This blog is devoted to discussing the pursuit of eternal life.
Discussion and participation by readers is desired,
but contributions should correlate to the book,
The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology
of Perseverance & Assurance

by
Thomas R. Schreiner
& Ardel B. Caneday



Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Rewards, Randy Alcorn Style

In May, Tim asked if I would offer a response to Randy Alcorn's view of "rewards." I fully intended to respond, but in the meantime, here is a good source for a critique of Alcorn's view by Steve Lehrer. Tim himself pointed me to it. It is in five parts so far. It looks like more is to come. As Steve publishes new entries, I will try to include the new links here, if I remember.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

You may locate all contributions to this series here. (HT: IDS)

3 comments:

abcaneday said...

IDS,

Thanks for the link, and thanks for the helpful studies.

Nick Nowalk said...

I saw Craig Blomberg has an essay entitled "Degrees of Reward in the Kingdom of Heaven?" in JETS, in 1992. Anybody read it?

abcaneday said...

Nick,

I read Craig Blomberg's essay. It is helpful. Here is the final statement of his essay: May all evangelicals recover this precious legacy of the Protestant Reformation and do away with the depressing and damaging notion of eternal degrees of rewards in heaven once and for all.

The "legacy of the Protestant Reformation" of which Blomberg speaks is the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, that saving faith does over time lead to visible transformations in lifestyle and to growth in holiness. . . . Without such evidence that God's Spirit has truly taken up residence and begun to work within a person, Biblical Christianity is absent.