Books Finished in 2023 (In Order Finished) Inwoo Lee
1 Be Renewed: A Theology of Personal Renewal by Willem Van Vlastuin
“Even though we encounter carnality in believers and conversely meet unbelievers with a more appealing character, it does not mean that the renewal of the Spirit is powerless. If our character had not been renewed by the Holy Spirit, it would have been much worse off than it now is under his sanctifying influence.” (234)
2 On Temptation by John Owen
Excellent
3 On the Nature, Power, Deceit and Prevalence of Indwelling Sin in Believers by John Owen
I had some thoughts on Owen’s first three works in volume 6 (Temptation and Sin) that have been brewing in my mind. I’m a Bible teacher here in the Greater Seoul area to middle and high school students, and so I believe that this subject is an important one to develop their Christian framework and answer their questions, and Owen is very helpful here; in fact to my surprise, the textbooks that we use at this school have Owen quotes scattered throughout on temptation and mortification. I believe in the theological circles, without sounding to strong about it, that I am apart of in the West see Owen’s volume 6 as something that maybe devoid of grace and the love of God, which could give the impression that Owen’s volume 6 is legalistic. Theologians could get the idea that when reading Owen one should start with volume 2 on the Communion with God and then move onto the volume 6. Yet, although volume 2 is wonderful in its own right, it would not hurt the Christian if he began with volume 6. Some readers of volume 6 also could get the wrong impression that Owen’s emphasis provides other motivations in the mortification of indwelling sin other than the love of God (due to the fear of antinomianism), this is true, yet the knowledge of God, the love of God and the Gospel of the full forgiveness of all sins of the elect is vital and crucially and Biblically foundational for the motivation of the mortification of indwelling sin in believers—descriptively speaking—is found saturated in Owen’s first three works. Owen makes this clear when he wrote, “When the mind is fully possessed with, and cast habitually and firmly into, the mould of the notion and doctrine of gospel truth about the full and free forgiveness of all sins in the blood of Christ, then to be able to keep the heart always in a deep, humbling sense of sin, abhorrency of it, and self-abasement for it, is a great effect of gospel wisdom and grace.” (6:219; see also, 6:133–34, 161-62, 199, 222–23, 240, 274-75, 277, 290, 292–93; 1:132 accented especially in 6:313-322). Owen taps into the foundational source in fighting and ridding temptation, and the deceitfulness of sin (6:211-12, 254) as a believer which is found in the heart (which is also the mind, 6:170). This is why Owen tells the believer to “store the heart [and mind] with a sense of the love of God in Christ…” (6:134, 225), and “Fill your affections with the cross of Christ that there may be no room for sin.” (6:251). This connects directly to the affections and the love that the Christian has for God because he has been loved first by God (6:199–200). And I would argue the love, affections, the Christian that is in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit (6:185; 6:317) has for Christ drives the Christian ways of prayer (6:227), knowing himself well and his weaknesses (6:131-32) in order to distance himself from certain occasions and places (6:133) as Joseph asked, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9, see 6:274-75). The Christian’s love for Christ (John 14:15; 1:139, 141) because God was loved him first is in large part is the main basis for mortification and a big part in canceling out any thought of antinomianism (being Gospel driven in the sense of endeavoring the soul to mortification and obedience not lawlessness, 6:292–93), but for mortification in focusing on the inner-life of the Christian weakening the parts of the heart (at the root) that are producing those sins. I would argue that Owen in terms of the Christian’s motivations for the mortification of the indwelling sin in the believer is in large part gospel (6:219) and Holy Spirit “driven.” (6:185)
4 Christologia, Or, A Declaration Of The Glorious Mystery Of The Person Of Christ, God And Man by John Owen
Classic
5 Lament for a Father: The Journey to Understanding and Forgiveness by Marvin Olasky
Great
6 The Reason of Faith by John Owen
Illuminating
7 Holy Bible: ESV Bible
8 Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ, in his Person, Office, and Grace by John Owen
Classic
9 The Two Short Catechisms by John Owen
Great
10 Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ Part 2 by John Owen
Excellent
11 The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God by John Owen
Illuminating
12 A Defense of Justification by Faith Alone by Theodore Beza
Classic
13 The Free Justification of Man the Sinner before God by Amandus Polanus
Classic
14 The Harmony of Paul and James on the Article of Justification by Francis Turretin
Classic
15 The forgiveness of sin: A practical exposition of Psalm 130 by John Owen
Excellent!
