Customer Reviews

The Gospel According to Jesus

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In my opinion, John MacArthur has hit a homerun with this book. If it were up to me, this book would be required reading for every pastor in America, but particularly pastors of megachurches, since an increasing number of megachurches are slipping into the easy believism that MacArthur successfully refutes here.

In a nutshell, MacArthur attempts to take on the concept that people can make allegedly sincere professions of faith in Christ and then be considered a Christian with certain eternal security even if their life bears no good fruit after their supposed conversion. This is an important question, both from a theological standpoint as well as from a Christian living perspective. An increasing number of churches, particularly a number of megachurches, have appeared to shy away from topics that remind people of the reality of sin, the need for repentance and forgiveness, and the important desire of being obedient to God and His Word because such sentiments are increasingly unpopular within the realm of comfortable Christianity. MacArthur argues that good works are not a precondition of salvation, thus affirming the historic Protestant position of salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ and relying on His grace. But having affirmed this position, MacArthur then goes into fabulous Biblical detail concerning the FRUITS by which genuine salvation can be measured. Critics of MacArthur's book have argued that MacArthur is preaching a works based salvation, but I think it's clear that MacArthur is not doing that. What he is saying is exactly what the Bible says, and what the historic Christian church has long affirmed - that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, and that genuine faith in Christ will produce good works via the influence of the Holy Spirit that is indicative of genuine salvation and the genuinely changed life that the Bible repeatedly speaks of for people who are truly converted. If critics want to call this a works based salvation, I believe this to be a serious oversight of the clear distinctions MacArthur makes between salvation by faith, versus the logical and Biblically outlined fruits of genuine salvation.

MacArthur further demonstrates that those who affirm easy believism and decry this as a works based salvation stand on extremely problematic ground relative to their own position on salvation. MacArthur points out that it is highly dubious to offer an easy believism salvation that basically states that as long as we make some kind of supposedly sincere affirmation of Jesus, we can then claim we are saved while continuing to live an unsaved life and not worry about whether our salvation is certain or not. This is an extraordinarily cheap form of salvation as a matter of Christian living. And I also believe it is catastrophic as a matter of theology. If all are agreed that the Holy Spirit enters a person's life upon faith in Christ, and all are agreed that the Holy Spirit is fully divine, how do the proponents of easy believism reconcile the notion that someone who is supposedly right with God and who has the Holy Spirit in them can continue to live an apostate life? What does that say about the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit if the Spirit can enter someone, but not change them? It seems to me that to believe in the concept of the 'carnal Christian' who never repents, never seeks forgiveness, never acknowledges sin, and never seeks to be obedient to God - all the while claiming that the Holy Spirit is in this person, almost automatically forces an argument for the impotence of the Holy Spirit as a matter of theology. Not only does this not make sense and cheapens both the Christian life and the Christian God, it results in a different gospel.

In conclusion, I believe that MacArthur has written an important book that is well documented Biblically. The Bible does not teach the concept of apostate Christians, it does not teach easy believism. It does teach that salvation is by faith, and that when a person makes a truly sincere profession of faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit will enter that person, and change that person over time by conforming him/her to the image of God. It does not teach that someone can make a profession in Christ at some point, and then God leaves that person alone to continue living a life that doesn't look any different from the life they lived prior to professing Christ. Nowhere does the Bible say that. So I am very happy to see MacArthur meticulously deconstruct the tenets of easy believism in favor of what both Jesus and the apostles repeatedly affirmed throughout the New Testament about the nature of salvation and living the Christian life.

I just finished reading The Gospel According to Jesus, and it was absolutely wonderful. I remember reading through the gospels about 8 years ago when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I had just started attending a seeker sensitive church, and we had a great pastor. But I remember even then, as I read through the gospels and studied the words of the Savior thinking that there was a lot more to accepting Jesus than just praying a silent prayer to yourself at the end of the service. It required a change of lifestyle, a change of heart, a change of attitude, and an understanding of my own sin and depravity. In short, it was not an "easy" thing to accept. And life has borne out that following Him is not always "easy", not always "fun", and the trials that come to test your faith can often be excruciatingly painful. That said, I *have* trusted Him, have kept the faith, and continue to remain in His grace and to seek His strength and direction for my life. I share with Dr. MacArthur a deep appreciation for the true gospel, and a desire to share it with others. I think there are way too many people out there who accept something that is a poor substitute for the gospel Jesus came to give us, and I fear there are a great many people who have been lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to eternal salvation. This is one of the reasons I have such a problem with the likes of Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, and others who pervert and distort the real message of our Lord.

