John Owen on the Christian Life

Name: John Owen on the Christian Life
SKU: 9780851515038
Availability: OutOfStock

Author

Sinclair B. Ferguson

Category Christian Living, Church & Ministry, Theology Books

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Weight	1.16 lbs
Dimensions	8.8 × 5.75 × 1 in
ISBN	9780851515038
Binding	Cloth-bound
Topic	General Theology, Spiritual Growth, Pastoral Theology/Pastoral Helps
Original Pub Date	1987
Banner Pub Date	Dec 1, 1987
Page Count	316
Scripture	Whole Bible
Format	Book

Book Description

John Owen has long been recognized by evangelicals as one of the greatest of all English-speaking theological classics. Like Augustine, whom he so admired, Owen’s thinking touched both the depths of sin and the heights of grace. Many of his readers have come away from reading him on such themes as temptation, or indwelling sin, feeling that Owen knew them through and through.

The truth is that Owen had come-by intensive and constant study of both Scripture and the human heart- to know both himself and God. It was out of this rich experience that he preached and wrote on the loftiest themes of Christian theology.

Because of this background, Owen’s teaching was always pastoral in its concern. His aim, said his assistant David Clarkson, was ‘to promote holiness’. Consequently his work has survived through the centuries and is now more widely recognized and appreciated than it has been for many years. His writings address the fundamental issues Christians face in every age: How can I live the Christian life? How am I to deal with sin and temptation? How can I find assurance, and live for the honour of Jesus Christ?

John Owen on the Christian Life expounds Owen’s teaching on these and related themes. The first book-length study of any aspect of Owen’s thought, it also stands on its own as a study in pastoral theology. Ministers, Christian leaders, readers of Owen, and those who are daunted by the sheer voluminousness of his writings will find this book an ideal companion.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

	INTRODUCTION	x
1.	JOHN OWEN AND HIS CHRISTIAN LIFE
	i. The beginnings of his ministry	3
	ii. The Congregationalist	4
	iii. A Wider sphere of influence	6
	iv. Dean and Vice-Chancellor	9
	v. The Congregational leader	13
	vi. Last days	17
2.	THE PLAN OF SALVATION	20
	1. The Doctrine of the Covenant	20
	i. The Covenant of Works	22
	ii. The Covenant of Grace	24
	iii. The Covenant of Redemption	25
	iv. The Covenant at Sinai	27
	2. Union with Christ	32
3.	GRACE REIGNS THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS	37
	i. The Effects of sin	39
	ii. Regeneration	41
	iii. The Use of the law	48
	iv. The Structure of sanctification	54
	v. The Progress of sanctification	56
	(1) Negatively considered	61
	(2) Positively considered	63
	vi. Restoration of the image of God	65
	vii. The Christian’s duty:	67
	(1) To honour Christ	69
	(2) To mortify sin	71
4.	FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD	74
	i. Communion with the Father	76
	ii. Communion with the Son	77
	iii. Communion with the Holy Spirit	92
	THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION	99
	i. The assurance of forgiveness	100
	ii. Practical rules for assurance	108
	iii. Hindrances to assurance	112
	iv. The seal of the Spirit	116
5.	CONFLICT WITH SIN	125
	i. Sin’s dominion ended	125
	ii. Sin’s presence continued	130
	iii. Temptations abound	141
	iv. Mortification required	145
6.	THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS	154
	1. The Nature and Government of the Church	156
	i. The Lord’s congregation	158
	ii. Order in the church	164
	iii. Ministry in the church	165
	iv. Unity of the church	170
	2. The Individual in the Church	172
	i. Valid church life	172
	ii. The charge of schism	175
	iii. Church membership	178
	iv. Discipline	181
7.	SCRIPTURE AND MINISTRY	184
	1. Scripture	185
	i. Inspiration	186
	ii. Authority	188
	iii. Preservation	190
	iv. Attestation	192
	v. Understanding	196
	vi. Influence	199
	2. Ministry	201
	i. Gifts and graces	202
	ii. Extraordinary gifts	204
	iii. Ordinary gifts	208
8.	SACRAMENTS AND PRAYER	211
	1. Sacraments	211
	i. Baptism: initiation into covenant life	215
	ii. Lord’s Supper: covenant seal	220
	2. Prayer	224
	i. A covenant privilege	225
	(1) The matter of prayer	226
	(2) The manner of prayer	227
	ii. A Scriptural duty	228
9.	APOSTASY AND ITS PREVENTION	232
	1. The Danger of Apostasy	232
	i. Apostasy from gospel doctrine	238
	ii. Apostasy from gospel holiness	242
	iii. Apostasy from gospel worship	244
	2. Spiritual Mindedness the Preservative	248
	i. The objects of spiritual thoughts	250
	ii. The nature of spiritual mindedness	254
	iii. The development of spiritual mindedness	257
10.	PERSEVERANCE AND THE GOAL	262
	1. Perseverance	262
	2. The Goal	269
	i. Christian character	269
	ii. Eternal glory	275
11.	POSTSCRIPT	281
	INDEX 1 (Names and Subjects)	283
	INDEX 2 (Biblical References)	291