The Works of John Owen v5

Description

Volume 5: Faith and its Evidences

‘The biblical doctrine of justification by faith is that by which the church stands or falls – so thought Martin Luther. John Owen was of the same conviction. Volume 5 of Owen’s works consists of two works: Evidences of the Faith of God’s Elect – a short, valuable exposition of the characteristics of saving faith – and his much longer, magisterial treatise, The Doctrine of Justification by Faith. The great theme of this latter work is that the believer is justified by the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, by faith and not by works. As the apostle Paul says, ‘It is God who justifies’ (Rom. 8:33).

Owen was fighting here on three fronts: with the Roman Catholic, who taught that justification is by infusion, not imputation, of righteousness; with the Socinian, who denied that Christ made atonement for sins; and with those of Owen’s fellow-Protestants who taught that the believer’s evangelical obedience contributed to his justification. Each of these views is with us today. A careful reading of Owen’s work will arm the mind with biblical truth to ward off such errors and, more importantly, feed the soul with solid truth that brings glory to Christ and peace and joy to the believer’s heart.’

– ROBERT STRIVENS, Pastor, Bradford on Avon Baptist Church