Christ and the Judgement of God: The Limits of Divine Retribution in New Testament Thought

Just what I expected

I'm only writing this to counterbalance the other reviews. I was taught NT by Stephen Travis many years ago, and I can give this book 5 stars without having read it because Stephen is an unassuming, highly intelligent, clear-thinking scholar who would be incapable of writing a bad book. If the subject interests you, buy and read this book and you will get a balanced, thorough, scholarly evaluation of the question.

The author tried to save the sola fide doctrine with this book, but he could not do it. He argues that while elements of retribution are present in each strand of the New Testament, they are remarkably infrequent, but the fact is that there`s not a single instance in the New Testament where faith is the final criteria in the final judgment. We`ll be judged by our works and this is the clear teaching of the Old and New Testaments. Read a couple of books written by evangelical scholars: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works?: The Role of Works in Salvation in the Synoptic Gospels (Evangelical Theological Society Monograph) written by a Dallas Semminary NT scholar, and Judgment & Justification In Early Judaism And The Apostle Paul written also by a protestant scholar. In both of them you will confirm that works are conditions to receive final salvation and salvation by faith alone doctrine is wrong. I prefer what God says in the Scripture: Jesus says: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). And for Matthew righteousness is God`s will, love for God and the needy (Mt 6:1ff).

I am finding this a very thorough scholarly work on a subject that has long puzzled me and which is very important. It helps me in my puzzle why a Christian's sins are forgiven him yet he appears still to be called to account.