Dr. John Gilmore

Sure Enough: a History of the Doctrine of Salvation--assurance for Christian Leaders Dr. John Gilmore

Writings on salvation-assurance are usually short devotionals or sermonic developments. The Christian public wants and deserves more than that. What about in-depth, full range discussions of all positions? Why hasn't that been considered and attempted? Sure Enough remedies that problem. It is a highly readable, fascinating, factual, historical survey of vital issues related to how one knows one has a saving relationship with God. It traces views from the philosophical far left to the theological far right. While Holy Scripture is taken as our prime source book on all theological questions, church history, Christian biography, and denominational creeds provide examples and instances of how the Scriptures have been interpreted on certitude of salvation. Sure Enough's uniqueness is it's focus on a history of the doctrine of salvation assurance across a variety of traditions. Cursory references to only one tradition leaves the Christian reader poorly informed. Sure Enough fills the void of books that mute or omit contributions from divergent traditions. In addition, ideas on Salvation-Assurance need a connection with historic/human faces. Centuries of reflection surround certitudo salutis. Sure Enough deals with people as well as principles, movements as well as theories. Although historical in approach, the book is devotional in impact. It stimulates thinking, stretches the mind, and expands one's adoration of God. Warren Wiersbe said: "There is a need for this book. Most of the 'assurance' and 'perseverance' literature these days lacks the historical context Sure Enough provides and ends up either avoiding the problems or proof-texting itself into simplistic pop theology. I like the balance it sustains, plus the irenic spirit." Dr. John Gilmore leads Seminars for Curious Christians on the subjects of his 7 books. (Write for brochures.) He is Academic Dean and Adj. Prof. Of Theology at the WellSpring School of Theology