When I came across this book, my motivation for reading it was based on the thought that it might be a good book to pass on to 'seekers' or new Christians. It is indeed that but it was also an incredible reminder for me to take some time on a regular basis to meditate on and deepen my thankfulness for the story of the Gospel. We can never read or hear the Gospel too many times and there is ever more to learn about the greatest event to take place in the history of the world.
In the introduction, the author discusses the lack of agreement among this generation's Christians when answering the question 'What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?' He states his goal of the book to be "to offer a clear answer to that question, one that is based on what the Bible itself teaches about the gospel" (p. 20). Sounds like an excellent plan to me! His desires for those reading the book are:
1) it will "cause your heart to swell with joy and praise toward Jesus...An emaciated gospel leads to emaciated worship...The more you understand about it, believe it, and rely on it, the more you adore God both for who he is and for what he has done for us in Christ" (p. 20-1).
2) it will give you "a deeper confidence as you talk to others about the good news of Jesus" (p. 21).
3) it will allow you to "see the importance of this gospel for the life of the church, and that as a result you will work to make sure that this gospel is preached, sung, prayed, taught, proclaimed and heard in every aspect of your church' life" (p. 21).
4) it will "help to shore up the edges of the gospel in your mind and heart" (p. 21).
In the first chapter, "Finding the Gospel in the Bible", Mr. Gilbert starts off explaining that we should use the Bible as our source of information about the Gospel. If a source disagrees with the Bible then it is not reflecting the Gospel. Acts 2, even though the word gospel does not occur, is given as an example of "the proclamation of the good news of Christianity" (p. 27). He also looks at Romans 1-4 extensively for "a deliberate step-by-step expression of what Paul understood to be the good news" (p. 27). In Romans Paul tells his readers that they are accountable to God. "With his very first words, Paul insists that humanity is not autonomous. We did not create ourselves, and we are neither self-reliant nor self-accountable...Thus Paul indicts humanity: they have sinned by not honoring and thanking God. It is our obligation, as people created and owned by God, to give him the honor and glory that is due to him, to live and speak and act and think in a way that recognizes and acknowledges his authority over us. We are made by him, owned by him, dependent on him, and therefore accountable to him. That's the first point Paul labors to make as he explains the good news of Christianity" (p. 28). Then he explains how everyone has rebelled against God. Alas, "to have someone say to you 'I'm coming to save you!' is not really good news at all unless you believe you actually need to be saved" (p. 30). Next Paul reveals that God's solution to humanity's sin is the death and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 1:21) and tells us how we can be included in the 'believers' of whom the Bible speaks (Rom. 3:22). The author's summation of the Gospel is four major points:
1) God - Who made us?
2) Man - What is our problem?
3) Christ - What is God's solution to that problem?
4) Response - How do I come to be included in that salvation?
It seems a bit simplistic but I really appreciated the simple breakdown of 'God. Man. Christ. Response.' That is something that I can remember when I find myself talking about the Gospel and feeling like I might not be saying the right thing or recalling the right Scripture reference. Four words - even I can do that!
In the second chapter, "God the Righteous Creator", the author begins by combating many of our modern culture's incorrect views of God (in a slightly cheeky way that I enjoyed). He encourages the reader to study God for our entire lives but makes the point that "you don't have to say everything you know about God in order to present the gospel faithfully" (p. 39). The creation story alone has great implications. That God created everything around us (Gen 1) is "contrary to the nihilism that dominates so much human thinking, it means that everything in the universe has a purpose - including human beings" (p. 41). "Some understanding of this is absolutely necessary if a person wants to understand the good news of Christianity. The gospel is God's response to the bad news of sin, and sin is a person's rejection of God's Creator-rights over him. Thus the fundamental truth of human existence, the well from which all else flows, is that God created us, and therefore God owns us" (p. 42). Our God, who loves us so deeply and compassionately is also perfectly just (Ex. 34:6-7). Mr. Gilbert so wonderfully says "nobody wants a God who declines to deal with evil. They just want a God who declines to deal with their evil...Which of course brings us to the bad news" (p. 44-5).
Chapter Three deals with "Man the Sinner" for whom God had a plan and a job (Gen. 1:28), but how Adam and Eve had ideas of their own for their lives. "When Adam and Eve bit into the fruit, therefore, they weren't just violating some arbitrary command, 'Don't eat the fruit.' They were doing something much sadder and much more serious. They were rejecting God's authority over them and declaring their independence from him" (p. 49). But they are not the only guilty ones, we all are (Rom. 3:23). "To human hearts that stubbornly think of themselves as basically good and self-sufficient, this idea that human beings are fundamentally sinful and rebellious is not merely scandalous. It is revolting. That's why it is so absolutely crucial that we understand both the nature and the depth of our sin. If we approach the gospel thinking that sin is something else or something less than what it really is, we will badly misunderstand the good news of Jesus Christ...What we must understand is that the predicament we're in is a predicament of our own making. We have disobeyed God's word. We have ignored his commands. We have sinned against him" (p. 51). This was something very stirring for me. In a moment, I came to realize that if I take my sin lightly, then I am taking the gospel lightly and I never want to do that. I want my sin to be out there in the open, with the light of Christ shining brightly on it so I can see it for it's horridness and be repulsed by it so I am never drawn to it again. That will make space for the gospel to flow through me and therefore, be poured out on those around me. "Many Christians talk about sin as if it were merely a relational tiff between God and man, and what is needed is for us simply to apologize and accept God's forgiveness...It communicates that there is no broken law, no violated justice, no righteous wrath, no holy judgment - and therefore, ultimately, no need for a substitute to bear that judgment either...If we reduce sin to a mere breaking of a relationship, rather than understanding it as the traitorous rebellion of a beloved subject against his good and righteous King, we will never understand why the death of God's Son was required to address it" (p. 52). I'd say that's key!!
