Review of “Three Free Sins” by Steve Brown
Feb 1, 2012 Book Reviews
Overview
I’m sort of used to getting negative emails after teaching at Riv (I don’t think you ever get fully used to it). What I haven’t gotten used to is that the most negative emails always come after the messages that include the most grace. When you tell people to do something, they may not be ready to do it but they fully embrace the “truth” of your message. When you tell people there is nothing (really, truly, nothing) they can do to earn their salvation, to keep it, or to make God more pleased with them, they freak out.
I’ve decided from now on, instead of getting into a long protracted email chain with people who complain about the freedoms we have in Christ, I am just going to send them Steve Brown’s new book “Three Free Sins.”
Fed up with “trying to teach frogs to fly,” Brown wrote this book for both the frogs (Christians) and the “frog flying teachers,” (Pastors) neither of whom know what the heck they are doing. He addresses all of the frustrating ways we try to make ourselves better and shows how they are so utterly powerless to help us change. In a sweep of counter-intuitive brilliance, he offers his readers Three Free Sins. In fact, he doesn’t stop there but I don’t want to ruin the book.
What did I like most about the book?
Simply put, this book is all about Jesus and the Gospel. It’s about our failure to truly understand and apply the Gospel to our lives and others on a daily basis and how that is not a big surprise to God.
A small section in Chapter 3 on repentance is worth the price of the book itself. I have read it again and again and it keeps smacking me upside the head. Similarly powerful are sections on forgiveness, self-righteousness, and the true reasons we don’t pray.
Key Quotes
“Our problem is that we have taken the best news ever given to the world, run it through a ‘religious’ grid, and made something unpalatable out of it. In short, we’ve taken the good news and made it bad news.”
“Self-righteousness is addictive…When it starts, it feels good, but before long, we’re waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity and wondering where all our friends have gone.”
“One often hears fat preachers yelling at gay guys, but rarely do you hear gay guys yelling at fat preachers.”
“God designed (“allowed,” if you prefer) sin so that we could, by seeing it properly, have a safe place.”
“When you try to cover your own sins (by being obedient or denying they’re there) and be more righteous than God’s own Son…you’re like a man who wears a bra. You’re weird, you may like it, but it doesn’t do you any good and has no practical purpose.”
Resources
But this book on Amazon.com
Steve Brown will be speaking at Riverview’s next LEAD event, God’s Not Mad At You
Review of “What Would Jesus Drink?” by Brad Whittington
Jan 18, 2012 1 Corinthians, Book Reviews
I quoted from the book What Would Jesus Drink? by Brad Whittington during my teaching on 1 Corinthians 8 this past weekend at Riv and got a lot of positive feedback regarding both the message and the excerpt I read. Since many people wanted to know how to get a copy of the book, I figured I’d throw a review up here on the blog.
Overview
“Most likely any of us who have been Christians for very long have come across someone who has attempted to modify our behavior based on the claim that what we do offends them. These people interpret the word ‘offended’ to mean ‘an insult or affront.’”
Nowhere is this more prevalent than with the topic of alcohol. Just this weekend at Riv, someone told me that their friends are upset because they are attending “the church with a brewery in the basement.” (For the record, we don’t have one, although that would be really cool.) Because we advocate for the responsible consumption of alcohol in the life a Christian, many Christians gossip and spread untruths about our church. (We do feel like we are in good company, though – Matthew 11:19) I have often considered writing a book on the topic, but haven’t because I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.
That’s why I was delighted a few years ago when I stumbled onto a paper by Brad Whittington on the topic of alcohol (which was an early draft of this book). The author claimed to have studied every single verse (there are 247 of them) in the Bible regarding wine and strong drink. I dove right in and was impressed right out of the gate with his biblical fidelity. He categorized each verse as “positive,” “negative,” or “neutral.” This approach paints a compelling picture because 59% of the verses were positive and more shockingly, 19% declare that an abundance of wine is a sign of God’s blessing.
