2020 was the year the Lord opened my eyes to the things contained in this book. I became deeply convicted that there is another significant step for the church to take in our understanding of the gospel. I do not mean anything new (though perhaps new to many of us), but greater comprehension of that which was written across the pages of scripture thousands of years ago. Among those who look to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, there are disturbingly few who understand how the finished work of Christ actually brings about its intended effect. And thus, "[God's] people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6).
Humbly, I suggest that it may not matter whether you have heard the gospel a thousand times, been in church your whole life, read volumes of Christian literature, attended a good seminary, or spent years in ministry. I fit all those categories, and while they provided somewhat of a foundation for my own spiritual life and ministry, for nearly ten years, there was a crack right down the middle of that foundation, which left it weak, unstable, and unfit for building anything on top of it. I find this also to be the case for the vast majority of Christians, including their leaders, pastors, teachers, etc. And I am confident that this has little to do with my specific tradition. The longer I live, the more apparent it becomes that these foundational truths are absent in every denomination and nearly every church worldwide.
Jim, a man in my church, recently shared a story that illustrates this unfortunate reality. At a semi-annual non-profit celebration, he was speaking with a brother in Christ whom he had just met. This brother was what I might describe as a "seasoned church-goer" or a "learned Christian," familiar with and entrenched in all the usual ways and wisdom of today's church. In their conversation, the man found out that Jim's church meets in a home each week (we call it a "house church"), and he appeared very concerned. This commenced a series of questions, an interrogation of sorts, to discern whether there may be any errors in Jim's theology or practice.
When he asked what occurred during our gatherings, Jim explained that, among other things, there was usually some teaching. The brother said, "Well, who does the teaching?"
"I did some teaching recently," Jim responded.
"Do you have a seminary degree or any formal training?"
"No."
"Well, what did you teach on?"
"Galatians."
"What books did you use?" the man inquired.
"We used Galatians," said Jim.
At that, the man paused and shifted. There was silence. He stared into space, and then, with a new demeanor, said, "You know, I have been reading Galatians lately, and there's this verse that I keep thinking about — 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me' [Galatians 2:20]. It feels really important, but I just don't understand it."
As Jim told us this part of the story, we all laughed with him in delight because, in many ways, this verse defines our fellowship. It is the air we breathe. Most of us have been exactly where this man was — familiar with and entrenched in all the ways and wisdom of today's church, yet never equipped to comprehend, let alone walk in, some of the most important and powerful truths in the Bible — but God has since used this verse and others like it to change our lives. We laughed because we knew that this man was in for a real treat, and we couldn't help but think that God had orchestrated this conversation to enlighten the eyes of yet another brother's heart.
In my first edition of this book, I wrote: "I have yet to find any stream of the Christian faith or any literature whatsoever (besides the Bible) that teaches these things well. I assume they are out there; I just do not know where." Well, thankfully, I was right; they are out there, as I have discovered over the last five years. Since 2020, it has been quite remarkable how the Lord has also introduced me to other believers throughout the world (and even in my own city) who have been taught these things by the Lord, just like me. As it turns out, the understanding that God gave me in 2020 is something he's been working to restore in his church, in different pockets throughout the world, for quite some time. And the number of Christians on earth today who are finding unity here is growing steadily. To my core, I believe that this should be widespread knowledge in the church. And more, I feel that, regardless of our typical variances in beliefs, nearly all of my Christian brothers and sisters can find common ground here. It is Solid Rock, and it is time we learn to build upon it.
For those wondering, why write a second edition?, it is pretty simple. While I have been grateful and pleased to see the first edition bless many people, I have also seen how it failed to help people and where it still left room for questions and confusion. While that will always be the case to some degree, I know that I have learned and grown a lot between then and now, and my heart burns to be more clear, more accurate, and more helpful — all things for which I believe I am equipped.
Now, to the point. I tell you truly, what God has accomplished for those who trust in the name of Jesus is so immeasurably tremendous and inconceivably marvelous that to comprehend and believe it entirely would instantaneously render any person unrecognizable, brightly shining with the glory of God. This sort of profound life transformation is not a unique grace given to a select, lucky few (like the Apostle Paul, for instance). Nor is it a gift given only to the "holy elite" who have unusual amounts of passion and time for the things of God. It is for every person who believes in and belongs to Jesus. There should be no question that the message of Christianity promises anything less.
