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CHAPTER TWO

             Any discussion of creation that is blind to the central teaching of all of the Scriptures, justification, is misleading.  That is the primary problem with this Chapter Two. 

            Once again, all quotations in this Chapter, like those within Chapter One, must be tested against the Scriptures themselves, or at least against the better translations of the original Scriptures. 

            This Chapter does not properly present the problem of the corruption of man’s entire human nature by sin.  The Scriptures can certainly be understood as the story of creation, then man’s fall into sin, and then God’s work of man’s salvation or re-creation in Christ, beginning with Genesis 3:15.  The entirety of Scripture is a revelation of God’s grace and therefore his free gift of salvation, including forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life, through faith, also freely given by God in the vicarious satisfaction of Christ Jesus.  Any understanding of new birth outside of the Person and work of Christ Jesus removes Him from His rightful place as the only One in whom a believer can boast. 

            On page 23, Warren states “God’s purpose took into account human error, and even sin.”  That is a complete disregard of man’s fundamental question, as discussed in the comments on the Introduction and slights the Only Answer to the true fundamental question, which is Christ Crucified.  God did not simply take “into account” man’s shortcomings, or the like, He directly confronted and defeated man’s total bondage to sin, Satan, and death. 

            Warren’s discussion concerning God’s love ignores the Scriptural definition of God’s grace, and the revelation of the relationship of the Persons of the Trinity.  The relationship between God the Father and God the Son always included the Son as the sole Mediator between God and man by and through the Son’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension. 

            In that man is corrupted by sin and therefore, in total bondage to sin, Satan and death, working to the parts of my human nature for any answer is working to darkness for an answer to darkness.  The Gospel empties me of me, in my sinfulness, that I might be filled with Christ Crucified, as set forth by Christ Himself in the first four Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-6).

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