The Divine Purchase

The contemporary church exhibits an elasticity and diversity of doctrine that at times sits oddly with biblical foundations. The presuppositions that God is and that God has spoken too often give place to the assumed priority of the explanatory competence of human reason. In that, the theology of the church is captive to the thought forms of an Enlightenment rationalism on one hand, or the looseness of postmodernist assumptions of individual autonomy on the other. In those respects, theological argument proceeds from man to God, and not--as in its biblically revealed contours--from God to man. The Divine Purchase calls the church back to a clear commitment to the gospel of redemption. The kernel of the gospel resides in the apostolic statement that Christ ''purchased the church with his own blood.'' That divinely ordained accomplishment projects the only remedy for the human condition in the present decaying culture and its intellectual uncertainty and confusion. ''It is Vickers’ knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, enriched by his familiarity with historical and systematic theology, through which he has produced this condensed but content-rich exposition of a most wonderful subject. . . . [Y]ou have in your hands a primer of a Christian world view, which is a logical, cohesive, systematic, and thoroughly biblical unfolding revelation of God’s work in history. . . . This book warrants wide distribution.'' --Lars Larson, Chairman, New England Reformed Fellowship, Leominster, MA''’Who is man or what is his significance?’ and ’What is the ''chief end'' of man?’ are two questions that form the premise for the study undertaken in The Divine Purchase. Man’s significance and ’end’ can be rightly comprehended only in the full light of God’s plan of redemption. Cogent and Christ-exalting argument, logical exegesis, and theological precision--this is the promise of this volume. Dr. Vickers walks the restless reader, searching for significance and purpose, along ’the old paths, where is the good way,’ and it is in the significance of the Savior, the believer’s union with Him and fellowship with the Father, where we will here ’find rest for our souls.’'' --Stephen M. LaValley, Organizing Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Longmeadow, MA''It is fitting that an examination of ''The Purchase of Christ'' is set forth by the Professor Emeritus of Economics, Douglas Vickers. But it is his knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, enriched by his familiarity with historical and systematic theology, through which Vickers produced this condensed but content-rich exposition of a most wonderful subject. The Divine Purchase sets forth the far-reaching effects of what Jesus Christ purchased through His death, not only securing the salvation of His people, but resulting in cosmic implications. But more, you have in your hands a primer of a Christian world view, which is a logical, cohesive, systematic, and thoroughly biblical unfolding revelation of God’s work in history. It sets forth biblical truth consistent with Reformed confessional theology. Pertinent issues and subtle implications of the ways and works of God will challenge thought and enrich Christian devotion. This book warrants wide distribution.'' --Lars Larson, Chairman, New England Reformed Fellowship, Leominster, MADouglas Vickers (PhD, University of London) is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts. Among his recent titles in theology are Discovering the Christian Mind, The Cross, Being and Belief, and The Christian’s Highest Good.