In My Place Condemned He Stood, by J.I. Packer & Mark Dever

Several Christian Scholars got together and were talking about how to write a book on the Gospel that would be a good primer for the laity of the church.  As they discussed how to go about writing the work they realized that the material had actually already been written and presented in several other places.

Each of the men realized that J.I. Packer had done a great defense of the Gospel in several articles and lectures that he had given at other times.  Also Mark Dever had an article he had presented that fit well with the flow of what they felt should be presented.

So they contacted J.I. Packer and asked him to submit his articles and do any revamping that he felt necessary.  He agreed and those three articles appear in this work along with an article from Mark Dever.

The main emphasis for this work is to “offer an aid and encouragement to Christians who want more deeply to understand the nature and accomplishments of Jesus’ death and thus to be lost in wonder, love, and praise to the gracious Father who gave and delivered up his only begotten Son on our behalf, and to the Son who loved us and gave himself for us, by the Holy Spirit, who alone enables us to say truly, “Jesus is Lord.”

Through these articles you will learn the difference between expiation and propitiation.  You will discover excellent discussions on why “Penal Substitution” is a necessary issue for the Christian to understand and believe in.

Further there is a wonderful article that will deal with the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism an why it is important for you to understand those differences and see how each of them relates to the Gospel message of the Bible.

Finally, the Gospel message will be expressed in the most Biblical of manners so that there is no equivocation on what The Gospel Is!

Then at the end of the book there are two chapters presented by Ligon Duncan on, “Books on the Cross of Christ,” and an “Annotated Bibliography.”  These two chapters give you a very exhaustive listing of books that will further solidify your thoughts on the Gospel Message and help you to develop your defense of your faith.

This book is a must read for all of us who proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and our Lord and Savior.

Enjoy!