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Jesus' Teachings on Salvation, October 9,
2007
"The gospel in vogue today holds forth a false hope to
sinners. It promises them they can have eternal life yet continue
to live in rebellion against God." ~ John F. MacArthur
John F. MacArthur presents a more radical approach to
Christianity. In "The Gospel According to Jesus" he
takes the reader on a journey to the heart of Jesus' message. This
book is the result of seven years of serious study and it shows.
He answers the following questions:
What is authentic faith in Christ?
What is a true conversion?
Will asking Jesus into your heart get you to heaven?
Can you become a believer if you don't repent of your sins?
What are the signs of a true believer?
If you have ever had any doubts about your salvation this is a
very interesting read. Not only does the author base his teachings
on the words of Christ, he explains them in ways I've never heard
before. I was very interested in his comparison between Nicodemus
and the woman by the well. He also brings a much fuller
understanding to biblical stories of salvation.
"The mark of a true disciple is not that he never sins, but
rather that when he does sin he inevitably returns to the Lord to
receive cleansing and forgiveness." ~ pg. 111
John F. MacArthur makes some excellent points about the life of a
Christian after conversion. Many of the topics discussed will
shock you back into the reality of Christ's true teachings.
Throughout this book he explains the spiritual truths in Jesus'
parables.
What I appreciated most about this work was the emphasis on Jesus'
teachings and the excellent translation of Jesus' ideas for our
modern society. If you are willing to take an honest look at your
faith then I can highly recommend this to you. I can honestly say
that the teachings in this book will lead you to a much happier
life as a Christian. You can test out the theories and teachings
and decide what is true in your own life.
~The Rebecca Review
Jesus in America
Jesus' Influence on American Culture, July
5, 2008
Richard Wightman Fox's "Jesus in America" gives a more
complete picture of Christianity as it has evolved over hundreds
of years in America. While he seems to focus mostly on events from
the seventeenth to the twentieth century he does cover topics as
diverse as seventeenth-century martyrs, movies about Jesus and
"the Da Vinci Code."
While it is true that you will learn more about Jesus from reading
His words in the Bible, this book shows how a belief in Jesus
influences people's ideas about slavery and war and how each
generation attempts to mold the image of Jesus for their own
purposes or causes.
This book takes forever to read but it is worth the effort. The
only shocking thing in this book is probably the story of how
Benjamin Franklin tried to change The Lord's Prayer. What
audacity! It is also interesting to see how religious people
continued to try to de-divinize Christ. After reading this book
you are left with a feeling of love and respect for the greatest
teacher of all time. For Christians this will deepen their respect
for Christ the Savior and for unbelievers it shows Jesus'
influence on American culture.
If you are interested in other items that I loved and reviewed,
here are a few items you might enjoy:
7
Signs of Christ's Return
The
End Times : In the Words of Jesus
What
Jesus Demands from the World
The
Gospel According to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus
(2000)
No
Wonder They Call Him the Savior: Chronicles of the Cross
Just
Like Jesus
Jesus:
An Intimate Portrait of the Man, His Land, and His People
What
Christians Believe
~The Rebecca Review
What Jesus Demands from the World
Are all Christians really going to Heaven? , June
5, 2008
"I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no
repentance." ~ Luke 15:17
For Christians who take their salvation lightly, this book may
shock them into reality. "What Jesus Demands from the
World" is based on the words of Christ and for the most part
the author takes them literally. He speaks out against divorce and
shows how Christ sets an even higher standard for marriage.
I've read quite a few books on Jesus and this is one of my
favorites. By reading this book you can see how many of Jesus'
demands you are observing in your daily life. There are familiar
and not so familiar verses so it is possible to learn many new
things in each chapter. If you thought you only had to pray a
salvation prayer to get into heaven, then this book might seem a
little shocking to you.
Does your love for Jesus need to be an emotion or is this type of
love more of an act of the will?
Is there really a hell and how can you avoid going there?
How can you love God and fear Him at the same time?
Could a selfish spirit keep you out of heaven?
Why is it more difficult for a rich man to enter heaven?
John Piper answers these questions and more. His insight is superb
and the way the book is organized makes it very easy to read. Each
chapter begins with relevant verses and this is followed by a
brief explanation. You can read each chapter like a devotional or
read the book in a matter of days. As you read this book you will
notice the demands that apply to you and in this way you can
become more like Christ as you decide on how to put Christ's words
into action.
~The Rebecca Review
Jesus: Why the world is still fascinated by Him
A Compelling Case for Christ, June 15, 2009
Tim Lahaye is a much needed voice to combat modern
misconceptions about Jesus' life. In "Jesus: Why The World Is
Still Fascinated By Him" he doesn't really address the
reasons why Jesus fascinates us, instead he presents convincing
evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. He shows how Old Testament
prophesies were fulfilled in the New Testament. There is a list of
Jesus' prophecies and their fulfillment. You might also be
surprised by the list of similarities between the life of Moses
and Jesus Christ. It is something I've never seen in any other
book I've read on Jesus. So there is a lot of new information
combined with traditional teachings "about" Jesus.
This book does not focus on the teachings "of" Jesus but
instead seeks to prove that no one else could be the Savior of the
world. Since how you think of Jesus could determine your eternal
destiny this book could not appear at a better time. As a
Christian, this book strengthened my faith. I'd recommend this
book to atheists and Christians alike. "Jesus: Why The World
Is Still Fascinated By Him" is a compelling case for Christ!
~The Rebecca Review
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