THEOLOGY

If you are looking for something a bit more academic, Themelios is for you. It is a journal for Christian theological academics to discuss a whole host of topics in articles and book reviews.

When the New Testament describes what it means to be a Christian, it uses a phrase that is everywhere in Paul's letters but almost nowhere in our churches. Overwhelmingly, when the Bible wants to describe being a Christian, it says that we are in Christ.

But what does it mean to be in Christ? And how does this important biblical idea help us understand what God has done for us through Jesus, and what it means to be a Christian?

This short book by Rory Shiner sparkles with clarity, wit and biblical wisdom on this vital and much-neglected topic.

This book sets out in short compass what seems to me to be the permanent essentials of Christianity, viewed as both a belief system and a way of life ... Theology is for doxology and devotion - that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness. It should therefore be presented in a way that brings awareness of the divine presence. Theology is at its healthiest when it is consciously under the eye of God of whom it speaks, and when it is singing to his glory.' - J. I Packer Packer's classic summary covers nearly one hundred subjects, from a Reformed perspective. Brief, easy-to-understand chapters offer precise descriptions without sacrificing depth. The four main sections present God revealed as Creator, Redeemer, Lord of grace, and Lord of destiny.

At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being.
That is precisely what makes this doctrine so difficult. The only aspect of God's character the world still believes in is His love. His holiness, His sovereignty, His wrath are often rejected as being incompatible with a "loving" God. Because pop culture has so distorted and secularized God's love, many Christians have lost a biblical understanding of it and, in turn, lost a vital means to knowing who God is.

The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D. A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Carson blends his discourse with discussion of how God's sovereignty and holiness complete the biblical picture of who He is and how He loves.
In doing away with trivialities and cliches, this work gets to the heart of this all-important doctrine from an unflinching evangelical perspective. Yet it does so without losing its personal emphasis: for in understanding more of the comprehensive nature of God's love as declared in His Word, you will come to understand God and His unending love for you more completely.

An influential thinker in the evangelical world for the past half century, Peter Jensen has trained a generation of pastors and theologians for gospel ministry and Christian leadership across the globe. Now, for the first time, the essence of Dr Jensen’s theological approach has been distilled into a single volume.
Broken into 27 accessible chapters and punctuated with key concepts, discussion questions, and quotes from great cultural and theological works, this introduction to Christian doctrine is concise and engaging enough to be read in full, while being rich and deep enough to stretch even the most enquiring Christian mind. The Life of Faith is sure to become an indispensable resource for scholars, pastors, lay leaders and theological students alike.
“The chief aim of this book is to summarize what the Bible teaches (its ‘doctrine’) about the great topics it contains. Doctrine seeks to extend our knowledge of the Bible and help us to understand it fully and accurately. It is an essential method of reading and applying the Bible … My prayer for us all is that we will begin and end with the fear of the Lord that leads to wisdom.”—Peter Jensen