RESURRECTION AND REDEMPTION

Description

RICHARD B GAFFING

A study of the structure of Paul’s theology of Jesus’ resurrection as that doctrine forms the center of Paul’s total theology.

“This is a difficult book, but worth ploughing through. Gaffin’s main thesis is that many Reformed treatments of soteriology have not given sufficient attention to Paul’s emphasis on the resurrection of Christ.
Christ is the one who has accomplished redemption in his death and resurrection. His accomplishments include justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification. These are applied to all who are “in Christ” – united to him by faith.

Here’s one key conclusion:

“Not justification by faith but union with the resurrected Christ by faith (of which union, to be sure, the justifying aspect stands out perhaps most prominently) is the central motif of Paul’s applied soteriology.”

The benefit of this thoughtful book is its careful exegesis of a lot of Pauline texts. Gaffin makes lots of connections that I had not seen before. His conclusions retain the monergism of traditional Reformed theology, while reconfiguring some elements around the central motiffs of the resurrection of Christ and our union with him. I found it very insightful. Definitely worth reading.” —Brian G Hedges, Pastor for Fulkerson Park Baptist Church in Niles, Michigan & author of Christ Formed in You: The Power of the Gospel for Personal Change, Licensed to Kill: A Field Manual for Mortifying Sin and Active Spirituality: Grace and Effort in the Christian Life