It is a familiar experience: A non-Reformed believer finds out you are of a Calvinistic persuasion, and before long there is an either explicit or implicit assertion that you do not have a prominent place for the Holy Spirit in your theology. This is a common caricature of Reformed theology, despite the plentiful evidence to the contrary. In fact, Reformed theology does not make sense without the Holy Spirit, and J. V. Fesko has written a book that highlights this evidence.
The Giver of Life: The Biblical Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and Salvation is in the We Believe series, a collection of studies focusing on “primary doctrines of the Christian faith as confessed in the Nicene Creed and received in the Reformed tradition” (xix). As with all volumes in this series, Fesko’s book follows a threefold pattern: biblical revelation, dogmatic development, and truth for worship, life, and mission.
Overview
Fesko’s aim is clear from the beginning: “As much as the Nicene Creed stakes out important christological truths, it also makes important claims about the doctrine of salvation, a Trinitarian doctrine of salvation no less” (1). In light of this truth, the book “unpacks the scriptural teaching of our Trinitarian salvation, though it does so from the perspective of the Reformed faith” (2).
The chapters of The Giver of Life therefore follow a logical train of thought. In chapter 1, Fesko shows that creation and redemption share a chief goal: God dwelling in the midst of his people. Therefore, God’s special presence in both old and new creation is the central theme. Fesko then traces this idea in a typical Reformed (and biblical) way: by outlining a biblical-theological view of God’s covenants. Chapter 2 focuses on covenant blessings, including sonship and inheritance, as well as an initial discussion of the ordo salutis (order of salvation). Chapter 3 shows that covenantal life as God’s people involves holiness, wisdom, and witness to the world. He argues that the covenantal virtues of faith, hope, and love are marks of the repentant life (83). This is where Fesko gets into the relation of covenant and law, including the threefold division of the Mosaic law. Of course, he affirms that law and love “go hand in hand” (90). In light of this standard for grateful obedience, the covenantal life is one of worship and prayer. Fesko concludes this chapter by showing that the Spirit is the one who brings wisdom to the believer, and all of this leads to the mission and witness of the church in the world. This chapter especially focuses on the covenantal life of Old Testament Israel.
The person and work of the Spirit takes center stage in chapter 4, particularly through the double lenses of procession and mission. Here Fesko makes the case that “the Spirit’s soteriological mission is primarily eschatological” (110). Chapters 5–10 present a fairly typical Reformed ordo salutis: effectual calling/regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, the Christian life (faith and repentance), assurance, and perseverance. In these chapters he tackles issues such as infused habits, the imputation of Christ’s active and passive obedience, the New Perspective on Paul, the relation of justification and sanctification, the role of the law/good works, and the definition of saving faith. Chapter 11 includes an excellent discussion of the gifts of the Spirit, concluding with the important reminder that the gifts “are all about communion with the Triune God and communion with the saints—the gifts are about receiving the love of God and sharing that love among the body of a Christ for its edification” (241). Chapters 12–14 round out the book and cover things like true vs. counterfeit faith, life in the Spirit, and cessationism. He concludes with twelve theses on soteriology, effectively summarizing much of this volume.
Assessment
There are a number of very helpful aspects in The Giver of Life. Fesko does a good job of explicitly grounding his doctrine in Scripture. For example, in the first section alone he provides expositions of seventeen passages of Scripture (see his list on xvii). The gray boxes containing his expositions are a highlight. Because of his attention to various Bible passages as well as the broad scope of redemptive history, Fesko has given us a good summary of many of the ways Reformed Christians read Scripture. Of course, this is more than a biblical-theological or exegetical book—Fesko also provides us with a good example of the harmony and continuous interaction which ought to exist between historical theology, biblical theology, and systematic theology. Additionally, there are probably few books which do a better job of summarizing salvation and the work of the Spirit. Beyond these bigger picture positives, Fesko also has many helpful (and memorable) quotes, such as “The heart of the covenant of grace is Christ and all his benefits, and the Holy Spirit is the lifeblood that conveys these saving benefits to believers” (193). At the end of each chapter, Fesko includes a suggested bibliography for those who wish to dive deeper into a particular aspect of the Spirit and his work. The glossary at the back would also be useful for those who are new to these doctrines.
One thing this reviewer would have liked is more emphasis on the Holy Spirit himself in addition to the focus on his work. Of course, his work is very important, but it seems that the Trinitarian aspects of this book are overshadowed by how the Spirit applies Christ’s work of redemption to his people. More space devoted to the deity of the third person of the Trinity and his eternal spiration would have been helpful, especially in light of recent controversies surrounding the doctrine of God.
Recommendation
There are a number of figures in the Reformed world who seem to write books faster than many people can read them. J. V. Fesko’s name is on this list. Yet despite his prolific output, he always has something good and helpful to contribute to whatever subject he is addressing. I will keep The Giver of Life on my shelf for future reference, and I encourage you to make use of it too.
©Christopher Smith. All Rights Reserved.
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Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith is originally from Bellevue, Nebraska. A graduate of Westminster Seminary California (M.Div 2019; MA (Historical Theology) 2020). He is associate pastor of Phoenix URC in the United Reformed Churches of North America. He is currently pursuing a ThM in systematic theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.
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