BiblicalFoundationsBookAwardFewissuesaremorecentraltotheChristianfaiththanthenature,scopeandmeansofsalvation.Manyhavethoughtittobelargelyatransactionthatgetsonetoheaven.Inthisrivetingbook,N.T.WrightexplainsthatGod’ssalvationisradicallymorethanthis.AttheheartofmuchvigorousdebateonthistopicisthetermtheapostlePaulusesinseveralofhisletterstodescribewhathappenstothoseinChrist--justification.PaulusesthisdramaticimagefromthelawcourttodeclarethatChristiansareacquittedofthecosmicaccusationsagainstthem.ButjustificationgoesbeyondthisinPaul’swritingstoofferavisionofGod’sfutureforthewholeworldaswellasforhispeople.HereinoneplaceWrightnowoffersacomprehensiveaccountanddefenseofhisperspectiveonthiscrucialdoctrine.Withanewintroduction,heprovidesasweepingoverviewofthecentralpointsinthedebatebeforelaunchingintoathoroughexplanationofthekeytextsinPaul’swritings.Whilefullycognizantoftraditionandcontroversy,thefinalauthorityforhisconclusionsisthelettersofPaulthemselves.AlongthewayWrightrespondstocritics,suchasJohnPiper,whohavechallengedwhathascometobecalledtheNewPerspective.ForWright,whatPaulmeansbyjustificationisnothinglessthanGod’sunswervingcommitmenttothecovenantpromisehemadetoblessthewholeworldthroughAbrahamandhisfamily.Thisirenicresponseisanimportantcontributionforthoseonbothsidesofthedebate--andthosestillinbetween--toconsider.Whetheryou’reafanofWright’sworkorhavereadhiscriticsandwouldliketoknowtheothersideofthestory,hereisachancetointeractwithWright’sviewsontheissuesatstakeandformyourownconclusions.
