6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The gospel: The power of God to save., April 15, 2005
This review is from: Around The Wicket Gate (The Spurgeon Collection) (Paperback)
The title of this book relates to Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress. The Pilgrim had to go through a little wicket gate, which stands for the entrance into the Kingdom (or salvation).
Charles Spurgeon, a greatly gifted physician of souls, was concerned that many hung around the wicket gate, as it were, but did not go in. Part of the problem being that they found many reasons to exclude themselves from the simple, honest and real invitation to every man, woman and child, who was willing to enter in. Remember the leper who came to Jesus and said: "If You are willing, You can make me clean"? Jesus answered: "I am willing, be clean", and with that He touched and healed the sick man. There was no lack of willingness in Jesus. All who come to Him for salvation will find it, because He was so willing that He actually died to get us in.
But even to believers the mysteries of the wicket gate can be quite daunting. After all, if we are not sure how we got in the gate, we can hardly recommend it to others! It only takes a little doubt to shut us up, and make us feel that if we only ploughed our way through a virtual library of books our assurance in the gospel would return. This won't do.
But what should someone do to be saved? Must they conclude that the wicket gate, that gives them access to light and life, is actually their baptism; or their going forward in a meeting; or their sinner's prayer; or even their spoken declaration to follow Jesus? This is what this small book is concerned with and helps us understand.
Why do I recommend this book to you? I do so because the gospel is at once utterly simple and at the same time profoundly deep. The gospel is, actually, if you wish to look at it like this, an introduction to the real and living Lord, Jesus Christ. It is not just accepting a number of propositions; neither is it simply getting your head round some difficult concepts. It is quite literally to encounter Jesus for yourself.
The reason that the gospel is the power of God to save is that it presents Jesus. The evangelist doesn't save people, nor, in a sense, does the repentant sinner get HIMSELF saved. The gospel is a wicket gate - a door. That door is Jesus. It's not just about Jesus; it is Jesus! "I am the door", says Jesus, "He who enters by Me shall be saved".
When you get excited about the "wicket gate" you aren't just getting excited about some method or way of salvation, you are getting excited about Jesus; the Jesus that died and rose again for you. That's why I can happily recommend this book to you: I want you to know Him.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
around the wicket gate, February 4, 2000
Spurgeon's book is a concise look at scriptural teaching on what true salvation is, and is not. He uses the allegory "Pilgrim's Progress" to illustrate his teachings on the matter. This book is an easy read, but pithy and thought-provoking. I enjoyed this book very much and have passed it on to others.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