With this as his launching pad, Whittington’s book carefully studies the relevant passages and proceeds to answer every single objection to the responsible use of alcohol I have ever heard. His bottom line conclusion is this:
“The Bible has several warnings against drunkenness, but only one caution against the responsible use of alcohol in celebration and with meals. That caution is to be careful when we are in fellowship with Christians with a weaker conscience. A weak conscience is defined in the Bible as a conscience that sees prohibitions where God has not made them or feels judgment where God has not judged. We are to be careful that we don’t cause a brother to stumble. The one thing I didn’t find was a prohibition against the use of alcohol.”
What did I like most about the book?
Instead of forming his conviction about alcohol on culture, family history, or in reaction to someone else’s position, Whittington gets his from the Bible.
Would I recommend the book?
This book is a must-read for teetotalers and frat boys alike.
Key Quotes
“For my purposes, culture was not relevant to the inquiry, whether the prevailing culture of society or the culture of the church. Especially the culture of the church, because often it is difficult for insiders to differentiate between what the Bible says and what church tradition says, and these two are not necessarily the same thing.”
“Legalism is actually the result of a weak conscience, not a strong conscience developed from spiritual maturity.”
“Some denominations believe it is a sin to wear makeup. Will we all agree to forgo makeup? Some denominations believe it is a sin for women to cut their hair or wear jeans. Will we all conform to this regulation on the off chance that we might be imitated by someone who really thinks she shouldn’t do these things? What about wearing shorts, mixed bathing, wearing jewelry, buying anything on Sunday, playing cards, playing dominos, listening to James Taylor, using Celtic words for bodily functions instead of Latin words? The list goes on and on. Practically every part of our culture that we take for granted is considered a sin by some segment of Christianity. Are we prepared to alter every aspect of our behavior in deference to weaker brothers who have problems with things we do every day?A more reasonable interpretation is that if you know someone who believes something is wrong but is tempted to do it anyway, you should abstain for the sake of that person. Otherwise, we would have to live in constant apprehension that some completely innocent action might be imitated by a complete stranger and thus find us in violation of this verse.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Buy the Kindle Version for only $.99
Watch the video from this weekend’s teaching.
Tags: beer, conscience, Jesus, wine
Review of “Real Marriage,” by Mark and Grace Driscoll
Dec 7, 2011 1 Corinthians, Book Reviews
Two weeks ago at Riv, I quoted from three fantastic books on the topic of marriage. I have already reviewed two of the books (Sheet Music by Kevin Leman and The Meaning of Marriage: by Timothy and Kathy Keller) and today I am reviewing the final book, Real Marriage by Mark and Grace Driscoll.
Overview
If you Google my name, one of the top responses will be an interview I gave the late Michael Spencer about Mark Driscoll back in 2007.* In this interview, we talked about Driscoll’s confession of exhaustion, health problems, and how his growing church was affecting him personally. At the time, I was encouraged that he appeared to be taking steps to make sure his ministry had longevity. In Real Marriage, Driscoll gives a behind the scenes look at his life during that season and the impact it had on his marriage. Further, he details the steps he and his wife took to make sure their marriage and ministry didn’t go down the tubes. As a public figure, he lays his life honestly on the table (likely facing unfair scrutiny) in order to help anyone who is willing to pick up the book.
Real Marriage is the perfect second punch to the Kellers’ first we looked at last week. In fact, I would recommend that couples consider reading these books back to back. The Kellers really help us understand why we have marriage in the first place and what a Christian marriage should look like. The Driscolls pick up at this point and give biblical advice on how to develop that type of marriage.
The similarities between these books are striking, even as their styles are world’s apart. Each emphasizes the need for both an emotional / spiritual relationship (being best friends) and a intimate physical relationship (being lovers). They both tackle selfishness head on and expose it as the #1 enemy of marriage. Driscoll’s chapter on “Selfish Lovers and Servant Lovers” is the best chapter on marriage I have ever read. Most struggling couples I have counseled merely need to read these pages again and again and repent of their selfish ways.
