Grace that abounds and fills
1/8/2011
A Review of ?Theology 101 in Bite Size Pieces? by Judy LeBlanc
There are probably as many definitions of grace as there are Christians. I recently asked my Bible Study group to define what grace meant to them, and sure enough, I received as many variants as there where people. Why? Should not there be a universal definition that defines God?s Divine Grace? What about other doctrinal issues of theology?
Judy LeBlanc tackles this enormous undertaking in her book ?Theology 101 in Bite Size Pieces.? The book isn?t written for theologians; it is a quick study, snapshots really, of several key doctrinal issues, written for those who search scripture as the Bereans did, ?Receiving the word daily with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).? Judy is a Berean!
The author possesses an insatiable hunger for the truth and for the majesty of God?s Written Word. Her search leads her on a journey throughout the Old and the New Testament, uncovering, exploring and applying what she calls ?Bite Size Pieces? of theology and refers to them as ?little golden nuggets? hidden throughout the scriptures and revealed by God.
Ms. LeBlanc uses wonderful word pictures to help her and her readers to better understand the different principles of the faith, which she considers crucial to living the Christian life. For example: she sees (explains) in one instance, grace as being a coat of many brilliant colors, each color tied to a different feature of grace, all held together by God?s Spirit in perfection. She does not leave it there; rather, she goes into a brief, yet concise, explanation of the principle.
She brings each principle, whether it is Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Justification, Adoption, the Inheritance, et al., into light by first quoting a verse of scripture and further supporting the key verse with other scriptures and she quotes as explanation from other well known theologians, authors and sources regarding the topic. Ms LeBlanc then applies her own life experiences as relates to each of the radiant nuggets of theology she explores.
To this pastor and struggling author, the crowning principle she uncovers is one on Paul?s finest ?nuggets.? But to each one of us grace was given (past tense) according to the measure of Christ?s gift. ?And He Himself gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4: vv.11, 12)?. ??Distributing to each one individually just as He will (1 Corinthians 12: 11)?.
All of the theological principles she explores she neatly wraps up in the cloak of God?s Sovereignty and precious grace.
Rev. Steve Kittl
St. Luke?s Evangelical Christian Ministries