As good as this book is, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are even better. If you really want to know the gospel of Jesus, go there first and let Him speak to you personally. For some clear insight and instruction on the difficult passages, you can do far worse than reading this book by John MacArthur. And by difficult, I don't necessarily mean hard to understand intellectually, I mean difficult to accept spiritually. Obedience and submission are a difficult road to travel--perhaps more especially in this decadent worldly society, but "the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life..."

Tell you family that you love them and ... thats it. Go back to the TV and leave them alone. Right? WRONG! . . Thus faith is just the beginning of a relationship. Faith is not a singularity. It bonds with love and progresses toward yearning and action. It matures into discipleship. . . Thats exactly the point of this inspiring book. No it is not and does not claim to be a gospel as some dumbfounded reviewers have accused. . . Mr. MacArthur's beautifully laid out presentation invites one to allow their acceptance in faith to be the starting point of an eternal relationship. Faith enraptures the believer in righteousness and moves him into a repentant lifestyle. A new life filled with spiritual self-examination. A moving away from selfishness to selflessness. A communion with right and a turning from wrong. Any salvation through faith that does not alter a lifestyle of sin and transform the heart is not the salvation that God's word speaks. Yes faithfully accepting Jesus as your personal Savior is essential in salvation. But that is only the beginning of you soulfilled desire to voluntarily love and emmulate Jesus. Faith does not allow simple lip service and then a return to your darkened selfish world. He that practices life in faith comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. Thus these are the challenges this book deeply and carefully presents and discusses. It is extensively footnoted to the New Testament. It expounds the major evangelistic messages of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I enjoyed reading "The Gospel According to Jesus". MacArthur does a good job laying out the truth of the gospel. The appendix, the gospel according to the apostles, is a bonus. I did find myself wishing MacArthur would have phrased certain statements better, but overall a work that needs to be read.

The bottom line and main point of the book is that you must receive Jesus Christ as everything or you do not receive him at all. You can't pick and choose which or what parts of Jesus you want. Its all or nothing. It's a hard read for those who want a Savior but not a Lord.

I am amazed at how people argue against this, so called, "Lordship Salvation" topic. Whether one reads the book or not, Jesus Christ was perfectly clear that He is Lord over those who believe in Him. The fruit of salvation *MUST* be expressed in a Christians life to reveal the truth of conversion. Many people state that they are Christians, but show forth NO expression of that truth in their lives. It's simple ~ Jesus demands obedience! The Bible shows forth this truth time and time again...

[Quote]

"Then his (Jesus) mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you. "But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and DO IT." Luke 8:19-21

I recommend this book to all Christians. I believe MacArthur does an excellent job in defending the truth of Jesus' Gospel. If you are not a fan of John MacArthur, or you don't believe in the sovereignty of God; please do NOT let that stop you from reading this book. The truth contained in its pages alone is worth the read. :)

"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

The Gospel According to Jesus: What Is Authentic Faith?

I don't always care for MacArthur's writings. He seems a bit full of himself. But on this topic he is right on the spot. The church is in the process of replacing the real Jesus with a made-up non-lord of the universe one. Buy this book, read it, and pray for us all

This book is very worthwhile. Cites scripture to make points. Valuable for learning how to evangelize effectively and also for personal discipleship. Not fluffy.

This book demonstrates that the author has thought carefully about the issues involved. The book is inspiring, deep and gives much food for thought. I have a fresh appreciation and understanding for a number of Jesus's parables after reading this book. Highly recommended for those who like to grapple with meaning behind Christ's teachings and apply it to their life.

It once-and-for-all refutes the false doctrine of "easy-believism" (correctly termed as "easy-credulism" in Spanish)! I highly recommend it.