Mr. Gilbert (who, may I point out, is not even 35 years old yet) then walks the reader into the territory of the effects of our sin and how God is still actively passing judgment on sin. "What is shocking to us is when God shows us the sin that runs to the very depths of our hearts, the deep-running deposits of filth and corruption that we never knew existed is us and that we ourselves could never expunge...we are shot through with sin. The cracks, mud, filth, and corruption go all the way to the center" (p. 54). Ephesians 2:3, Matthew 15:19 and Romans 8:7 are only a few examples of how Scripture points us to the knowledge that we are inherently filled with sin and "it's not enough to say that Jesus came to save us from sins, if what we mean by that is that he came to save us from our isolated mistakes. It's only when we realize that our very nature is sinful...that we see just how good the news is that there is a way to be saved" (p. 55). Finally, he gives some Scriptural support for the existence of hell (Rev. 16:1, 1:7, 6:16-17, 19:15, 20:10, Mark 9:43, 48) and says "we talk about hell because, finally, we believe the Bible. We believe it when it says that hell is real, and we believe it with tears when it says that people we love are in danger of spending eternity there" (p. 58). Exactly.
The fourth chapter, "Jesus Christ the Savior", was so powerful and I'm not going to do it justice by trying to summarize it but please bear with me. I have so many stars and hearts and "yes"s in the margin in this chapter but I'll just share with you what were the major highlights for me. The author starts out explaining the power of the word "but" (eg. Your son was in a car wreck. But he's fine) and wraps it up with "you are a sinner destined to be condemned. But God has acted to save sinners just like you!" (p. 60) "The Bible is the story of God's counteroffensive against sin. It is the grand narrative of how God made it right, how he is making it right, and how he will one day make it right finally and forever" (p. 61). What an amazing, beautiful way to put it. He discusses how Jesus was fully God and fully man which allows him to sympathize with our weakness because he in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Also, how Jesus is the Messiah King. "But here is where the good news of Christianity gets really, really good. You see, King Jesus came not only to inaugurate the kingdom of God, but also to bring sinners into it by dying in their place and for their sin, taking their punishment on himself and securing forgiveness for them, making them righteous in God's sight, and qualifying them to share in the inheritance of the kingdom (Col. 1:12)" (p. 64). And then he comes to the point of it all. This is something that I want to memorize and have with me forever. "They were my transgressions, but his wounds. My iniquities, but his chastisement. My sin, his sorrow. And his punishment bought my peace. His stripes won my healing. His grief, my joy. His death, my life" (p. 68). I will readily admit that I wept when I read that for the first time and each time I read it my heart aches.
The author then wraps up the chapter with the 'good-est' of news - He has risen!
Chapter Five, "Response - Faith and Repentance", explains how we are to move forward now that we have a clear picture of God's plan for His people (Mark 1:15). "Faith and repentance. This is what marks out those who are Christ's people...a Christian is one who turns away from his sin and trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ - and nothing else - to save him from sin and the coming judgment" (p. 73). A proper biblical knowledge of what faith means is important because our culture has made it into a word with such a broad scope. "Faith is not believing in something you can't prove, as so many people define it. It is, biblically speaking, reliance. A rock-solid, truth-grounded, promise-founded trust in the risen Jesus to save you from sin" (p. 74). If only that was the sole definition of the word. Mr. Gilbert then explains how we are relying on Jesus to secure a righteous verdict for us, rather than the guilty one that we so deserve. "That's where faith in Jesus comes in. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are relying on him to stand as our substitute before God...You might think of it like this: When we trust Jesus to save us, we become united to him, and a magnificent exchange takes place. All our sin, rebellion, and wickedness is imputed (or credited) to Jesus, and he dies because of it (1 Pet. 3:18). And at the same time, the perfect life of Jesus lived is imputed to us, and we are declared righteous. God looks at us, and instead of seeing our sin, he sees Jesus' righteousness" (p. 76). I read that and thought 'Well, it would seem that I got the much better end of that deal. What a wonderful reason to be thankful every day.'