What did I like most about the book?
This book is unabashedly Biblical. Mark and Grace present the unvarnished truths of Scripture in language that is very accessible to both men and women. They challenge married couples to up their game without piling on the guilt. The fact that they are willing to lay their own marriage on the altar of public criticism makes their message all the more palatable for even those who would criticize them. I suspect that even those who don’t follow Jesus would find their challenges compelling. A short section on fighting as friends is worth the price of the book alone.
The Driscolls spill a good amount of ink on the topic of sex in Real Marriage. These sections are very frank, but not crass (which is a delicate balance often missed this days). The chapter on porn is the single best chapter on that issue I have ever read and I recommend it to any man (or woman for that matter) who struggles in this area.
Would I recommend the book?
Absolutely. Pre-order it today since it doesn’t come out until January. Read the Kellers’ book first, then dive into this one after the holidays.
Key Quotes (These are from an Advance Reader’s Copy. When the final copy of the book comes out, I will edit this section with any changes.)
“It is common to hear married people speak of ‘falling out of love’ with their spouses, and ‘falling in love’ with someone else in adultery. In using the language of ‘falling’ they are cleverly avoiding any responsibility, as if they were simply required to follow their hearts.”
“…the husband gets to decide when he feels disrespected, and the wife needs to honor that. And the wife gets to decide when she feels unloved, and the husband needs to honor that.”
“You will sin against your spouse, and your spouse will sin against you. Couples who claim to never fight are either lying or living completely passionless, independent, parallel lives, so emotionally distant that hurting each other is virtually impossible. You will fight. The question is, will you fight well to the glory of God and the good of your marriage?”
“Much like a sexual predator who grooms the young and naive, pop culture with its increasing pornification is grooming young people for sexual sin and sexual assault.”
* – In the years since the Michael Spencer interview, I have had the privilege of getting to know Mark and Grace personally and ironically Mark’s advice has helped me to fine tune (and even change) some of the opinions on church ministry I expressed in that interview.
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Review of “The Meaning of Marriage,” by Timothy and Kathy Keller
Nov 30, 2011 1 Corinthians, Book Reviews
Last weekend at Riv, I quoted from three fantastic books on the topic of marriage. I have already reviewed one of the books (Sheet Music by Kevin Leman) and I will review another (Real Marriage by Mark and Grace Driscoll) next Wednesday. Today’s review is of The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
The Meaning of Marriage Trailer from Redeemer City to City on Vimeo.
Overview
There’s nothing in the Bible about how schools should be run, even though they are crucial to a flourishing society. There’s nothing there about business corporations or museums or hospitals. In fact, there are all sorts of great institutions and human enterprises that the Bible doesn’t address or regulate. And so we are free to invent them and operate them in line with the general principles for human life that the Bible gives us. But marriage is different…At the climax of the Genesis account of creation we see God bringing a woman and a man together to unite them in marriage. The Bible begins with a wedding (of Adam and Eve) and ends in the book of Revelation with a wedding (of Christ and the church). Marriage is God’s idea.
With these words, the Kellers dive into a book rich with historical perspective, Biblical fidelity, and a practical understanding of our culture’s view of marriage. If I were to hand this book to a couple to read, it would be with the words, “this is why we have marriage.” The Kellers mince no words when they discuss God’s high view and standards for marriage. But their words don’t come across as naive; instead, they are full of the recognition that “marriage is glorious but hard. It’s a burning joy and strength, and yet it is also blood, sweat, and tears, humbling defeats and exhausting victories.”
What did I like most about the book?
This book is absolutely saturated with the Gospel. It practically leaks with the understanding that we are unable to save ourselves (and therefore build or sustain a godly marriage) but that our victory and the hope of marriages rests in the person and work of Jesus. I have often commented that I don’t know how non-Christians stay together in marriage; this book gave me a deeper understanding that the Gospel gives us more than an ability to stay together, but an ability to thrive together.
Would I recommend the book?
Unreservedly and passionately.
