Grace Works! (And Ways We Think It Doesn't)
Anyone familiar with Douglas Bond s other works will know him as a great story-teller. This book is about the greatest story of all: the gospel. Issuing from the faith of a recipient of God s good news and the care of a shepherd, any wounds inflicted here will be those of a friend. Grace is not the enemy of works, but the only proper source. It s amazing how many ways we can get that wrong usually, as Doug argues, by incremental and often imperceptible changes. There is a lot of wisdom in this book, but none greater than the wisdom that Christ is and gives us in his gospel.—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California"Douglas Bond has written here his most important book on the most important controversy in the world, the gospel. With his usual verbal dexterity and ease Bond not only drives out the demons of our remaining Pelagianism, but fills our hearts with the work of our Savior and our Lord. Read this book and be changed, because Jesus changes everything."—Dr. RC Sproul Jr., associate professor of philosophy and apologetics at Reformation Bible CollegeGod s grace is our only hope. Christ came full of grace and people crucified Him. The world does not like grace. Sadly, insofar as sin remains in believers, we too have a surprising distaste for God s grace. Douglas Bond s book is a bold call to cling to Christ alone as our only righteousness. In brief, straight-shooting chapters, he diagnoses the tendency of even the most biblical churches to drift into legalism. This is a key book for everyone who loves the church of Christ.—Dr. Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan"Grace Works clearly shows how an emphasis on grace differentiates Christianity from all the works religions invented by man. Douglas Bond also explains well what happens when we decide the cake God gives us needs our own frosting: We get a sugar rush now and a stomach ache later."—Dr. Marvin Olasky, Editor-in-chief, World News Group---"Grace Works! What a concept! So simple, yet so neglected in our churches today. Douglas Bond opens our eyes to the power, beauty, and necessity of grace alone from regeneration to glorification and sounds a clear warning trumpet against the 'moralistic therapeutic deism' that dominates pulpits today."—Tito Lyro, Pastor, Olympia Bible Presbyterian Church"Grace is one of the central themes in Scripture displaying the riches of God s love for sinners... What Douglas Bond provides us in Grace Works is the biblical truth of the fullness of grace that leads to liberty. In Grace Works you will find grace as it should be taught and practiced; it refreshes, encourages, and points us to Christ. God lavishes his grace on sinners; you will sense it washing over and renewing you again and again in the pages of Grace Works."—Dr. Dominic A. Aquila, PresidentNew Geneva Theological SeminaryColorado Springs, Colorado"Douglas Bond is a 21st century watchman on the wall, courageously warning the church against works-oriented distortions of the gospel. Following in the footsteps of Paul, Calvin, Luther, the Puritans, and Spurgeon, this book rightly exalts the sovereign free grace of God as the sole source of our salvation. To God be the glory."—Lonnie Arnold, Pastor, Hilltop Bible Church, Tacoma, WA---"Grace is not the enemy of works, but the only proper source. It s amazing how many ways we can get that wrong usually, as Doug argues, by incremental and often imperceptible changes. There is a lot of wisdom in this book." --Michael Horton, Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California