Grace Unknown: The Heart of Reformed Theology
Overview
“We believers must ask ourselves why we have come to faith while many of our friends have not. Did we exercise faith in Christ because we are more intelligent than they are?” asks R. C. Sproul in Grace Unknown. “Did we respond to the gospel positively because we are better or more virtuous?” “We all know the answers to these questions,” continues Sproul. “I cannot adequately explain why I came to faith in Christ and some of my friends did not. I can only look to the glory of God’s grace toward me, a grace I did not deserve then and do not deserve now.” In response to this grace, we can do no better than sing the familiar hymn by Isaac Watts that begins like this: Alas! And did my Savior bleed? And did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred head For such a worm as I? Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Top Highlights
“The subject matter of theology proper is God; the subject matter of religion is man.” (Page 11)
“To state it more simply, the study of religion is chiefly the study of a certain kind of human behavior, be it under the rubric of anthropology, sociology, or psychology. The study of theology, on the other hand, is the study of God. Religion is anthropocentric; theology is theocentric. The difference between religion and theology is ultimately the difference between God and man—hardly a small difference.” (Page 11)
“Reformed theology applies the doctrine of God relentlessly to all other doctrines, making it the chief control factor in all theology.” (Page 26)
“There is a reason for every choice we make. In a narrow sense every choice we make is determined” (Page 132)
“Reformed theology is first and foremost theocentric rather than anthropocentric. That is, it is God-centered rather than man-centered.” (Page 25)
- Title: Grace Unknown: The Heart of Reformed Theology
- Author: R. C. Sproul
- Edition: electronic ed.
- Publisher: Baker
- Print Publication Date: 1997
- Logos Release Date: 2000
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Reformed Church › Doctrines; Theology, doctrinal › Popular works
- ISBNs: 9780801011214, 0801011213
- Resource ID: LLS:42.110.46
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-28T20:20:13Z
R. C. Sproul (1939– 2017) was a respected teacher, theologian, pastor. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries where he served as executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Sproul held degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary, Free University of Amsterdam, and Whitefield Theological Seminary. He taught at several colleges and seminaries including Reformed Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary. He served as senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, in Sanford, Florida. Sproul’s teaching can be heard daily on the ‘Renewing Your Mind’ radio broadcast which plays in over 40 countries.
Sproul wrote over 70 books and articles including the classic The Holiness of God and several theological articles in Tabletalk magazine.