Key Quotes
I’ve heard them say over and over, “Love shouldn’t be this hard; it should come naturally.” In response, I always say something like, “Why believe that? Would someone who wants to play professional baseball say, ‘It shouldn’t be so hard to hit a fastball?’ Would someone who wants to write the greatest American novel of her generation say, ‘It shouldn’t be hard to create believable characters and compelling narrative?’”
“Whether we are husband or wife, we are not to live for ourselves but for the other. And that is the hardest yet single most important function of being a husband or a wife in marriage.”
“If two spouses each say, ‘I’m going to treat my self-centeredness as the main problem in the marriage,’ you have the prospect of a truly great marriage.”
Review of “Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?” by Carolyn McCulley
Nov 16, 2011 Book Reviews
As part of the 1 Corinthians series we are working through at Riv, I am dedicating my Wednesday book reviews for the next few weeks to books on marriage, singleness, and divorce. Today’s review is a repost of a book review from a year or so ago.
A few weeks ago at Riv, I asked for a single person to volunteer to read the book “Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye” and to let me know what they thought of it. My friend Lisa took me up on the challenge and posted an exhaustive (and personal) review on her site.
Here is a shorter review specifically for the readers of my blog. Thanks, Lisa. You rock.
The author is theologically sound and covers a wide range of scripture to make her points. Most books on singleness seem to rely on either 1 Corinthians 7 or Ruth. McCulley touches on both, of course, but also digs into many more obscure, seemingly tangential passages. For instance, she actually references Leviticus 19:23-25 (you don’t actually get to eat any produce from a vineyard until year 5) to talk about how Proverbs 31:16 (“from her earnings she plants a vineyard”) is actually about long-term investment.
She offers numerous examples of how other single women have used their singleness to be a blessing. This is key. Other books seem to just say to use singleness well and leave it at that. For instance, if they’re talking about being an influence among children, they don’t seem to go much farther than suggesting that we should teach a Sunday School class. McCulley talks about strategically developing relationships with kids and their parents (volunteering to babysit so the parents can go on a date; getting permission to step in and offer corrective advice to specific children). The second half of the book offers up a ton of tips like these. The very fact that she goes for breadth – not depth – makes it a LOT easier to find ways to apply it to my own life.
She emphasizes singleness and marriage as both temporary states throughout. As part of this she makes it clear that the desire for a husband never really goes away. This gets a little more personal for me. Somewhere along the line I got it in my head that if I were truly “gifted” with singleness there would come a point where I functionally became an asexual being, and I’d no longer be attracted to the various men in my life. I’ve prayed while struggling with my feelings for various men that this one would be the last; that either he would be the one I’d actually marry or I’d just no longer have to deal with such feelings ever again. The fact that life just doesn’t work that way is so obvious that nobody ever bothers to actually state it. Most books instead focus on the whole “don’t be the aggressor in the relationship” thing. These books always feel like they operate under the assumption that (a) women choose when they fall in love and (b) single women are by default desperate enough for marriage to initiate a relationship. Okay, yes, it’s important to talk about that, but (a) initiating a relationship as a female may be unwise but does not guarantee its failure, and (b) some of us have long since learned that knowledge and can we please move on to something else. So it’s refreshing to have a book that helps you live like a single in spite of your emotions toward any particular man.
Tags: singleness
Review of “Sheet Music,” by Kevin Leman
Nov 9, 2011 1 Corinthians, Book Reviews
To prepare for the current section of 1 Corinthians we are working through at Riv, I have been reading a few books on sex, marriage, and divorce. For the next couple weeks, I will dedicate my Wednesday book reviews to these books.
Today’s book is Sheet Music by Kevin Leman.
What did I like most about the book?
This is a book I wish I had read before getting married. It’s an incredibly straight-forward treatment of the role of sex in marriage. It is very graphic, but it is not crass. The author is a Christian and he treats this sensitive and personal topic with humor, directness, and most importantly biblical fidelity.
