The Great Exchange: Justification by Faith Alone in the Light of Recent Thought

by Philip H. Eveson

How God accepts repenting sinners involves a wonderful exchange between Christ and believershis righteousness for their sin. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0902548867
• ISBN13: 9780902548862
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Dayone C/O Grace Books
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Why the word "Alone" is so important...

The term "Justification" has become a hot button in today's evangelical movements. The concepts of imputed righteousness, vicarious atonement, regeneration, and sanctification were once firm foundations on which Protestant theology stood. The "discovery" of the New Perspective (NPP) by Sanders and Stendahl (and more recently Dunn and Wright) has brought a new understanding of justification to the forefront of biblical (especially Pauline) scholarship. This has especially gained traction within the Reformed community and been highly influential in the emergent church movement. This book is worth reading for the two chapters on the NPP alone. In these two chapters, Phillip Eveson gives an even handed summary of the NPP as espoused by N.T. Wright (Chapter 9) and raises six problems with the NPP and seven corresponding dangers (Chapter 10). Eveson is fair, and gives credit where credit is due. The NPP has made some valid criques, however Eveson states his position succinctly when he says, "In their effort to correct a false view of Judaism they have moved to far in the opposite direction." The rest of the book is really wrapped around these two chapters, providing a standard, but well stated teaching on Justification (both Biblical and Historical) and some practical application for today. My only critique is that Eveson may have been a little to hard on fellow evangelicals who have attempted to establish ecumenical ties. The book is an excellent and accessible read about an issue that has greatly impacted today's church. If you need a quick overview on the NPP, this is the book for you.

A must read for every modern church leader

In this postmodern world in which many churches have adopted worldly approaches to user-friendly worship and church membership, every church leader should read this informative book by Philip Eveson. He stresses the need for a return to the reformation view of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, by His death upon the cross alone. He notes how many have opted for compromise to try and achieve some form of unity within the Christian community. In doing so, they have weakened the gospel message and minimized the importance of personal faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ by God. While I would take issue with the author on a couple of minor issues, I find his discussion extremely helpful and convicting at the same time.

An Underrated Book on a Very Important Subject

This book is probably one of the most cogent books on the doctrine of justification written from a traditional Protestant perspective. Unfortunately, this book is not as well-known within evangelical circles compared to other books written on the same subject by faithful evangelicals (e.g., R. C. Sproul, James R. White, and John Piper). Eveson's book is neatly laid out in four main sections: 1) the biblical evidence of justification by faith alone; 2) the ecumenical debates surrounding this doctrine; 3) modern revisions on justification (i.e., the New Perspective); and 4) the true meaning of justification and its relationship to other doctrines. Eveson's presentation of the biblical basis of justification by faith alone is very good and gives ample scriptural support for the traditional Protestant perspective. He also gives a very insightful and scathing critique of ecumenical approaches to this doctrine. Also, Eveson provides a very good overview of the New Perspective understanding of law and justification (particularly Wright's view) and devastatingly crushes the arguments presented by Wright and those who follow him. Finally, Eveson tells us why the right doctrine of justification is essential for practical Christian living and correctness of other doctrines (i.e., sin, man, Christ, etc.). This is absolutely one of the most insightful books on this very important doctrine. The section on N. T. Wright's view of the law and justification is a gem (chapters 9 and 10). He convincingly critiques the idea that Paul was combatting Jewish nationalism rather than explicating individual sinfulness in Galatians and Romans. He also destroys the idea that justification is relational rather than judicial. Considering that many professing evangelicals today have compromised on this doctrine for the sake of unity and combatting alleged antinomian tendencies in Evangelical/Reformational/Protestant circles, Eveson's book is a spring of fresh water in a desert. Eveson writes in an irenic and humble tone, even though he does not pull back punches when the truth must be defended. In today's theological climate where many unorthodox "evangelical" ministers and theologians cry like babies because they think they are being "slandered" because more faithful ministers of the Word tell it like it is against them, books like these need to be more in circulation to get the message across on what justification really is. It is books like these that will bring the church back to the place it once had in society. Use this book as an evangelistic tool for an unbelieving friend or use it to deliver a fellow believer who is caught in the deadly trap of legalism and bondage. Every Christian interested in this very important doctrine must have a copy of this book.