has engaged in numerous debates with public figures such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Michael Ruse, and Peter Atkins on questions at the interface of science, philosophy, and religion.

Summary

A serious biblical and philosophical investigation of theological determinism: the idea that everything that happens has already been decided by God, including who will and won’t be saved.
This book was written for those who are interested in, or troubled by, questions about God's sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility. Christian apologist John Lennox writes in the spirit of helping people understand the biblical treatment of these concepts.
In this mind-bending review of the topics of theological determinism, predestination, election, and foreknowledge, Lennox:

• Defines the problem, considering the concept of freedom, the different kinds of determinism, and the moral issues these pose.
• Explores the range of theological opinion and unpacks what the Bible—especially the gospels and Paul's letter to the Romans—teaches about human and sovereign will.
• Addresses the question of Christian assurance: how can I know if I have salvation?

This nuanced and detailed study challenges some of the widely held assumptions about theological determinism and brings a fresh perspective to the debate.
This book is for anyone who's asked questions like:

• Is my decision to believe or disbelieve in Jesus actually my decision?
• Is it possible for a genuine believer to lose their salvation?
• How much free will do I really have?

By the author of Seven Days that Divide the World and 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, Determined to Believe? will launch your consciousness into a fresh understanding and appreciation of this important Christian debate and help you think both biblically and logically about the human condition.

Additional text

Determinism, whether biological, emotional or even spiritual, may have shattering effects at all levels, including faith. I have been eyewitness of the shipwreck caused by its influence on some people's lives. In an age prone to extremisms, even in Christian circles, Determined to Believe? is a wise and profoundly biblical demonstration that God's truth cannot be a source of despair or frustration, but a spring of abundant life in Christ. John Lennox's work comes as a necessary and excellent vaccination against the dangers of determinism on the life of faith.

Product details

• Authors: John C Lennox, John C. Lennox
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 31.03.2018, delayed
• EAN: 9780310589808
• ISBN: 978-0-310-58980-8
• No. of pages: 352
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; RELIGION / Christian Theology / Apologetics, RELIGION / Religion & Science, RELIGION / Christianity / Christian Science