Reprobation and God's Sovereignty - by Peter Sammons (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Peter Sammons has provided for us what is undoubtedly the most thorough explanation and defense of the doctrine of predestination and reprobation, and I strongly commend it to you." --JOHN MACARTHUR, Grace Community Church

The doctrine of reprobation--that is, the eternal, unconditional decree of God for the non-elect--is frequently misconstrued in both pastoral and theological literature. In Reprobation and God's Sovereignty, Peter Sammons retrieves this oft-misunderstood doctrine, revealing its relationship to divine sovereignty. With Romans 9 as a guiding text, Sammons presents a thoroughly researched defense of reprobation as an essential part in a Reformed theology that magnifies God and encourages believers to trust in him.

Reprobation and God's Sovereignty clearly defines and demonstrates from Scripture the foundational terms and doctrines required for properly understanding reprobation, such as:

• God's justice
• Election
• Compatibilism
• Secondary Causality
• Preterition
• Predamnation

Understanding these theological ideas proves vital to answering life's all-important question, "Who is God?" Sammons shows how the doctrine of reprobation leads to a greater admiration for God, eliciting higher praise, reverence, and belief in him.

"God's intention in damnation is one of the darkest and yet most telling parts of Christian theology. Peter Sammons organizes, analyzes, and argues a thoughtful, traditional Reformed reading. The book itself is an invaluable resource as a compilation of historical interpretations of the doctrine." --MARK DEVER, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, 9Marks.org

"Peter Sammons carefully explores numerous passages of Scripture and brings clear thinking to plumb the depths of this awe-inspiring biblical doctrine so that we can better understand what the Bible means when it says, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I hated.' Anyone who wants a better understanding of these brief but powerful words would do well to read this book." --J. V. FESKO, Reformed Theological Seminary

Review Quotes

"A real contribution! That is what Peter Sammons has provided for us in Reprobation and God's Sovereignty. His helpful book is a biblical, theological, and historical exploration of one of the most challenging doctrines that the Church has ever wrestled with: the doctrine of reprobation. Sammons takes up this issue with pastoral sensitivity and a keen desire to be faithful to the teaching of the Bible. If you are a Christian who is interested in studying the questions related to God's sovereignty and predestination in more detail, look no further than this book. If you are a pastor or are preparing for pastoral ministry, then this book is a must-read."--Guy M. Richard, Ph.D. "President and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (Atlanta)" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Among evangelical Christians today, the doctrine of reprobation is arguably the least taught, least preached doctrine, and therefore the least understood doctrine in the Bible. The reasons for this are many: it is not a pleasant doctrine to contemplate; it is not a doctrine likely to win the approval of the unbelieving world; it is not a doctrine amenable to the man-centered, man-pleasing gospel that is prevalent in most evangelical churches today. For these reasons, Peter Sammons's book is needed and should be read and studied by many. Dr. Sammons's work on this neglected doctrine is thorough, eminently biblical, and rigorously logical. There may be those who disagree with the conclusions and arguments of this book, but because Dr. Sammons's work is so thorough and so well done they will not be able to simply dismiss those conclusions and arguments. For those who have never studied the doctrine of reprobation, this book will be an eye-opener and hopefully an encouragement to preach this truth compassionately and confidently."--Kevin D. Zuber "Professor of Theology, The Master's Seminary" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Election is selection and implies rejection. I often make this statement to my students when studying God's decrees. Peter Sammons here makes an important and detailed contribution to the conversation surrounding the frequently misunderstood doctrine of reprobation. Reprobation and God's Sovereignty is certainly worth your time. Especially important is his clear, wonderful, and important distancing of reprobation and hyper-Calvinism: 'Reprobation, when properly understood in the Reformed tradition, should not be associated with hyper-Calvinism. There are five aspects associated with reprobation that are distinct from hyper-Calvinism: 1) Reprobation does not hinder the free offer of the gospel to all men, since we do not know who the elect are. 2) Reprobation does not hinder the assurance of believers, since assurance is not based on understanding eternal decrees. 3) Reprobation is not symmetrical to election. 4) Reprobation does not teach that God has no benevolence toward the reprobate. 5) Reprobation does not deny common grace.'"--Sam Waldron "President, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"God's intention in damnation is one of the darkest and yet most telling parts of Christian theology. In this sweeping introduction to the Biblical and theological discussions surrounding God's eternal decree of reprobation, Peter Sammons organizes, analyzes and argues a thoughtful, traditional Reformed reading. The book itself is an invaluable resource as a compilation of historical interpretations of the doctrine. I commend this faithful study to the thoughtful reader's attention."--Mark Dever "Senior Pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church and President of 9Marks.org" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Peter Sammons faithfully explains what the Bible teaches about reprobation. He is tethered to Scripture, and he is historically informed."--Andy Naselli "Asociate professor of systematic theology and New Testament, Bethlehem College & Seminary" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"Peter Sammons shines the light of Scripture on the doctrine of reprobation to clear away misunderstanding and confusion. He carefully explores numerous passages of Scripture and brings clear thinking to plumb the depths of this awe-inspiring biblical doctrine so that we can better understand what the Bible means when it says, 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I hated.' Anyone who wants a better understanding of these brief but powerful words would do well to read this book."--J. V. Fesko "Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"The doctrine of reprobation is always under attack from those who would limit God's sovereignty by humanity's liberty. Reprobation is a difficult teaching, to be sure, but to reject it ultimately unravels the whole fabric of salvation by grace alone. Peter Sammons employs faithful biblical exegesis (especially of Romans 9), tried and true explanations of systematic theology, and careful logic to show that God is absolutely sovereign over salvation and damnation, yet people remain responsible for their moral choices. Though the arguments are deep, the aim is simple: from heaven to earth and even in hell itself, know that God is God, God is good, and all glory belongs to him."--Joel R. Beeke "President, Puritan Reformed Theoligical Seminary" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"This is undoubtedly the most thorough examination of the thorny and controversial doctrine of reprobation that exists. Sammons nearly exhausts the exegetical, and theological arguments for and against this doctrine. He presents a cogent argument for the classic Reformed position on reprobation spanning from Augustine to Calvin, Edwards, and Sproul. He leaves no stone unturned, answering common objections to the doctrine and showing how it affirms the meticulous sovereignty of God while exonerating him from moral culpability for the evil men do and will be judged for. Sammons demonstrates a mastery of the sources, both old and new, for the questions that arise, and writes in an accessible manner. He shows the implications the doctrine of reprobation has for the problem of evil. "Dr. Sammons' timely book on Reprobation weds pastoral care and theological insight to provide an excellent resource for the church today. Many prefer to remain silent on this issue, but Scripture does not. Accordingly, Dr. Sammons does not. I applaud Dr. Sammons for speaking where Scripture speaks--for not shrinking back from the beautiful truths of God's Word. He handles this sensitive topic with skill, precision, and grace."--Whitney Gamble-Smith, Ph.D. "Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at The Master's University" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"With a keen theological mind, Peter Sammons is able to analyze difficult doctrines and teach them with both clarity and confidence. This is precisely what he has done with the challenging truth of reprobation. In this book, this gifted author provides us with a comprehensive overview and detailed exposition of this highly-charged subject. You would do well to carefully read his arguments and honestly weigh your own position."--Steven J. Lawson "President, OnePassion Ministries" (1/12/2022 12:00:00 AM)