Review: Chosen for Life by Sam Storms

Reviewed by Jeff Barrett

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Clear. If one word could sum up Sam Storm’s work on the doctrine of divine election, it would be clear. Storms’ work was first published by Baker in 1987, but this revised and expanded edition published by Crossway in 2007 was my first encounter with Storms as an author.

 

The book begins with a brief parable about Jerry and Ed, plausibly fictitious, nineteen-year-old, identical twins with evidently identical lives until a mysterious distinction is revealed. This hypothetical relationship clearly grounds Storms’ proceeding discussion in the soil of life, and the author recalls his readers back to the story of Jerry and Ed to force an honest handling of an often theoretical topic.

 

Storms walks his readers thoroughly through the crucial biblical passages, devoting three chapters to the handling of Romans 9 alone. Further strengthening Chosen for Life are the two latter chapters which succinctly answer “Crucial Questions Concerning Election” as well as the appendices on problem passages in scripture, prayer and evangelism, and the justification of God’s eternal decrees. The author’s commitment to scriptural exegesis suites the humility of his language and commends his work to the mind of the reader. Those who agree – and those who are thus persuaded to agree – will be strengthened in their personal faith by confidence in God’s good sovereignty. Those who disagree will be called to pause and reflect deeply on their own grounds for confidence in God’s goodness.

 

In addition to Storms’ clear language, the author has integrated one of the best collections of quotes as I have yet encountered in a single popular-audience book. Luther, Edwards, Whitefield, Spurgeon, Stott, Packer, and others are all invited into the conversation. One could easily use Chosen for Life’s index as a quick-reference for historical statements on the doctrine of election.

 

Having lead several small groups through discussing the Doctrines of Grace, I greatly appreciate the pastoral accuracy of Storms’ work. By opening with the parable of Jerry and Ed, Storms begins right where I have found most of us begin, with the agonizing desire to help others know the Savior. Concluding the discussion, after walking the reader through some very thorny issues of conscience, Storms reminds us of the purpose of it all. “We must be extremely cautious in pursuing theological constructions that serve only to confuse and have a tendency to reduce the personal to mere abstractions. The purpose of theology is doxology.” (p. 214) Storms deepest concern as his writes is clearly that the glory of God be worshiped.

 

“When God elected a people from the fallen mass of humanity, he never intended to save them apart from his Son but only by means of what his Son, the Lord Jesus, would accomplish in his redemptive work. Jesus is therefore the means by which God’s electing purpose is put into effect as well as the goal of that election, inasmuch as it is God’s purpose through election to sum up all things in Christ. … If we are given anything in grace it is by virtue of who Jesus is and what he has done and will do, not by virtue of who we are or what we have done or will do. Therefore, we are elect ‘in Christ,’ not ‘in ourselves.’ It is because of God’s love for his Son and his desire that his Son have a people through whom he might be glorified and honored that God chose us. Therefore, we are chosen ‘in Christ’ in the sense that this Son to whom the Father has given us is he through whom this election to life is made ours in experience. His sinless life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection were the means through which God’s electing purpose was put into effect.” (p. 110)

 

Chosen for Life is not primarily suited for either scholars or very young learners of the faith. Rather, the book’s strengths are to personally effect and pastorally equip church leaders, small group leaders, and all those who take seriously their role as missionary laborers for Christ. Storms has served the Church well by balancing accessibility, pastoral application, and scholarly awareness around one of the most difficult doctrines of Scripture.

 

Available at Monergism Books.

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