As my new book is now published and being read, it has been very gratifying to receive feedback from people telling me how helpful the material has been. Obviously an author writes for the purpose of being read and my prayer is that if God so wills, the book will be a useful tool in the Master’s hands to allow many of His precious saints to gain more of an understanding of the depth, riches and power of God’s measureless grace in Christ.

Pastor Earl Crecelius has written the following as a review:

Well this post isn’t from my Nook, but it’s from a book I’ve been reading on my Nook: Twelve What Abouts: Answering Common Objections Concerning God’s Sovereignty in Election, by John Samson. He has many quotes from other authors which are memorable, such as this from Spurgeon: Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. Or this from A. A. Hodge, in response to the objection that if salvation is by God’s election alone, evangelism is useless:

If God has eternally decreed that you should live, what is the use of your breathing? If God has eternally decreed that you should talk, what is the use of your opening your mouth? If God has eternally decreed that you should reap a crop, what is the use of your sowing the seed? If God has eternally decreed that your stomach contain food, what is the use of your eating?

I do enjoy a snappy theologian! But Samson himself has some good stuff to say. Here’s how he characterizes the “pendulum swing” of an over emphasis on the wrath of God to an over emphasis on the love of God:

Though at one stage in Church history, the Church over-emphasized the wrath and judgment of God…yet now the pendulum has fully swung the other way and all that many people have ever heard about is a very shallow and unbiblical presentation of the love of God. I remember some time ago reading through the book of Acts taking special notice of the preaching of the Apostles. What was it that they preached? What did they emphasize? What was the sum and substance of the Apostles’ preaching? I was more than shocked when this process revealed that…now wait for it…the Apostles never mentioned the love of God…not even once. This is not to say that God doesn’t love people. Far from it. But it was quite a shock to my thinking to realize that the love of God was not in view, especially as it is the “only” thing in view of much of the Church world today.

The Twelve Objections Samson deals with are:

1.What about the love of God?
2.What about free will?
3.What about God’s foreknowledge?
4.What about John 3:16?
5.What about 2 Peter 3:9?
6.What about 1 Timothy 2:4?
7.What about Matthew 23:37?
8.What about 1 Timothy 4:10?
9.What about John 12:32?
10.What about Reprobation
11.What about lost loved ones?
12.What about prayer and evangelism?

His answers to these “what abouts” are fairly brief but quite Biblical. Easy to read, it will challenge your mind to think. You can buy it through Amazon or Monergism.

The paperback version of the book can now be preordered at the link to the right hand side of this page, and is due to be published by the end of February.

“Sometimes a single misapprehension or sticky question stands in the way of an honest believer’s examination of the doctrines of grace. John Samson answers those questions with a pastoral heart, yet with biblical fidelity.” – Dr. James White

“My friend John Samson has written a very valuable (and inexpensive) book called Twelve What Abouts: Answering Common Objections Concerning God’s Sovereignty in Election. The title is self explanatory… John answers the objections that many have regarding the Calvinistic doctrine of election such as ‘what about God’s love?’ and various passages that opponents of the doctrine use to attempt to disprove it. I’ve dialoged with John quite a bit and he’s a genuinely kind and gracious man, (even when we disagree) and those attributes come out in the way this book is composed and the arguments are presented. The book is written in an irenic and conversational manner without the heavy and dry attitude and terminology that usually accompanies such volumes. If you’re interested in, or have questions about the doctrines of grace in general and the doctrine of election in particular, I highly commend this book to you.” – Michael Newnham

“Whether you are new to the doctrines of grace or simply seeking greater clarity on the sovereign grace of God in salvation, this book will be beneficial. In ‘Twelve What Abouts’, John tackles common objections regarding the doctrine of election in a concise and biblical way. His charitable spirit coupled with his broad based biblical knowledge make for a joyful learning experience. As someone who teaches the doctrines of grace to the women at our church, I’ve turned to Samson’s teachings multiple times. Do yourself a favor and add this little gem to your library — it will be one of the best investments you’ve ever made!” – Christina Langella

“There is a new book out by a Pastor friend of mine named John Samson called Twelve What Abouts: Answering Common Objections Concerning God’s Sovereignty in Election. Now I don’t review a lot of books here, only the books that I have read and thought others can benefit from. The mature Christian reader who may be a Calvinist or Arminian might be asking themselves, “Why do I need to read another book on this topic when there are many out there that I have already read, and so many that I haven’t”? Likewise there might be others that feel they don’t understand a lot of the deep teachings of the Bible and shy away from what they see as complicated issues. Still others might say that this issue is not important in my walk with God and I will leave topics like this to the Theologians to fight over. Finally, you might just be someone who goes to church on Sunday and takes what is said on issues like these and doesn’t question it, or sadly, maybe you go to church and topics like this are not even brought up. Well if this fits you, or if there are other reason why you think you don’t want to read a book on this topic such as you don’t have time etc. I encourage you to pick this one up and read it. Let me tell you a little about the book…” here. – Larry Londy

