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Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Primer on election and Calvinism!
Review: "For those who need a clear, understandable and lucid definition of the Doctrines of Grace, better know as the Five points of Calvinism, this is it! Bianchi's theological training and experience as a journalist really come through! He is easy to understand, and his profound yet simple exposition of God's Word will make every "free willer" who is lauding Dave Hunt's abomination, What Love is This? cringe in embarrassment at their own position. Honestly, it is really hard to understand after reading this book how anybody in their right mind could be an Arminian. This is the best treatment of the subject I've ever read. The book was given to me by a friend...I just could not thank him enough!!!"
Rating: 
Summary: A Simple Intro. & Defense of Calvinism
Review: James White, author of The Potter's Freedom, states that Bianchi's book raises thematic issues rather than lists of texts. Although this is true, I would qualify it by saying that the book raises, and defends, Calvinistic themes. Bianchi's intent is to provide a simple, clear and consistent presentation and defense of the Reformed understanding of the Gospel without extensive exposition and stacking of "proof texts." This does not mean, however, that Bianchi doesn't utilize his own "proof texts" in an effort to support his Reformed interpretation of them. Although this is a good, simple introduction to some of the key doctrines of Reformed thought, there are better, more in-depth introductions that I'd recommend instead such as R.C. Sproul's "Chosen by God." There are also better Calvinistic defenses such as James White's "The Potter's Freedom" (which Bianchi suggests for further reading). As a non-Calvinist, however, I think Bianchi's book fails to address certain crucial issues like the divine rationale for establishing the so-called "total depravity" of ALL of Adam's descendants in the first place. He merely posits the doctrine, based on certain scriptures, and then argues for the merciful divine election of SOME based on it. This implies an unconditional divine reprobation of all those not elect in Christ. I can't tell whether Bianchi is a supralapsarian like, for example, R.C. Sproul, Jr. who, in his book "Almighty Over All," does provide a rationale for unconditional divine reprobation with, I might add, disturbing clarity. Personally, I think Sproul, Jr. is more consistent than many other Calvinists (including his dad) when it comes to the implications of Calvinism (such as the unconditional divine reprobation of some), although I fundamentally disagree with Calvinism in general because of its understanding of the biblical parallel between Adam and Christ in Romans 5. I think Calvinism does not do justice to the biblical parallel because it defines original sin as the total depravity of ALL in Adam which is then used to support the unconditional divine election of SOME in Christ. This, to me, supports the idea of unconditional divine reprobation and/or damnation. For an alternative, challenging attempt at understanding the biblical parallel between Adam and Christ (and the so-called "universalistic texts") than the one usually given by most Calvinists, Bianchi included, I recommend the books of Calvinist Neal Punt, a retired pastor in the Christian Reformed Church and a graduate from Calvin Theological Seminary. Although Punt's books didn't make a Calvinist out of me, he certainly contributed to my eventual renunciation of Arminianism with its "conditional" divine election of some based on God's foreknowledge. For additional insights, see my reviews of Punt's three books: "Unconditional Good News," "What's Good About the Good News?," and "So Also in Christ."
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