The Gospel According to Jesus
Absolutely foundational
We kick off She Speaks Truth's Book Review week with the book that, outside the Bible itself, is the most foundational to my faith. The Gospel According to Jesus also happens to be John MacArthur's most famous book (and he's written a LOT of books). Why is this book worth your time? In a nutshell, because it rights a wrong.
A movement that swept through Christianity a few decades back had the effect of cheapening the gospel. It taught that all one has to do to be saved is simply to believe that Jesus died for our sins.
The problem with this oversimplification is that it is not supported by the Bible, and Dr. MacArthur brings page after page after page of Scripture to show us why, including Acts 16:31 which says "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." I had heard this verse used as "proof" that all you have to do to be saved is "believe." But it says that you must believe in the LORD Jesus - in other words, you need to acknowledge that He is Lord. That has ramifications beyond just getting a free pass out of hell.
Likewise, James 2:19 points out that even the demons "believe" in Jesus, but they don't acknowledge Him as Lord, and they don't belong to Him.
You may in fact be surprised by how the Bible supports MacArthur's case for authentic faith, including countless passages that clarify how repentance is a part of the salvation experience. And countless others that point to increasing obedience as a key factor characterizing the true believer. MacArthur lays out all of this in an absolute masterclass in Bible-saturated salvation theology.
And the reason for the title is that MacArthur focuses heavily on what Jesus really said and did during His time on earth - and boy, did He ever say some hard things that require our most sober attention. MacArthur explains how Jesus heralds His gospel, as well as how He illustrates, explains, and fulfills His gospel. This is a thorough treatment of a most important topic.
I like this quote from the book:
It may surprise you to learn that Scripture never once exhorts sinners to ‘accept Christ.’ The familiar twenty-first-century evangelistic appeal in all its variations (make a decision for Christ, ask Jesus into your heart, try Jesus, accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior), violates both the spirit and the terminology of the biblical summons to unbelievers. The gospel invitation is not an entreaty for sinners to allow the Savior into their lives. It is both an appeal and a command for them to repent and follow Him. It demands not just passive acceptance of Christ but active submission to Him as well. Those unwilling to surrender to Christ cannot recruit Him to be part of a crowded life. He will not respond to the beckoning of a heart that cherishes sin. He will not enter into partnership with one who loves to fulfill the passions of the flesh. He will not heed the plea of a rebel who simply wants Him to enter and by His presence sanctify a life of continued disobedience. The great miracle of redemption is not that we accept Christ, but that He accepts us.
This book could not be more theologically sound because it surveys the entire Bible to support its thesis. This is the way Bible study should be done - holistically digging into all of Scripture to discover, with the Holy Spirit's help, what to think about - well, almost anything. This is the answer to the flippant meme-posting Christian who thinks one verse out of context makes his or her point. The Bible is a big book that takes effort and humility to understand and apply - a most worthy endeavor that should be one of our primary priorities throughout our lifetime.
And with this topic, the stakes couldn't be higher - it's literally a heaven or hell matter. If Christ has made no difference in your life, if He is not the most important focal point of your existence — your soul is likely in peril. That being said, the free gift of salvation is there for anyone who genuinely seeks it.
If you're looking for a robust Bible study — particularly for new believers, but really for anyone — working your way through The Gospel According to Jesus, say a chapter a week, would be an outstanding approach, either alone or with others. There is plenty of meat here, and it will point you to nothing more — or less — than His Word. Get it right now here.