Book Review: Grace Defined and Defended by Kevin DeYoung

Grace is God's unmerited favor meaning that we cannot do anything to earn it. Some have even used the acrostic, God Riches At Christ's Expense, to explain grace. Calvinists believe in the doctrines of grace which is summarized by the acrostic TULIP, which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Kevin DeYoung says the TULIP is not an adequate summary of the Calvinism nor is a history summary. In his latest book, Grace Defined and Defended, DeYoung uses the Canons of Dort to explain what Grace really is.

The Canons of Dort is a response to the five points of Arminianism, which is Human Free Will, Conditional Election, Universal Atonement, Resistable Grace, and Fall from Grace. DeYoung writes:

The Canons of Dort, in rejecting the five points of Arminianism, outlined five points of their own. The first concerned divine election and reprobation; the second was on Christ’s death and human redemption through it; the third and fourth points were on human corruption and how we convert to God; and a final point focused on the perseverance of the saints. The canons do not pretend to explain everything about Reformed theology, let alone about the entire Bible. Dort simply sought to declare what was “in agreement with the Word of God and accepted till now in the Reformed churches” concerning “Divine Predestination.” And in this they are worthy to be commemorated and (more importantly) deserving of careful study and consideration.

In the book, DeYoung, first explains what Predestination is all about based on the Canons of Dort. We all know predestination is God's choosing those to be saved based on His grace, not our works. Election is an uncontested proclamation because it is given by God and no one else. Next, DeYoung tackles the atonement. Yes, he does go out of order on TULIP, but the point of this book is not to go through TULIP but grace, which is what TULIP and the Canons of Dort teach.

Next, DeYoung looks at our condition. We cannot come to God on our own. We need help. That is what the cross is all about. The grace of God is what calls us to renounce ungodliness and embrace what God has done through the cross of Christ. Our conversion is where we embrace Christ and there is evidence of it through regeneration. Finally, DeYoung looks at the perseverance of the saints to which God will complete the work in us till the end where we see Him face-to-face.

Another grace book by Kevin DeYoung as he tackles grace. If you want to know more about the grace of God as taught by the Canons of Dort, which celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, I highly recommend this book.

Thanks Crossway for letting me review this book.