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Determined to Believe

The Sovereignty of God, Faith and Human Responsibility
Amazon
  • Do you feel riddled with questions about faith?
  • Answering the tough problems of freedom and faith, this book is a thorough deep-dive into doubt
  • You’ll become assured and confident when discussing determinism

Determined to Believe is written for those who are interested in or even troubled by questions about God’s sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility.

John Lennox writes in the spirit of helping people to get to grips with the biblical treatment of this issue for themselves. In this comprehensive review of the topic of theological determinism, Lennox seeks firstly to define the problem, looking at the concepts of freedom, the different kinds of determinism, and the moral problems these pose. He then equips the reader with biblical teaching on the topic and explores the spectrum of theological opinion on it.

Following this Lennox delves deeper into the Gospels and then investigates what we can learn regarding determinism and responsibility from Paul’s discussion in Romans on God’s dealings with Israel. Finally Lennox tackles the issue of Christian assurance.

This nuanced and detailed study challenges some of the widely held assumptions in the area of theological determinism and brings a fresh perspective to the debate.

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A serious biblical and philosophical investigation of theological determinism: the idea that everything that happens has already been decided by God, including who will and won’t be saved.

This book was written for those who are interested in, or troubled by, questions about God’s sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility. Christian apologist John Lennox writes in the spirit of helping people understand the biblical treatment of these concepts.

In this mind-bending review of the topics of theological determinism, predestination, election, and foreknowledge, Lennox:

  • Defines the problem, considering the concept of freedom, the different kinds of determinism, and the moral issues these pose.
  • Explores the range of theological opinion and unpacks what the Bible—especially the gospels and Paul’s letter to the Romans—teaches about human and sovereign will.
  • Addresses the question of Christian assurance: how can I know if I have salvation?

This nuanced and detailed study challenges some of the widely held assumptions about theological determinism and brings a fresh perspective to the debate.

This book is for anyone who’s asked questions like:

  • Is my decision to believe or disbelieve in Jesus actually my decision?
  • Is it possible for a genuine believer to lose their salvation?
  • How much free will do I really have?

By the author of Seven Days that Divide the World and 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity, Determined to Believe? will launch your consciousness into a fresh understanding and appreciation of this important Christian debate and help you think both biblically and logically about the human condition.

Lennox is no fool. Nor does he rush in, though he bravely explores ground where angels may fear to tread. And the overall debate about freedom is an 'argument for the sake of heaven' that no Christian should duck -- because it bears on our view of the character of God, of human dignity, of moral responsibility, and therefore on our mission and public witness. Gracious, patient, tenacious, persistently biblical, and eschewing argument by labels, Lennox is a model of how to handle issues that are divisive but important. It is up to each of us to read, study, think, pray, and decid for ourselves. The heart, face, and voice of our faith are all at stake in the answers we give.

Os Guinness

Author of “Impossible People”

John Lennox is widely recognized as one of the top Christian intellectuals of our time. Yet he is also rightly admired for his uncanny ability to get right down to the basic issues in a discussion and to write about them with a simple clarity that still exemplifies depth and range of treatment. And, as one would expect, 'Determined to Believe?' is a model of these virtues. This is no ordinary rehash of old debates about Calvinism vs. Arminianism, God's sovereignty vs. free will and moral responsibility, and so on. In face, the real brilliance of the book lies in Lennox's insistence that we set aside old labels and try a fresh approach with new eyes to the topics related to the acceptance or non-acceptance of theological determinism. As a result, this is a treasure trove of clear, easy to understand biblical exegesis, helpful definitions of key terms like "foreknowledge" and "predestine", and coverage of theological determinism as it relates to the human condition, the nation of Israel and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and the assurance a believer may rightly claim regarding one's salvation. I highly recommend this refreshing and helpful book.

J.P. Moreland

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

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John serves as President of OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, a charity in England.

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