Don’t worry, I will eventually review this book. It’s long. I’m into the actual book now, but one of the editors has a long introduction giving an overview of Owen’s thought, and it’s very good in its own right.

When Owen writes of the empowering love of Christ, which is the very love of God, he notes that this love actually makes things happen. “He loves life, grace, and holiness into us; he loves us also into covenant, loves us into heaven.” Notice that Owen frames this discussion in terms of love, and not in abstract philosophical speculation about predestination. How are we made alive and holy? By the love of Christ. How do we enjoy eternal communion with God? Because God in Christ loves us into his holy presence…

The redeeming love of God is not something that can be found in contemplating the glorious stars and moon, or the regularity of the seasons. Only in Christ Jesus do we discover with utter clarity that we are not dealing with a distant deity, but the Creator God whose love becomes incarnate. Divine love cannot be put into a category of vague spirituality that can be equally understood in all religions. Rather, according to Owen, the full revelation and anchor of our understanding of God’s love must be found in the incarnation. (34)

As Jesus himself said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). God demonstrates his love to the world by sending his Son, who is the “exact representation of his nature” (Heb 1:3).