Larry Londy at the Christian Thinker blog has written a short review of my new book. You might find it to be an interesting read. He writes:

There is a new book out by a Pastor friend of mine named John Samson called Twelve What Abouts: Answering Common Objections Concerning God’s Sovereignty in Election. Now I don’t review a lot of books here, only the books that I have read and thought others can benefit from. The mature Christian reader who may be a Calvinist or Arminian might be asking themselves, “Why do I need to read another book on this topic when there are many out there that I have already read, and so many that I haven’t”? Likewise there might be others that feel they don’t understand a lot of the deep teachings of the Bible and shy away from what they see as complicated issues. Still others might say that this issue is not important in my walk with God and I will leave topics like this to the Theologians to fight over. Finally, you might just be someone who goes to church on Sunday and takes what is said on issues like these and doesn’t question it, or sadly, maybe you go to church and topics like this are not even brought up. Well if this fits you, or if there are other reason why you think you don’t want to read a book on this topic such as you don’t have time etc. I encourage you to pick this one up and read it.

Let me tell you a little about the book… here.

Since the new book was published in an eBook format, many have asked if it would ever be published in a paperback format. I did not know the answer to that question until two days ago, when I was approached by the owner of a large Christian book publishing company who read the book and is very excited to publish it in paperback form. He wishes for it to be a featured resource at the Together for the Gospel Conference in April.

It is now available for pre-order in paperback and will ship out as soon as it is published (an expected date being late February, 2012).

It was very encouraging to then learn that a gentleman named Randy, in hearing this, immediately placed an order for 40 books, as he wants to make them available to the students in his Bible class.

So the book is now available in two formats: in eBook from monergismbooks here and in paperback (pre-order) from Solid Ground Christian Books here.

Just received this encouraging feedback on the book: “Highly recommend. Mr. Samson gets right to the point in a very well organized book. It seemed that every time a question would pop into my head, I would turn the page and the answer to my question was waiting for me. I have recommended it to a number of my Arminian friends, but they are very resistant. I can identify with that because I know from past experience (as a libertarian free-will believer) I was predisposed to reject Calvinism. But what freedom is found when the blinders come off and the truth slaps you in the face, I pray that this book would get into the hands, then the hearts and minds of people everywhere.”

I have been greatly encouraged by the feedback I’ve received so far on my new book. People are already asking me what my NEXT book will be about.

Here are three comments:

“I purchased and have read your new eBook. I was greatly benefited from its clear teaching. Thanks!” – Dan

“This is a must read. Clear, concise and most importantly, biblical. Tradition is a very dangerous thing when clung to. It is so easy to fall into humanism…. this book gets you back on focus if your mind begins to wander from the Sola’s.” – Dennis

The book is now available for purchase at Amazon. I am told that written reviews make or break a new published work. Therefore, may I ask that IF you have read the book and were blessed by it, would you do me a BIG FAVOR and write a short review at amazon.com? That would be so helpful!! Here’s the link.

Thanks so much.
John

The long awaited eBook is now published and available. My prayer is that God will use this to change many hearts and minds and cause His people to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of His all conquering grace.

Full details can be found here.

With my new book “Twelve What Abouts – Answering Common Objections Concerning God’s Sovereignty in Election” due to be published in early January, 2012, I thought it would be helpful to provide something of a window as to my purpose in writing it. Here’s an introductory chapter entitled “A Word to the Reader”:

Question: WHY THIS BOOK?
Answer: For the glory of God

Question: WHO IS THIS BOOK WRITTEN FOR?
Answer: Christians who believe the Bible is the word of God and who wish to gain a biblical understanding of God’s electing grace in Christ.

Question: WHO WILL GAIN MOST FROM THE BOOK?
Answer: Those who are willing to test and examine their traditions and hold them up to the light of Scripture, the sole infallible rule of faith for the people of God.

This is not an easy process at times, more for emotional rather than intellectual reasons. Many of us have been told things by highly respected people in our lives (such as the person who led us to Christ, or a revered pastor or Bible teacher, or a father or mother in the faith) which, upon analysis, may not in fact be true. Sometimes, to actually test such statements can feel like an act of betrayal on our part. Yet, it is vital for all who desire to be led by the Spirit of truth to yield to His leading rather than maintain an emotional allegiance to what many call “theological love lines.”

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