It has always perplexed and bothered me that many, many books about the gospel (and many evangelical tools) start with the Law, or the cross, or the perceived needs of a particular person or group. Starting with the Law assumes that the person listening cares about what God says (and if he does, he probably already has an idea of the Law); starting with the cross assumes (or should assume) that the person already understands God and sin and human nature. Starting with the perceived needs of the people…well, that just misses the mark altogether, I think. Every non-Christian I know either thinks he understands everything (but doesn’t) or doesn’t understand anything about God; both of them need to start with the basics.
And that is exactly what Dan Phillips does. In The World-Tilting Gospel, he starts at the beginning: creation. Starting at this point, he is able to show us, from the Bible, who we are and who God is. He explains everything carefully and clearly so that there can be no question about what he is saying, and he backs it up with Scripture through the book.
Once we understand who we are and who God is, and how completely removed we are from God and His standard for us, then we are ready to continue to the next part of the book: God’s rescue plan. Here Phillips makes clear that God’s plan of salvation was planned from the beginning and executed in Christ, in His birth, life, death, and resurrection. Furthermore, it was completed in Christ: there is nothing left for us to do. Moreover, it is God who saves us.
Too many books and gospel messages seem to stop here: you have the gospel, now believe and get on with life. It’s where everyone who told me about salvation stopped. It’s a very bad place to stop because life doesn’t stop there. It keeps going.
So does The World-Tilting Gospel. Phillips goes on to talk about how even when we’re saved, there is still a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. He does not deny the struggle, nor does he give false hope that one day we will become perfect Christians without sin or struggles; it is a struggle that will only end with glorification in Christ’s presence. He also reminds us that we can’t use it as an excuse for sin. This leads nicely into the work of the Holy Spirit, who was sent to all believers. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that we can put to death sin; it is only through the Holy Spirit that we can know victory.
Phillips finishes by putting it all together. He shows us the ramifications of the gospel for our lives, how it has to be part of our entire lives, not just a part here or there. We must know the truth, we must live the truth, and we must tell the world the truth.
This is an excellent, excellent book. It is well-written and interesting. It outlines the gospel completely, from creation through the return of Christ, in a way that is clear and compelling.
~ Miss Dorothy
