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The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out

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One amazing word: union. At times, believers may think they are living life on their own and gaining "help" from God when the going gets rough. Life doesn't have to be like that!!!! When someone is in union with something else, your life is not separate. It is together, it is "one." If you are a child of God, you are "one" with God. I needed to hear that and this book was used instrumentally in revealing that truth. I trust God will lead you to read this as well.

The message of Stone's book is written in an accessible, "folksie" style but it is profound: that a Christian believer's spiritual death, rebirth, and indwelling by Christ are far more than metaphorical statements about a spiritual reality that is outside our grasp to understand. Rather, a believer's death, rebirth and union with the Spirit of Christ is a metaphysical reality by which that believer's essential self, from the moment of receiving Christ, enters into the exact eternal life Christians have traditionally believed was only available after the death of their bodies.
After reading and receiving revelation from the Holy Spirit regarding the Scriptural teachings explained in this book, pursuits such as "imitating Christ," "spiritual formation," "seeking God's presence," etc. will cease to be a focus of a reader's walk with God. Instead their walk will consist of getting their self-conceived interpretation of "what Jesus would do" out of the way. Moving away from a view of being separate from God and thus having to seek after His will, readers will discover the real potential for living fulfilling lives rests in moment by-moment faith and trust in God's willingness and ability to live out His activities in Perfect Union with their own unique spirits in the guise of their unique and God-ordained humanity with all its "bumps and warts."
Whether a mature believer or a new believer, this deeply encouraging book will tranform and define your walk, offering true "hope for glory." (P.S. Don't skip the intro to the book.)

The book deals with a subject that is virtually untouched by pastors and preachers. I believe the reason is that one cannot teach on a subject where they have never been.

Through many years of Christian life, the author knew something in his Christian life was missing and as it was revealed to him, he did a superb job in short, concise chapters of conveying his experiences to others. In the American culture, too often we take our identity from the "things of the world". Then, when we become Christians we are confounded to learn the world in which we live is not reality in the eyes of God.

Stone explains the necessity of taking upon a new identity and living a life of faith out of that identity. He gives us an eternal, biblical perspective from which to learn the thought processes which leads to true life, the abundant life. The book is for true believers who are tired of the pablum dispensed from pulpits. I have gone through the book personally, been in a small group where each chapter was discussed on a weekly basis and I am currently leading a small discussion group with enormous success. It is a subject matter that can be engaged with knowing you will gain better insight in how God sees you and, as a result, experience the life of faith as it is intended to be. It is definitely a "gotta have" book.

Wow. At age 41, I didn't think I could really ever read any new book that would blow my mind when it came to the gospel. I thought I pretty much "had it down." It was so very interesting to note, through reading this book, how "Westernized" and self-reliant my pious life was -- and how perfectly freeing it is to live from the perspective of "Christ in me, the hope of glory." I've purchased (thus far) 25 copies of this book and have given each away. Stone uses vivid imagery (e.g., "the line," "the swing," and others) to remind us (and teach us anew) of the original, beautiful gospel that we've sadly muddied with our collective sets of rules, regulations and "how to" books. How fabulous it is to toss them away. I no longer approach God on the basis of my flesh's track record. Woo hoo!

The best book on living the Christian life I have ever read! During the Reformation, salvation by faith alone through Gods grace revolutionized the Christian world. Today, I believe that most Christians have a good understanding of salvation by faith but very little understanding of how to walk the life of faith through grace. This book reveals a walk with Christ that is totally based on Gods amazing grace! I didn't even realize how works oriented by life was until I read this book. I believe the truths that are brought to light in this book have the power to change the face of Christianity again...they sure have for me.

Of all the great books on becoming more like Christ - such as those by Steven McVey - Dan Stone has really got it all together. After spending the greater part of his Christian life fumbling around trying to do the "right" stuff, he asked himself, "Is this all there is to the Christian life?" That question led him on a spiritual journey that can be emulated by any serious follower of Jesus Christ. If this book isn't in your library, your walk with Christ is most likely more difficult than it has to be.

If I had to choose two books to keep by my bedside (in addition to my Bible) they would be "The Rest of the Gospel" and "The Seeking Heart" by Fenelon.

The Rest of the Gospel is written with such clarity and yet with amazing depth of insight. It gets to the heart of the Christian walk, which is "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."--Galatians 2:20.

I had been praying for revelation of this particular truth as I was having difficulty understanding "dying to self". This book was an answer to that prayer. I bought extras and gave them away--it is that important.

I can't reccommend this book highly enough. After trying his hand at "religion" for years, the author finally discovered the reality of "Christ in you, the hope of glory." I think that so much of Christian teaching these days is really spiritualized self-help. I think the author gets to the heart of the Christian life which is a total dependence on God. This book will challenge your faith and indeed you won't benefit untill you take the steps of faith necessary to trust God and his word. But as you do take those steps, you will discover more and more freedom and joy in your life. This book has been a great help to me.

This is a must read for every Christian. The book is easy to read and will open your eyes and heart to the truth of the whole gospel. We are "more than conquerors" and who we believe we are in Christ makes a difference in our walk and relationship with God and others. I can't possibly express the value of the content of the book.

I am currently teaching through The Rest of the Gospel at one of our Church's Bible studies. This book is nothing but meat - deep, powerful spiritual meat. Dan Stone has a gift of taking complex spiritual truths and making them simple - putting them on the lower shelf, so to speak.

This book is an excellent understanding of the New Covenant and all of its teachings: the Christian's new Identity in Christ, Grace vs. Law, resting in Christ, walking in Christ, our inseparable union with Christ.

It also teaches what many Christians struggle with: knowing they are forgiven, but yet still feeling the obligation of the Law to perform/live perfectly. This struggle is really due to an incomplete understanding of the Grace of God and the believer's relationship to the Old Testament Law. Romans 7 teaches that the believer has "died to the Law through the body of Christ". Well, what does that mean? Read this book. Romans 6 teaches that "all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death". What does that mean? Read this book. Romans 6 teaches that all believers have "died to sin"... again, read this book.

In a nutshell, if the only truth about Christianity that you know is that "Jesus died for my sins", then you do not know the complete Gospel. This book will teach you the "rest of the Gospel". That may sound like heresy to some people, but please understand that all of it is in the Bible. It's not to say that this is some "new teaching that has never been taught before". No, it is to say that this is some old Biblical teaching that YOU may have never been taught before. The difference is huge, and it will set you free.

In my opinion, this is the best Christian book I have ever read. The book is very readable, and it covers some really great, deep spiritual truths. You will not be disappointed.

Bless you,
Joel