I have met with many couples who feel like the struggles in their sex lives are unusual, but they are not. This book clears up the issues 90% of couples bring to me regarding sex. The difficult part for some will be to follow Leman’s advice because they still feel like their situation is unique and therefore his message does not apply to them.
What did I like least about the book?
There are only two things that give me concern in recommending Sheet Music.
The first is the author’s view on masturbation. He is of the opinion that it can be a healthy thing within the context of marriage (if used to help the sex life of the couple). Unfortunately, so many men struggle with lustful thoughts during masturbation that it is too difficult for them to do this in a God-honoring way. While Leman does mention this, I wish he would have taken more time to make this clear.
Secondly, he sets up what he considers an ideal number of times a couple should have sex every week. My experience is that each couple has their own ideal number and his may put inappropriate pressure on couples who think differently about frequency. I always advise couples to have more sex than the person who wants it less and less sex than the person who wants it more. That seems to be a better way of determining an ideal frequency than an arbitrary number.
Would I recommend the book?
Every married and engaged couple should read this book, especially if they struggle with their sex lives.
Key Quotes
“A couple’s sex life is usually a microcosm of the marriage. Every now and then a couple has a great sex life with a poor marriage, but this is the rarity, something you see only every couple of years. Most often, if the marriage is on the rocks, sex will follow it to the bottom.”
“A woman minimizes a man when she says that all he cares about is sex; she betrays her ignorance about the complexity of a man’s soul and the interconnectedness of our spirituality and physical being.”
“Now, if talking to your husband, I would remind him that one of the all-time great biblical lines is “Love does not demand its own way” (1 Corinthians 13:5). When a guy tries to use 1 Corinthians 7 to get his wife to do something kinky or distasteful to her…give me a break! That’s not what Paul is talking about. Just as Paul tells us we have sexual obligations within marriage, in the same book he insists that love does not demand its own way. In short, men, you don’t force, ever.”“A national study of over 1,800 married couples indicated that the probability of getting a divorce was twice as high for couples who had cohabited prior to marriage compared to those couples who had not. In addition, cohabitation prior to marriage related to lower levels of subsequent marital interaction and higher levels of marital disagreement and instability.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Review of “The Peacemaker,” by Ken Sande
Nov 2, 2011 1 Corinthians, Book Reviews
This past weekend at Riv, we looked at a passage in 1 Corinthians that dealt with lawsuits between believers. Many have asked me for resources to help them pursue reconciliation instead of going to court. My favorite resource is If you Bite and Devour One Another by Alexander Strauch. Since I have already reviewed that book, I decided to review my second favorite book on the topic, The Peacemaker (which is not to be confused with the 90′s Clooney / Kidman movie of the same name).
What did I like most about the book?
The absolutely best thing about this book is that it is distinctly Christian. Sande takes great pains not to create a humanistic approach to conflict. Instead, he is concerned with what the Scriptures have to say about our interpersonal relationships and more importantly, he is primarily concerned with God’s reputation.
His “4 G’s” of conflict resolution have become almost the stuff of legend since this book first came out 20 years ago. If Christians would master these simple concepts alone, the world would take notice:
- Glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31)
- Get the log out of your eye (Matthew 7:5)
- Gently Restore (Galatians 6:1)
- Go and be Reconciled (Matthew 5:24)
What did I like least about the book?
There is a subtle undertone in sections of this book on repentance that I find out of balance. Here are a few excerpts:
“Instead, God calls us to identify and confess our idols one by one and then cooperate with him as he steadily removes them bit by bit from our hearts…One evidence of sincere repentance is a willingness to thoroughly examine ourselves so that we can uncover both our mistakes and our sins.”
In a book that quotes Scripture on each page, these assertions are sorely lacking in biblical support and for good reason – they go a step beyond where the Bible goes. Instead of going on a witch hunt to root out sin and idols in our lives (which are certainly there), our focus should be on Jesus and his saving work (which has already forgiven us of our sins and idols).
Would I recommend the book?
This book has become the primer of Christian Reconciliation and for good reason: it is a great book. Anyone who has to deal with conflict on a regular basis should get to know the concepts Sande lays out.