This being the case, we must ask what is missing in the church, perhaps even in our own lives. If our gospel is this powerful, how have we so failed to realize its promises? Why is it that we are not further along this path to sanctification? How does sin still have such a hold on God's people? We know, in theory, that we are to become like Christ and that "with God, all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). However, in practice, this has been more difficult than it should be. Whether in our personal struggles or our ministry to others, I believe many lifelong Christians would say that they have seen and experienced lackluster results (besides the occasional exception) compared to what we read about in the Bible. Thus, in frustration, disappointment, or whatever it may be, we have settled for a gospel that is not quite as wonderful as the one we initially hoped to be true, seeking elsewhere for solutions to our real-life issues.
We need not blame anyone; there is certainly no fruit to bear from pointing fingers. For the sake of our discussion, let us attribute the current state of things to the simple fact that we cannot know what we have not heard. "And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14) It may be tough for those who have been in Christian leadership or scholarship to admit that we have missed anything so important, but I implore the church to keep pride out of the picture. What matters most is the salvation of souls, including our own. And if what I say is true (which is still for you to determine), then the next great move of God will almost certainly include disseminating this knowledge to his church. It is that important. It is that powerful. And you will not want to miss it. There is little doubt in my mind that if the church can broadly comprehend and embrace the good news in its original apostolic form, the sheer magnitude of revival (personal and corporate) will be like nothing we have seen before.
The gospel should always have this kind of effect, and it is an effect that does not wear off. Once we see it clearly, we do not become numb to it but evermore aware of it. We do not grow tired of it but are increasingly energized by it. We do not feel the need to move on to other things but to see it more sharply. It is an entirely sufficient foundation for the day-to-day life of every Christian, a never-ending fuel for the fire within us.
Jesus said, "the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). So tell me, Christian, does your understanding of the truth explain how the truth itself is the mechanism for change? Or do you find yourself resorting to other methods? Does your understanding of the gospel explain how faith alone makes sin impossible and righteousness inevitable, or does it instead explain how faith and sin can co-exist quite nicely? Does your knowledge of God's grace propel you daily out of your old ways and into the new, or does it leave you feeling stuck in the same patterns as always? Has your relationship with God proven to be enough in every moment to keep you living above your feelings and circumstances, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, always rejoicing and giving thanks for the hope within you? Or is it not enough for this, and you feel the need to supplement it with other things to achieve some form of the life that you know you're designed to live?
And just as importantly, what effect does it have on those with whom you share it?
If any part of you resonates with the idea that "maybe we're missing something" or "the gospel is supposed to do more than this," then I'm here to tell you that you either do not have the whole picture or have simply forgotten it. In either case, my sincere hope is to bring greater clarity and conviction into your life regarding the gospel in which you believe and partake.
For a very long time now, God has been working to restore the message as it is plainly written in scripture. Some will think there is no need for this, as though we already have it. They may feel it is off-putting even to suggest such a thing. "Who are you to think you have a deeper understanding of the gospel?" they will say. And the truth is, I am no one — just a believer doing his best to share what God has shared with me through scripture, through other Christians, and through his Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth (see John 16:13). I do not personally claim to have the fullest picture of it. I simply intend to move the needle a bit further, hoping others will take it all the way. Whether or not I get everything exactly right is not my greatest concern. I am far from infallible and remain open to correction. Yet still, I am compelled by God to share what I believe with the same level of conviction that I believe it. It is up to you to discern for yourself what is true.
One of the most common concerns I hear when I begin to speak of the gospel as I do in this book is, "If this is true, then why have I never heard it before?" Or, "If this is true, then why hasn't God revealed it to his church up to this point?" I do not pretend to know the answer to that question, but I know where you can find it. Look back five hundred years to the Protestant Reformation. If you can tell me how the gospel became so perverted that the selling of indulgences for the forgiveness of sins was common practice in the church for roughly five hundred years, then you will have your answer. How was the most basic essence of the gospel — that is, salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ — almost entirely lost to the church until the 1500s? I have no idea. It is downright baffling. But it happened. Let us take note.
