Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation

Michael Horton is great writer and explains Lordship from the view of Reformed Presbyterian(Calvinism)& also has great understanding of Martin Luther, as he had "WhiteHorse Inn" radio show fashioned after Luther for years. The price is high, but if u r looking for the full & complete (& convincing) teaching written in an engaging, interesting way, here is your book. It is a keep forever on your best books shelf.

Though it has been a few years ago since I read this book, this book is one of the most biblical books I have read on the "lordship controversy" that erupted during the late '80s/early '90s. The book contains contributions from various authors from the Reformed and Lutheran traditions. Some of the more notable essays were written by Michael Horton, Rich Ritchie, and Kim Riddlebarger. The authors are critical of both the "free grace" position of Zane Hodges, Charles Ryrie, and Earl Radmacher and the "lordship" position of John MacArthur, Kenneth Gentry, and Ernest Reisinger. The authors feel that the "free grace" scholars put a radical disjunction between justification and sanctification, while the "lordship" scholars make no distinction between faith and doing works. Horton et al. find the perfect and biblical balance: those justified will produce works of righteousness (against Hodges/Ryrie/Radmacher), but having faith in Christ is not the same as obeying God's law (against MacArthur/Gentry/Reisinger). Many will complain that the authors of this book are capitulating to the free grace position in a Reformed attire. However, that is not the case. The authors in the book strongly believe that those united to Christ will be morally and spiritually renewed from within. Their view of faith is not "intellectual assent alone" but a genuine "faith in Christ alone" (to say that the authors are promoting the former rather than the latter is to be ignorant of Reformation history and theology). Unfortunately, this book has been overshadowed by other books from the other camps (especially MacArthur's). The only criticism I have is that the book is at times incoherent because of the authors' varied backgrounds (as pointed out by Jonathan Koh below). Hence, you get someone like Strimple sounding a bit too "MacArthurian" than what a lot of Reformed and Lutheran readers would feel comfortable with. Despite that one criticism, this book should be read by all who are interested in what true repentance and sanctification are. Unfortunately, this book is out of print. Perhaps someday Baker Books will revive this book in a new print edition (or better, an expanded edition). The importance of this subject makes this book absolutely necessary to be put out in the market again.

I'm one who has read quite a bit into the Lordship Salvation debate. This debate really is about the gospel and thus it is a very important subject!This book edited by Horton is definitely a must-read for those who want to explore into this debate. I've been blessed by some articles in modern Reformation (the magazine that Horton edits) which has made me seen the debate in a new light. The magazine articles and this book has also made me changed my thinking from a pro-Lordship, MacArthur/Walter Chantry style, to a more balanced but yet confused (!!) person. Two complains about this book. Firstly, I think Horton is quite unfair towards Hodges. Though Horton remains one of my favourite authors, I didn't really like the treatment of Hodges in this book.Secondly, because of the varied nature of the book and the different views of the different authors, there was a lack in unity overall.But the book is refreshing in that it approaches the subject from a historical view - from the Reformation.I liked Horton's criticism of MacArthur's teachings - not because i like to see criticism, but because i thought through the criticisms the issues were made clearer. I'm not sure MacArthur has changed totally because of this book, though I know he has changed his views a bit.Rick Ritche's chapter on "The Law According to Jesus" was enlightening and it provided a very lutheran view on the law-gospel. This view contradicted many a pro-Lordship's view on the "Rich Young Ruler" passage - a passage that many pro-Lordship advocates use to defend their view.Horton's "Christ Crucified between Two thieves" provided a insightful look into these same issues which occured in Church history.Riddlebarger's "What is Faith?" chapter is good in that it clarified what faith is - not repentance, but knowledge, assent and trust alone!And Rosenbladt's chapter on "Christ died for the sins of Christians, too" gave a good Lutheran end to this issue - the importance of realising that Christ's death and His benefits are always there for the Christian.Once again, a must reading for those into this debate.

Christ the Lord edited by Mike Horton brings sanity and sound biblical doctrine to the controversy over the so-called "free grace" and "lordship" view of salvation. Horton et all reveal the weakness in both of these views in a very fair and precise manner. They wisely bring the light of Church history into the discussion since this controversy has already been dealt with in the history of the church. The authors of this book very persuasively put forth their argument that whereas salvation is God's sovereign free gift bestowed on His Church not depending upon man, it always results in good works. The error of "free grace" is that justification is divorced from the doctrine of good works while the error of "lordship" is that justification is confused with good works. IN other words, justification is always followed by sanctification; justification and sanctification are inseparable but distinct. Horton et al have indeed answered this "controversy" so succinctly and conclusively, it should come as no surprise that MacArther has modified his "lordship" view to be in concord with this book.

In this text, Mike Horton has assembled the best in the Reformed tradition to responded to the so-called "Lord-ship" Controversy. This must reading for anyone wanting to understand the debate, it's historical precedence, and what it means to be a justified sinner. Horton has done the church a huge service. Semper Reformanda