The Truth About the Lordship of Christ by John MacArthur

Thank you Thomas Nelson for early preview of this work, this opportunity continues to be a blessing to me.

In The Truth About the Lordship of Christ, MacArthur is not dealing with minor problems or disputes peripheral to the faith, but with the crucial issue of all—namely, What does it mean to be a Christian? His answers in this condense work addresses what I consider to be the core issue of present-day Christianity.

Why is today’s church so pathetic? Why are we able to tout many conversions and grow church members but have less and less impact on our culture? How is it that Christians are indistinguishable from the world? Is it because we are calling the unregenerate/lost, Christians? Or is it that many are settling for a “form of godliness but denying its power”

(2 Timothy 3:1-5 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F55003001-55003005(ESV))? This pivotal work in MacArthur’s Truth series is successful in turning true followers/disciples from the feeble gospel and deceitful propaganda of this age to a true gospel-centered focus. This work reveals a man whose conscience is clearly taken captive by the Word of God. It reveals that he knows how to read the Bible for what it actually says, and is fearless in proclaiming that Word to desperate and handicapped generation.

As with all of MacArthur’s works, this book was very interesting, concise, and thorough.  As always, MacArthur also challenges, inspires, and enlightens in a very charitable way.  MacArthur teaches us through scripture to discern and think;

• that there is no justification without regeneration. “You must be born again”                   (John 3:7 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43003007(ESV)).
• that faith without works is a dead (James 2:20 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F59002020(ESV)).
• that the mark of true justification is a perseverance in righteousness—to the very end. “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved”      (Matthew 10:22 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40010022(ESV)).
• that faith in a Jesus who is Savior but not Lord, is faith in a Jesus of one’s own devising or idolatry, the making of Jesus Christ in our own image. The Jesus who saves is the Lord—there is no other—and it was He who said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F42006046(ESV)).
• that if you want to serve Christ, you must deny yourself and take up His cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F42009023(ESV)).
• that “without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F58012014(ESV)).

• that it is time for believers to own their maturity and responsibility before a sovereign Lord (Hebrews 5:13-14 http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F58005013-58005014(ESV)).

This revision of “The Gospel According to Jesus” in a booklet form presents itself in a cohesive, and yet appealing manner.  This work is saturated in scripture and I appreciated the non-italicizing (as in my flesh I tend to skip over them) of the scripture references and formatting them as part of the writing and text.  Well done.  I would recommend this book to all, in all walks of life, regenerate or unregenerate.

The Truth About the Lordship of Christ By John MacArthur / Thomas Nelson