Ann Jervis communicates the Gospel clearly and repeatedly throughout the book, primarily as the Gospel and the cross relate to suffering, but also as the Gospel and the cross relate to knowing Jesus personally, and as a result, how we are invited to strive with God's spirit to follow and enjoy Jesus. The Gospel and the cross are in the forefront across the entire book. Following is an example passage of how Ann Jervis says that God's righteousness by faith frees us from the power of sin (page 86):
"In chs. 9-11 [of Romans] Paul seeks to make believers aware of our propensity, which we share with the rest of humanity, to blame God and trust in our own capabilities as if we owned ourselves. In doing this Paul endeavors to help believers, and through believers all humanity, to escape an experience of living tinged by angst and doubt and the futile desire to control our lives and create our own forms of justice apart from the only justice there is --- that of God. Paul's worry is that believers readily succumb to the comfort of our own versions of reality, of our place in it, and of what constitutes right and wrong and as a result limit God's trustworthiness/righteousness to our own categories (11:25). When we do this, we, like the rest of humanity, are subject to the useless and tormenting exercise of trying to be our own God. Reading these chapters, Luther puts it that Paul invites his readers into a life which, by being based on faith is freed of sin's dominance so that "the believer is afraid of nothing, but stands quiet and secure on a firm rock."
Following is an example passage of how the Gospel of Christ gives believers a new and alternate reality in the midst of suffering (page 68):
"What is clear is that Paul views everything in his life, including his suffering, as part of his new reality "in" Christ. As a consequence, Paul radically redefines the ostensible power dynamics of his situation; while the civic authorities may have put him in chains, Paul knows and experiences his fetters not as their doing but "in" Christ. He does not seek to defend his circumstances by blaming them on other people's anger toward the gospel. Paul rather accepts his suffering as part and parcel of being "in" Christ."
If you love the Gospel and the cross in the sense portrayed by Timothy Keller, C.S. Lewis and Matrix the movie, e.g. an alternate reality, and/or in the sense that presupposition-truth-changes-everything, per Cornelius Van Til and John Frame, then you will like this book. Or as Calvin and Hobbs comics say, the Gospel means "There's treasure everywhere".
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
