THE CROSS
The Pulpit of God’s Love
By Iain H. Murray. Banner of Truth. 40 pages. £1.75
ISBN 978-0-85151-974-6
In this edition of the Banner of Truth’s long-running booklets series, Iain Murray considers the impact on gospel preaching of the debate over particular or universal atonement.
He reminds us of the ways in which both have been taught from Scripture, and powerfully argues that through the cross we learn of a forgiveness that is consistent with holiness and justice — and that in Christ’s crucifixion God’s love and willingness to save is made known to all. There are some useful doctrinal reminders and pastoral encouragements.
In the second section he addresses particular and general love. However, it is here that we first become aware that this is an issue with no neat resolution. ‘The reality is that we are faced with truths that far outreach our understanding’, he writes.
This point is picked up in the second of Murray’s five conclusions, where he suggests it is not the preacher’s business to explain the unexplainable. Quite so. Unfortunately, one is left questioning the overall value of the booklet.
Murray is a fine, thorough biographer and writer on church history. The content of this booklet is actually extracted from a chapter of his work The Old Evangelicalism. And there is its weakness. Despite its strengths, it lacks the pace and direction one might expect to find in a 40-page booklet.