So that is the 'faith' of it all but what of this 'repentance' that seems to be so important? I believe that so much of our modern Christianity has left out repentance as a sign that someone has truly turned their life, heart and soul over to God. We need to grasp this aspect of calling ourselves 'believers' and strive toward it daily. "Repentance is the flip side of that coin [faith]. It is turning away from sin, hating it, and resolving by God's strength to forsake it, even as we turn to him in faith" (p. 79). Repentance must not been seen as an optional part of the Christian life (Luke 13:3, Acts 11:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10). "Faith in Christ carries in itself a renunciation of that rival power that King Jesus conquered - sin. And where that renunciation of sin is not present, neither is genuine faith in the One who defeated it" (p. 80). My thought is that if we accept our sin, we reject what Jesus has done for us. The two cannot reside peacefully in us long-term. Ever striving toward further refinement is but a small 'thank you' to him for being our substitute. The author is not saying in any way that we will stop sinning altogether but that "we will no longer live at peace with our sin" (p. 81).
"The Kingdom" is the subject of the sixth chapter. There is a lot of richness in the chapter about what the kingdom of God is and how Christians are a part of that kingdom. When you read the book, you will find so many beautiful Scriptures that will infuse you with hope. A couple of the points that really struck me were:
"Jesus' incarnation was much more than just a kind visit from the Creator. It was the launching of God's full and final counteroffensive against all the sin, death, and destruction that had entered the world when Adam fell" (p. 89).
"Inclusion in the kingdom of God depends entirely on one's response to the King...Over and over, he makes a person's response to him and his message the single determining factor in whether that person would be included in his kingdom" (p. 93). [I wished here that the author had included a section on election and explained that the person's response that is required is their part to play while God has already chosen them. But I understand that you can only fit so much in when you're trying to explain the gospel in a somewhat succinct way.]
"When we are brought by faith into the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit gives us a new life. We become citizens of a new kingdom, and subjects of a new King. Because of that we also have a new obligation to obey that king, to live in a way that honors him...It's not at all that living the life of the kingdom brings us into the kingdom. It's that once we have been brought into the kingdom through faith in the King, we find ourselves with a new master, a new law, a new charter, a new life - and therefore we begin to want to live the life of the kingdom" (p. 97).
"Keeping the Cross at the Center" is the subject of the seventh chapter. It's a short chapter (relative to the others) but I was so thankful that it was there to remind me that "since the very beginning of time, people have been trying to save themselves in ways that make sense to them, rather than listening and submitting to God" (p. 102) and "it is the cross alone that truly deals once and for all with sin, and it is the cross that makes it possible for humans to be included in God's perfect kingdom at all" (p. 103). The author combats three 'substitute gospels' that have gained ground in recent years. The first is the concept that just accepting that Jesus is Lord will gain someone salvation. But "for that news to be good and not simply terrifying, it would have to include a way for your rebellion to be forgiven, a way for you to be reconciled to this One who has been made Lord" (p 105). The second puts the emphasis on God's promise to renew the world rather than on the cross. But "in order truly to proclaim the gospel, we must carefully explain the death and resurrection of Jesus and the response God requires of sinners" (p. 107). The third is simply seeking cultural transformation based on biblical principles.
"But really we should just face it. The message of the cross is going to sound like nonsense to the people around us. It's going to make us Christians sound like fools, and it most certainly is going to undermine our attempts to 'relate' to non-Christians and prove to them that we're just as cool and harmless as the next guy. Christians can always get the world to think they are cool - right up to the moment they start talking about being saved by a crucified man. And that's where coolness evaporates, no matter how carefully you've cultivated it" (p. 110). Oh I can't explain to you how much I love this quote and how it makes me smile every time I read it. What a truth!!
Chapter Eight, "The Power of the Gospel", is the last chapter and so full of amazing writing that I'm going to just let the author walk you through this one with some of my favourite sections. He tells the reader of a trip he took with some friends to the Grand Canyon and then says "How long has it been since you looked up from the earthly details of life and came face to face with the Grand Canyon of what God has done for us in the gospel - his unfathomable grace in forgiving people who have rebelled against him, his breathtaking plan to send his Son to suffer and die in their place, to establish the throne of the resurrected Jesus over a kingdom of perfect righteousness, and to bring those who are saved and redeemed by his blood into a new heaves and new earth where sin and evil will be forever conquered!" (p. 115).
"If you are a Christian, then the cross of Jesus stands like a mountain of granite across your life, immovably testifying to God's love for you and his determination to bring you safely into his presence" (p. 117).
"I wonder if your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news that Jesus saved you even though you don't deserve it - is deep enough to swallow up the little criticisms you have of your brothers and sisters. I wonder if it's deep enough to sink the offenses they've committed against you, even the most painful ones, and lead you to forgive them and love them just as Jesus himself has done for both of you" (p. 118)
"So let the truths of the gospel penetrate your heart and even break it for those who do not know Jesus Christ. Meditate on what it will mean for your friends, family, and coworkers to stand before God the righteous Judge apart from Jesus Christ. Remember what the grace of God has done in your own life, and imagine what he could do in theirs. Then take a deep breath, pray for God's Spirit to work, and open your mouth and speak!" (p. 120)
I just don't feel like I can say anything after that except "Read this book and have it around for anytime someone says 'What is the Gospel anyway?'".
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! - Romans 11:33
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes - Romans 1:16
The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty - Exodus 34:6-7
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot - Romans 8:7
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin - Hebrews 4:15
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out - Acts 3:19
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified - 1 Corinthians 2:2
