Title: Made In The Image of God
Author: Reid A. Ashbaucher
ISBN # 978-1-936076-78-9
Review Date: September 8, 2011
Reviewed by: Christian Book Reviews
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Author Reid A. Ashbaucher, states in his book Made in the Image of God, “…the purpose of this book-to help define and reveal, in a new light, the concept of a triune God and his image imbedded, by design, in mankind.” (p.66) Thus this is the essence of this book, to understand God, his design and the nature of things. The author challenges the reader to dig deeper into the scriptures to find knowledge of Him who created mankind.
To know God is to seek Him, have faith in Him and who He is. To gain a deeper revelation and understanding of Him is to acquire knowledge with understanding of who He is and who we are as humans. This book offers just that. Come gain a deeper understanding of the Word of God, who God is as the Creator of the Universe and who we are as we relate to him in an ever changing world.
This book offers a wealth of information from a man that has studied the Word of God and holds many theological degrees. Based on nothing but the Holy Scriptures, this book offers at times technical scientific ways as to understanding who God is, His Nature and Personhood. How do we relate to God who is Spirit, whom we cannot see, but yet believe is the Creator of the Universe and the giver of life? This book answers many of those questions.
Join the author as he invites you to embark on a journey that gives undeniable scriptural evidence that God is the Creator of the Universe by design thereby vividly giving biblical evidence and support in opposition to any forms of evolution, atheism, Gnosticism, Pantheism and Humanism. Each chapter builds upon each other that will lead the reader into a deeper knowledge of God.
Shedding light throughout this book, the author, answers many questions you may have about Christianity and God. Such as the question of who Jesus Christ was and how He was God incarnate upon the earth, sent to die for all the sins of the world. Or perhaps, you are wondering how a human is a spirit, soul and body. This intriguing and scriptural study will leave an indelible imprint on your soul and cause a greater appreciation of who God is and cause a deeper love of Him to grow, being the giver of salvation and the lover of our souls.
A highly recommend study for the person engaging in any biblical study in theology or for anyone desiring a deeper understanding and knowledge of God, His Nature, The nature of mankind and how we relate to God physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Systematic, concise and well written, this book offers answers to your many questions that man has as to how we as humans, living in a physical world, can relate to a supernatural, ever present and all powerful God. And how by “design”, we as humans are ‘made in the image of God’.
Made in the Image of God by Reid A. Ashbaucher
Highly Recommended
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Systematic theology is a response
to the Apostle Paul’s Scriptural exhortation “to rightly divide the word of truth.” In his book Made in the Image of God author Reid
A. Ashbaucher responds to this call, adding “precept upon precept, line upon line” – as he gives the reader clear reasons for the
“hope that lies within him.” This theological treatise provides the reader with a broad and detailed exposition of several key Scriptures
delineating specific attributes of God; a study which, in turn, illuminates the nature of human beings, who, according to the ‘word
of God,’ have been created in his image.
Beginning by laying down the basic building blocks of Biblical truth, the author draws
from “the knowledge base of Scripture” to define God’s fundamental nature. This first part of the book entitled “The Image of God”
entails detailed descriptions of God’s personhood and unity. After carefully expressing the nature of God, the author proceeds to
explain how this knowledge contributes to our understanding of “The Image of Mankind”; a section in which Ashbaucher examines the
nature and personhood of human beings in relation to their Creator. Finally, in part three, he uses the concepts established in the
previous chapters to discuss how Christians, that is, those who have been restored to their rightful status as God’s children (through
the regeneration of the Holy Spirit) reflect the image of God.
Early in the book Ashbaucher introduces a new insight that illumines
the concept of God’s personhood. He states: “The purpose of this chapter is to establish the fact that within the Godhead, personhood
lies with the concept of the soul.” Here the author argues that God’s “soulhood” (a neologism he creates for the purpose of presenting
this new notion) is the source of God’s personality. Later, towards the end of the exposition, he explores the notion that Christ
possessed “the sinless spirit of man” (that which was formerly called Christ’s “human nature”): thereby adding yet another category
to theological study. According to Christ, “Every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the
owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." By introducing these new metaphysical considerations
into the field of Systematic Theology Ashbaucher fulfills this prophetic word.
True to the fundamental tenet of Biblical exegesis,
namely, to let Scripture speak for Scripture—expounding and explicating ‘the word of God’ with ‘the word of God’—the author clarifies
and expands essential theological classifications. Constructing his categories one concept at a time, and defining each term according
to the internal logic of Scriptures, his interpretations prove to be sound and consistent with the “whole counsel of God.” Subsequently,
Made in the Image of God presents the reader with a clear and organized account of the basic doctrines constituting orthodox Christianity.
Both edifying and educational, Bible students of all ages will benefit from Ashbaucher’s book. Although not intended for
advanced theological scholars, the text is ideally suited for a first level course in Christian doctrine and Biblical exegesis. More
importantly, those who read the book will gain new insights into the nature of God and man.
Christopher Ackerman
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers
