Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Blog
    • Su Gracia Gratuita (Spanish Blog)
    • Graça sem limites (Portuguese Blog)
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home
→
Journal Articles
→
Book Reviews
→
The Cosmic Center

The Cosmic Center

Posted in Book Reviews

The Cosmic Center. Revised Edition. By D. Bruce Lockerbie. Portland: Multnomah Press, 1986. 194 pp. Cloth, $11.95.

The subtitle of this book tells its story: The Supremacy of Christ in a Secular Wasteland. Lockerbie does a commendable job of painting the despair, pain, and meaninglessness of philosophies which do not have the Lord Jesus Christ as their center. His discussions of materialism (pp. 34–42), hedonism (pp. 59–71), and nihilism (pp. 71–83) are especially outstanding. Pastors will find in these sections a rich mine of sermon illustrations.

Chapter 4, “The Secret at the Center: A Christian Cosmology,” is powerful. Lockerbie makes a strong argument that only in recognizing the Lordship of Christ can one find peace and joy in the center of the storm which is secularism in its many forms.

Let the reader beware, however, of the closing pages of the book. In the last twenty pages (pp. 169–88) Lockerbie questions whether those who die without ever having heard about Christ will be lost. He suggests that they will not (see, for example, pp. 173–79). He argues from Eph 4:7–10 and 1 Pet 3:19–22 and 4:6 that people will have a chance to trust in Christ after they die (p. 175). Unfortunately he neglects to discuss Luke 16:19–31; John 3:18; 8:24; Heb 9:27; and 1 John 5:10–11. He concludes by saying grudgingly, “We have no alternative, therefore, but to accept the probability—yes, the tragic certainty—that some rebels will go—sullen and cursing, or careless and laughing—their way into eternal damnation” (p.187). The broad way of Matthew 7 which Jesus said many will follow is changed by Lockerbie into a narrow way which only some will choose. Lockerbie clearly thinks that only a small percentage of all of humanity will be lost.

This is not a book for new believers or the untaught. However, for those well-grounded in the Scriptures it contains much of value.

Robert N. Wilkin
Associate Editor
Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Roanoke, TX

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
Bob Wilkin

by Bob Wilkin

Bob Wilkin is Executive Director of Grace Evangelical Society and co-host of Grace in Focus Radio. He lives in Highland Village, TX with his wife, Sharon. His latest book is Turn and Live: The Power of Repentance.

Cart

Recently Added

April 9, 2021

Dios Recompensa a los Que le Buscan

Una de las cosas que realmente aprecio del movimiento de la Gracia Gratuita en general, y de la GES en particular, es cómo nos ha...
April 9, 2021

Romans–Part 2–Romans 1:16 (concl.), Romans 10:1

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. We are currently going through a series, where we look at five books in the new testament, to see...
April 9, 2021

You Can At Least Put Up With One Another (Ephesians 4:2)

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness,...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • The Grace New Testament Commentary (Revised Edition) $35.00 $25.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 2 $8.95 $2.50
  • The Atonement and Other Writings $15.95 $6.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 1 $8.95 $2.50
  • The Hungry Inherit $15.00 $7.00
Grace Evangelical Society
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

Tweets by GESwebmaster