Book Review: Reprobation and God's Sovereignty (Recovering a Biblical Doctrine) by Peter Sammons

Scripture is unmistakably clear that God’s sovereignty extends over every aspect of life, including the salvation of sinners. Those who have been saved from their sins ought to readily and joyfully embrace the truth that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). But the most logically obvious followup question does give us pause for thought: What about those who weren’t chosen?

Sadly, the answers to that question range everywhere from the mundane to the inane. Some choose not to discuss the topic. Others give answers that have nothing in common with Scripture. But in a new book by Dr. Peter Sammons, entitled Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty (Recovering a Biblical Doctrine), the question is answered from a biblical basis, with doctrinal depth, in confident clarity. By explaining God’s sovereign decision for the eternal destruction of the non-elect (the decree of reprobation) along with the sovereign means God employs in bringing about this destruction (the execution of the decree), this book provides the straightforward answers that many have longed for.

Let me be clear upfront: as a close friend of Dr. Sammons, and one who edited the original material years ago as part of his graduate work, I readily admit my own bias in reviewing this book. To that concern, I would begin by simply deferring to a host of respected pastors and theologians who have already endorsed it.

The following are two such examples:

“With a keen theological mind, Peter Sammons is able to analyze difficult doctrines and teach them with both clarity and confidence. This is precisely what he has done with the challenging truth of reprobation. In this book, this gifted author provides us with a comprehensive overview and detailed exposition of this highly charged subject. You would do well to carefully read his arguments and honestly weigh your own position.”
—Steve Lawson, President, OnePassion Ministries

“The doctrine of reprobation is always under attack from those who would limit God’s sovereignty by humanity’s liberty. Reprobation is a difficult teaching, to be sure, but to reject it ultimately unravels the whole fabric of salvation by grace alone. Peter Sammons employs faithful biblical exegesis (especially of Romans 9), tried and true explanations of systematic theology, and careful logic to show that God is absolutely sovereign over salvation and damnation, yet people remain responsible for their moral choices. Though the arguments are deep, the aim is simple: from heaven to earth and even in hell itself, know that God is God, God is good, and all glory belongs to him.”
—Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Author of Debated Issues in Sovereign Predestination

With those commendations, you can trust that there is much in store for the reader in this nearly 300-page bombshell.

A Full Treatment

As with any doctrinal discussion, but especially one that has been so extensively muddled by error, it’s vital to begin with definitions and a theological framework. For that reason, Pete begins by explaining terms such as decree, omnipotence, and providence in chapter one. He follows that up by answering questions like Who is in control of hell? and Why Do People Reject Predestination? in chapter two. Addressing these preliminary matters helps the reader enter into the book armed with the necessary foundation.

From there, he opens up chapter three with the helpfully straightforward statement, “Reprobation is defined as the eternal, unconditional decree of God for the non-elect. In this decree, he chooses to exclude the non-elect from his electing purposes of mercy and to hold them accountable to the strict standards of justice to display the glory of his righteous wrath” (p. 47). It’s at this point that he begins putting in the work to describe and defend his claim. Spanning from chapters three through seven, he works meticulously through Romans 9, providing what is quite likely the most exegetically thorough treatment of this battleground passage that the reader has ever come across. Interacting with other scholars, providing his own translations of the original Greek text, and addressing side issues in footnotes (that, at times, span half of a page!), Pete demonstrates that his position is a product of divine revelation, not human imagination.

After providing the biblical basis that God indeed ordains the eternal destinies of the non-elect, he then begins transitioning to the second half of the book addressing objections. Writing in chapter eight, Pete says,

“The doctrine of reprobation has been plagued with a negative reputation, primarily from misunderstandings of its actual teaching. Most opponents of the doctrine of reprobation either fail to understand the doctrine correctly or dismiss the clarifications and definitions offered by those who believe it. Many historical opponents fall into one of these two categories—ranging from those who just do not understand it to others who purposefully ignore the clarifications provided by theologians seeking to define it. It is important to clarify any misconceptions by defining reprobation and all of its subsequent parts.” (p. 105)

He spends a great deal of time addressing caricatures of reprobation by distancing his position from, for example, Hyper-Calvinism, Islamic Predestination, and Fatalism. Ultimately, as he explains, one major difference between the biblical doctrine and these errors is that God uses means to bring about the destruction of the non-elect. Though God is the ultimate cause of all things (including sin), He is not the only cause—there are secondary causes that God employs as He governs all of creation. While drawing on historical scholarship and philosophy for insight, Pete is quick to explain that the concept of primary and secondary causation is not a man-made construct imposed upon the biblical text, but is a necessary recognition of the biblical text. A quick look at 1 Chronicles 21:1 and 2 Samuel 24:1, for example, makes this immediately evident.

This vital explanation of causation naturally leads into the final section of the book which answers the next logical question: What, then, are the means God uses in bringing about the destruction of the non-elect? Looking at four categories (divine abandonment, hardening, personal agency, and non-personal agency), with each category consisting of two sub-categories, Pete provides the reader with the biblically-sourced ways in which God carries out His decree of reprobation upon the non-elect. In fact, the Appendix in the back serves as an incredibly helpful resource by summarizing each of these eight categories with not only a definition, but also a handful of passages that represent each one.

Perhaps one of the most unique elements in Pete’s work on this topic comes near the end, in which he summarizes the decree and execution of reprobation according to his own coined phrase called “The Black Chain of Damnation.” Pete explains as follows:

“With the clarity of its teaching in Scripture, the doctrine of reprobation is best taught in contrast to election. Just as the Reformed have regarded the means of God’s decree in the execution of election as “the golden chain of salvation,’ reprobation could be considered the ‘black chain of damnation.’

Like the golden chain, the black chain extends to eternity past, as God decreed the ends of the non-elect to display the glory of his justice. The middle links of the chain—the execution of the decree—are the various means God employs in secondary causality: abandonment, hardening, personal agency, and nonpersonal agency. After death, the reprobate meet their eternal destiny of condemnation, in the wrath of God’s justice, as God holds each person accountable to the sin they have committed on earth.” (p. 264-265)

“The Black Chain of Damnation” (p. 265)

Not only is this “black chain of damnation” described, but it’s also diagrammed (as are a number of other theological concepts), which provides the reader with a graphical illustration to help further understand an otherwise potentially difficult concept. When all is said and done, the reader should walk away not only knowing for certain that God is sovereign over the destiny of the non-elect, but how God is sovereign over them.

Courageous and Comprehensive

As you can imagine, the doctrine of reprobation is multifaceted and requires a heavy intellectual commitment from the reader. Thankfully, the book is divided into eighteen chapters, most of which are around a mere ten pages long, letting the reader process the information without feeling overwhelmed.

Finally, to have a foreword written by Pastor John MacArthur speaks volumes in and of itself. Of this book, MacArthur says, “Peter Sammons has provided for us what is undoubtedly the most thorough explanation and defense of the doctrine of predestination and reprobation, and I strongly commend it to you.”

I’d like to give a hearty “amen” to Pastor John’s comment. Not only am I incredibly proud of Dr. Sammons for working tirelessly to prepare this for production, I’m likewise proud of Kregel Academic for bringing it to production. The sad reality is that due to the unpopular nature of this doctrine, there are few people—and few publishers—courageous enough to champion it. With that in mind, if you’ve been searching far and wide for a comprehensive treatment of this topic, I’m pleased to announce to you that the search is over.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Reprobation-Gods-Sovereignty-Redeeming-Biblical/dp/0825447437

Additional information from the publisher can be found here: https://www.kregel.com/theology-and-religious-studies/reprobation-and-gods-sovereignty