Hindsight is 20/20, sure, but we need not be entirely blind to the moment we are in. It is undoubtedly much easier to acknowledge the changes that needed to happen in the past than to recognize our current lack of understanding and need for theological reformation. But it would be just as foolish to assume we see it all clearly today as it would to think the church saw things clearly then. It should not offend us one bit that God may have more work to do in this regard, and we at least ought to be open to it if it holds the possibility of benefiting our souls.
A Few Points of Clarity
(1) It is important to state that sanctification is the primary matter at hand. You may not like this term for one reason or another, in which case you might call this something different — like spiritual growth, maturity, holiness, Christ-likeness, imparted righteousness, the character of God, perfection, perfecting love, the fruit of the Spirit, overcoming sin, etc. All of these terms are fine to use as long as we can agree, without exception, that radical transformation is an important result of the Christian life. It is our calling, our destiny. As we follow Jesus, the goal is that our thoughts, feelings, and actions increasingly align with his and we bear the abundant fruit he promises.
(2) We need not agree yet about the details of sanctification — what exactly it looks like, how quickly it occurs, or the degree to which it is possible in this life. All these are secondary and unnecessary squabbles compared to the issue at hand, which is how God brings about the fruit of sanctification in our lives through the work of Jesus Christ. Part of God's good news is that Jesus transforms us, and we want to know how to receive this gift in the fullest way possible. This is our focus, and it is a big deal. Let us not get caught straining out gnats while swallowing a camel (see Matthew 23:24).
(3) I do not want to come across as if I think the church has gotten everything wrong. There is plenty of teaching in the church that is good and edifying, not the least of which is that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised for our justification. And the fruit of that message alone, even when it is not fully understood or perfectly articulated, is something I hope we can all recognize and enjoy. Praise God! But there is also much teaching that is not good and edifying. Many teachings — quite prevalent— do nothing more than confuse the simple truth and undermine the power of the gospel despite the teachers' best intentions. Once you see this, you cannot unsee it. It will shape and inform every area of your life and ministry moving forward.
Tips for Reading This Book
(1) In this process, I believe it matters a great deal which Bible translation you use. Given the specific content we will cover in this book, the more literal the translation, the better. At the very least, it is ideal that your Bible tells you in a footnote when it has chosen to use a different word or wording than what is in the original language. For this book, I have chosen the English Standard Version for all my Bible references. This is for two basic reasons. One, I am personally very familiar with it. Two, its relatively close adherence to the original language makes it suitable for the task at hand (although I still have my frustrations with it sometimes). While there is no perfect translation, the following are some others you may find suitable: The Lexham English Bible (LEB), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), or The New King James Version (NKJV). In the United States, two translations that I often see being used, which I would deter you from using, are the New Living Translation (NLT) and The Message (MSG), the former of which takes far too many interpretative liberties and the latter of which is one man's paraphrasing and not a translation at all.
(2) It is God's desire for you to understand spiritual things, most notably his gospel. But I am utterly convinced — and scripture says as much — that no one can obtain knowledge of the things of God through their own intellect (see 1 Corinthians 2:10-16). The transfer of knowledge is good and necessary, or else there would be no reason for me to write this book. But knowledge will never bear lasting fruit if it does not become revelation within the heart. We do not need to be scared by the word "revelation." We are not seeking to come up with anything new; rather, we are seeking to understand personally and deeply what God has already revealed about himself. He is happy and ready to do this for every humble believer who asks. Knowledge becomes revelation through prayer. So, as you read, I implore you also to rely on God in prayer.
The gospel is not for those who think of themselves as wise. We must believe that anyone with the Spirit of God can understand it. The church does not need more intellectual giants. It needs more spiritual giants. And we should never confuse the former with the latter. Let us put to death our fascination with and reliance on man's intellect. And let us put on the mind of Christ, relying wholly on him to understand his word.
"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…" (Ephesians 1:16–19)