Key Quotes
“No matter what race or country we come from, none of us is naturally inclined to obey Jesus’ commands to love our enemies, confess our wrongs, gently correct others, submit to our church, and forgive those who hurt us. In fact, left to our own instincts, we are disposed to do just the opposite.”
“Clearly, we are not released from the command to love our neighbors as ourselves, even when that neighbor is hating, cursing, and mistreating us. Instead of reacting harshly or seeking revenge, God calls us to be merciful to those who offend us, just as he is merciful to us.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Tags: conflict, peacemaking
Review of “World War Z,” by Max Brooks
Oct 26, 2011 Book Reviews
I know this is not the typical book review fare for my blog, but I figured it was Halloween weekend so I would go for something a little more in line with the season.
I have this strange fascination for zombie movies. I am not one of those crazy people who dress up as a zombie and wander around the city freaking people out (although someone at Riv has figured how to do that for a good cause). However, one of my life goals is to appear in a zombie film and I really enjoy The Walking Dead. So when I went looking for some light reading during my vacation, I picked up World War Z.
What did I like most about the book?
I am a history and culture buff, so I loved the fact that this book took a “historical” approach to the zombie genre, which made it perfect for a novel. The book is set in the years after a zombie apocalypse, with the author playing the role of a historian recording the stories of the men and women who survived. He interviews soldiers, civilians, and politicians; Americans, Japanese, Palestinians, and even an astronaut who watched the events from the International Space Station, orbiting around earth. The book is more a social commentary about politics, world events, and isolationism than it is about zombies. I appreciated the attention to detail Brooks brought to each chapter.
What did I like least about the book?
The book was definitely slower and not as scary as I expected it to be. I found myself reading it more like I would read a historical fiction account than a traditional novel (which I suppose was the author’s intent).
Would I recommend the book?
Only to people who really really like zombies.
Key Quotes
“For the first time in history, we faced an enemy that was actively waging total war. They had no limits of endurance. They would never negotiate, never surrender. They would fight until the very end because, unlike us, every single one of them, every second of every day, was devoted to consuming all life on Earth.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Tags: zombies
Review of “Church Planter,” by Darrin Patrick
Oct 19, 2011 Book Reviews, Church Planting
Church Planting is a big part of what we are all about at Riv. To that end, we partner with Acts29 for the assessment of Church Planters and their ongoing support and coaching. We decided to team up with them was because they do a better job than anyone at digging into the life of a man who desires to plant a church and accurately predicting whether or not he will be successful. That’s why I was so excited to read Church Planter by Darrin Patrick. I came away from the book feeling the same way I do about Acts 29, excitement with a hint of disagreement on non-essentials. If my slight reservations weren’t enough to keep us out of Acts 29, they shouldn’t be enough to keep you out of this book.
What did I like most about the book?
Whenever someone wants to start a new church, I recommend they read Missional Church Planting by Ed Stetzer because it is literally the textbook on church planting. He covers all the bases from the macro (types of church plant) to the micro (dealing with finances). The one missing piece was the most crucial of questions: “should I plant a church?” This is what Patrick hits in his book when he looks at “the Man, the Message, and the Mission.” This lines up well with Riv’s leadership development emphasis on “Character, Ministry Skills, and Doctrine.”
What did I like least about the book?
Many of the pastors in Acts 29 are more charismatic in their theology than I am and that definitely bleeds through in Church Planter. This was perhaps most notable for me in the chapter, “A Called Man.” I actually really enjoyed this chapter and thought Patrick nailed it on the head when he gave historical illustrations, practical advice, and Scriptural example. However, when subjective personal illustrations were used, the chapter lost its punch and their inclusion may have worked against the basic premise of the chapter. The problem with many young church planters is they elevate an experiential “call” to ministry over the counsel of godly men in their lives and others who speak into their decision to plant a church. It would seem that a supernatural call to ministry is the exception, rather than the rule in Scripture.