16 Gospel Grounds and Evidences of the Faith of God’s Elect by John Owen
I never cried while reading a theology work. But did for the first time with this work. Owen, 5:451–452. Very deep. Heart piercing.
17 Impossible Christianity: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time by Kevin DeYoung
A breath of fresh air
18 Reformed Scholasticism:
Recovering the Tools of Reformed Theology by Ryan M. McGraw
Valuable tips into studying Latin, also, has some wonderful remarks on further theological studies.
19 Combat between Christ and the Devil Matthew 4:1-11 by William Perkins
A classic from the father of the Puritans.
20 The Lord’s Supper and the “Popish Mass”: A Study of Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 80 by Cornelis P. Venema
Venema does a helpful service to the church regarding this important issue in regards to Christ being sacrificed at the mass in which some theologians were attempting to remove some statements of the Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 80. This cannot be done since today the Roman Catholic Church officially holds in their official teaching of Christ’s sacrifice at the mass as being propitiatory whether if the view of the mass is a continuation of Christ sacrifice or a repetition. Here, question HC 80 still rings true.
21 Trinitarian Dogmatics: Exploring the Grammar of the Christian Doctrine of God by D. Glenn Butner Jr.
My review is found on Reading Religion: https://readingreligion.org/9781540962232/trinitarian-dogmatics/
22 The Covenant of Redemption: Origins, Development, and Reception by J.V. Fesko
Below is a comment in appreciation for the author and not a book review.
I agree with you brother. Beyond Calvin, his work on the Westminster Standards (hopefully there will be more editions and put in a hardback), his articles are super helpful as well. Fesko as a scholar is top notch. He is a massive reader and thinker, he’s very well read, strong on all the theological disciplines (BT, ST, HT, etc) in which he incorporates into his writings in a orderly, clear, careful, concise, precise, and pastoral way. He’s honest in his writings—to modify a line from a ditty, he kicks the truth to adults all the way down to the youth. He puts things together very well historically and theologically. He has a great way of engaging and helping the reader to navigate prior to current discussions. He writes “for” the reader. I took a few of his classes in seminary and his lectures are the same way. Fesko as a scholar, I’m sure he’s far, far from perfect as with all theologians we could quibble here and there. In my opinion he’s one of the best Reformed scholars today. And he’s an ordinary godly churchman, he writes for the church and he is clear in his position and not shaky on the article of the standing or falling church and strong on the Reformed confessions.
23 Justification Reconsidered: Rethinking A Pauline Theme by Stephen Westerholm
Helpful book that goes contra the NPP. Some have stated that the NPP is no longer making the headlines, yet the false teaching of the NPP is in the air and lingering on the ground level. His exegesis of Galatians was right on! So this is a much needed read. I gave it four stars wishing that the author would make more explicit in its pages the perfect active obedience of the sinless Christ imputed to the sinner.
24 A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer by John Owen
Illuminating. Owen here in this work is not. fan of written prayers. He makes a case. Owen’s historical context, I think, would bring more understanding in the case he makes.
25 The Spirit as a comforter by John Owen
Very illuminating from the prince of the Puritans.
26 The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods by Antonin Sertillanges
There are lines in the book that I would not subscribe to, yet overall the book is worth a read through, many nuggets of gold for those pursuing further studies in academia.
iustitia aliena 
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