Old Evangelicalism: Old Truth for a New Awakening (Iain H. Murray)

Description

Sin, regeneration, justification continues by Christ's righteousness, the cross, and the love of God, assurance of salvation – these are the truths that once thrilled churches and changed nations. Yet, where evangelicalism to affirm these truths, without such results, it is often assumed that she must have needs that cannot be met without something new.

These addresses by Iain Murray challenge that mindset. While the Bible not history is the textbook in these pages, Murray draws on the best authors of the old evangelicalism to confirm what a glorious message the gospel is.

Endorsements

'This is a good book, and the truths it proclaims are urgently needed for our day when Evangelicalism is in a state of theological free fall and utterly unsure of its identity. Here, we have for us what that identity looked like in the past so as to guide readers into biblical living in the present.' — MICHAEL A. G. HAYKIN

'It is always very profitable to read any book by Iain Murray. This one is no exception. Every minister or Christian worker should read everything he has ever written. Accordingly, I could wish that every preacher, pastor, missionary, and Christian worker could have [Old Evangelicalism] placed in their hands.' — MACK TOMLINSON

Table of Contents

Preface xi

1. PREACHING AND AWAKENING: FACING THE

MAIN PROBLEM IN EVANGELISM

1. No One Will Become Concerned about Himself until

He Learns about God 8

Under Conviction Individuals Commonly Endeavor a Change of Behavior 9

By the Law Men Learn Their Helplessness 11

The Initial Need in Evangelism Is Not to Win an Acceptance for Christ 15

Regeneration and Conviction 18

Conclusions: 1. The Case Demonstrated by History 24

2. What Preachers Need 28

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

John Brown of Wamphray: What Preparation Is Not and What It Is 33

Thomas Scott: The Offense of the Cross Ceasing 35

Alexander Whyte: Preaching to the Conscience 36

D. M. Lloyd-Jones: The Law 37

 2. SPURGEON AND TRUE CONVERSION 39

Conversion, Profound and Mysterious 42

Where Conversion Has to Begin 46

How the Law Came to Be Put Aside 49

Why Law Preaching? 52

What is Regeneration? 54

Preaching for Conversion 60

Conclusions: 1. True gospel preaching is multi-faceted 64

2. When there is a wrong conversion model a sense of sin and the fear of God disappear 65

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

D. M. Lloyd-Jones: Evangelism and Conviction of Sin 69

A. W Tozer: ‘Conversion’ without Regeneration 70

3. ‘CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ – GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION 71

The Importance of the Doctrine 73

All Mankind in Darkness 76

Why ‘the Righteousness of Christ’ is Good News 82

Imputation – the Old Testament Gospel 86

Conclusions: 1. The danger of modifying the doctrine 89

2. Justification not to be preached alone 90

3. The doctrine always in need of recovery 92

4. Justification opposes man’s root sin 94

5. The solution to contemporary weakness 95

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

George Herbert: Judgment 97

John Bunyan: My Righteousness in Heaven 97

Charles Simeon: Conversion Testimony 98

Martin Boos: Words He Never Forgot 99

Frances Ridley Havergal: Personal Testimony of 1864 99

 4. THE CROSS – THE PULPIT OF GOD’S LOVE 101

Two Truths 106

At Calvary We Learn of Forgiveness Consistent with Holiness and Justice 108

By Christ Crucified the Love of God Is to Be Made Known to All People 110

Particular Love and General Love 115

Conclusions: 1. Not all truth is equally important 123

2. The unexplainable not to be ‘explained’ 124

3. The practical, not the theoretical, is Paramount 125

4. Care needed in controversy 127

5. The priority of love 127

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

John Calvin: Gospel Preaching 131

Thomas Chalmers: God Is Love 131

William Nevins: The Extent of the Atonement 132

John Bonar: The Universal Offer and the Compassion of God 132

 5. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JOHN WESLEY? 135

Wesley Is a Necessary Reminder of How Upbringing and Education Prejudice Our Minds 139

Wesley Has Something to Teach Us on the Relationship between Zeal for the Gospel and Church Government, Procedures and Practices 143

In Wesley and Methodism We Are Taught that Persuasion of the Love of God for Men Makes Churches Truly Evangelistic 151

A Parallel Witness from Scotland 158

Wesley Challenges Us on the Focus of Our Doctrine of Sanctification 162

 6. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION 167

The Truth and Usefulness of Assurance 170

The Holy Spirit and Assurance 172

The Twofold Basis of Assurance 175

‘Legalism’ 179

A Third Way to Assurance? 181

Unbalanced Teaching 190

Conclusions: 1. Assurance and feelings 194

2. The non-Christian has no right to assurance 195

3. Assurance and service for Christ 196

4. The importance of assurance 198

CHRISTIAN UNITY AND CHURCH UNITY 201

Denominations and Unity 204

When Church and Denomination Are Confused 207

The Unity That Comes First 210

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

John Owen of Thrussington: Uniformity and Unity 215

William Gibson: Unity and the Holy Spirit 215

Index 217

Product Details

Title: Old Evangelicalism: Old Truth for a New Awakening 

Author: Iain H. Murray

Publisher: Banner of Truth

Pages: 226

Binding: Cloth-bound

Size: 22.3 x 14.6 x 2.0 cm

ISBN: 9780851519012