Would I recommend the book?
Any man who is considering planting a church should read this book before making their decision.
Key Quotes
“Often a pastor has the greatest impact on his church only after he has been there a number of years. When pastors fail to endure in ministry, they drastically cut shirt their impact.”
“Pastoral ministry requires dogged, unyielding determination, and determination can only come from one source – God himself.”
“Husbands in the home and pastors in the church are not more valued or more gifted, but they are charged with more responsibility and will be accountable to God for the way they lead.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
Tags: acts29, church planting, elders, pastors
Review of “Holiness by Grace”, by Bryan Chapell
Oct 5, 2011 Book Reviews
As I read Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell, the same two thoughts continued to run through my mind. The first was that this is way too rich of a book to read quickly. The second was that Chapell avoids the overemphasized works aspect of Jerry Bridges’ book, The Discipline of Grace – a book on the same theme that I reviewed last week.
Chapell’s book is more theologically on, emphasizing grace more consistently. In fact, Holiness by Grace carries the same basic theme and tone as the Biblical book of Galatians —reminding redeemed followers of Jesus that they’ve been freed from sin. The penalty of sin has been placed on Jesus, and sin’s overt control of our lives has been dealt with by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The grace of God leads to the sanctification of his children. As the author says so well:
“Legalism makes believers think that God accepts them on the basis of what they do. Licentiousness makes believers think that God does not care what they do. Both errors have terrible spiritual consequences.”
Chapell moves from what grace looks like in the life of a believer to the joy and freedom it can bring. His encouragement is for a believer to live in the reality of his new position in Christ, completely justified by the work of Jesus Christ.
What did I like most about the book?
Chapell constantly reminds the reader that the grace that saves us from the penalty of sin is the same grace that saves from the power of sin. The paradoxical tension of justification and sanctification are on every page. He doesn’t avoid the tough questions, but faces them head on, starting with the most profound (and the one the Apostle Paul also saw as necessary to tackle): “If I am forgiven and justified, why not keep sinning?” Chapell’s answer is simple and biblical—thankfulness. With this, Chapell argues against the popular idea that a Christian should obey because it makes his own life better.
Chapell spends the remainder of the book encouraging us to live life in the reality that we are “in Christ.” Instead of laying on the guilt, he reminds us that not only are we secure in our position in Christ, but we have a new nature that empowers us to change. The beauty of Holiness by Grace is how it gently and graciously encourages people to live in light of these two realities.
Chapell brilliantly concludes his book with the parable of the workers in the vineyard that Jesus told in Matthew 20. In doing so, he answers anyone who would criticize his emphasis on grace by reminding them that his teaching agrees with Jesus’.
“If the primary reason that we honor God is our profit, then we will discover there are many occasions where honoring him offers us no apparent benefit. In those moments we will turn from his ways unless what motivates us is a desire to honor God for his grace rather than a seeking after our own benefit. What ultimately keeps our motives biblically prioritized and holy before God is the profound conviction that obeying God will merit us nothing.”
Would I recommend the book?
Absolutely.
Key Quotes
“If the primary reason that we honor God is our profit, then we will discover there are many occasions where honoring him offers us no apparent benefit. In those moments we will turn from his ways unless what motivates us is a desire to honor God for his grace rather than a seeking after our own benefit. What ultimately keeps our motives biblically prioritized and holy before God is the profound conviction that obeying God will merit us nothing.”
“Legalism makes believers think that God accepts them on the basis of what they do. Licentiousness makes believers think that God does not care what they do. Both errors have terrible spiritual consequences.”
“Grace should not make obedience optional. When God removes good works as a condition for his acceptance, he does not remove righteousness as a requirement for life.”
“In our childishness we may say to God, “If you really loved me, then you would not bother me, or limit me, or make demands on me.” However, we should understand that such requests are really demanding God’s absence from our lives, since his commands are an expression of his character and care in our lives. God will not grant such requests, because he promises never to leave or forsake us.”
Resources
Buy this book on Amazon.com
