The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ (Building Healthy Churches)

The "gospel" has become somewhat of a buzzword in evangelical circles. It's a funny thing because the gospel is at the very center of the Bible and God's redemptive purposes. So it's counterintuitive to claim the very idea that the gospel has become a buzzword. Christ-followers knowingly or unknowingly validate a ministry, band, or organization by attaching the label, "gospel." In most cases, this approach is a good measuring rod of the validity of anything or anyone which claims to adhere to the historic Christian faith. But in some cases, it is a mere word that carries no more meaning that a sticker on a product. In this sense, the word becomes another piece of Jesus junk. Thankfully, the book under consideration does not fall into the later category.The Gospel by Ray Ortlund is the latest in a series of books in the 9Marks series, edited by Mark Dever. I've read nearly all the books in the series. They're all good and are chock-full of sound biblical counsel. Each of the books is designed to help establish and nurture healthy churches. I commend each book to pastors, leaders, and Christ-followers who love the church and have a passion to see Christ's glory penetrate the nations. It's almost unfair to compare the books because each one stands alone and is an important contribution. Having said that, Ray Ortlund's book stands head and shoulders above the others.Ortlund establishes the beauty of the gospel in the introduction: "God, through the perfect life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, rescues all his people from the wrath of God, with a promise of the full restoration of his created order forever - all to the praise of the glory of his grace." With this definition of the gospel in place, the author defines the purpose of the book, namely -"to show how Christ puts his beauty into our churches by his gospel."The first sentence in the book provides a framework for the rest of the journey through this wonderful little treatise: "Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. The doctrine of grace creates a culture of grace." He adds, "Truth without grace is harsh and ugly. Grace without truth is sentimental and cowardly." Unfortunately, many churches reflect the later. But Ortlund is not deterred. In a short chapter devoted to expositing John 3:16, he unpacks the wonder and majesty of the gospel of grace. The gospel is compared to other so-called hopes that are offered up in the marketplace of ideas. But the conclusion is simple: "Every other hope is based, explicitly or implicitly, on how deserving we are. Only the Christian gospel is based - clearly, boldly, and insistently - on how loving God is to the undeserving." In short, "Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture, and it matters."Ortund maintains the gospel is for the church: "The doctrine of grace creates a culture of grace where good things happen to bad people." As such, the author guides readers through a stunning exposition of Ephesians 5:25 - "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Again, the culture is ultimately affected by the power of the gospel. It is the gospel that makes us holy. It is the gospel that makes us acceptable in the sight of a holy God.The author draws the attention of readers to the comprehensive nature of the gospel. The new heaven and earth are presented. In other words, as Ortund writes, "This present heaven and earth, will be renewed. God will restore this creation that he made, owns, and loves - this creation where we ourselves feel at home." At the end of the day, the gospel produces a culture which is brimming with hope - the hope that Christ will make all things new!This is a book worth reading and reading. It is a book that needs to be absorbed and assimilated into the fabric of every local church. The Gospel should be placed in the hands of new believers and veteran believers. It should be gifted to non-believers who express an interest in the gospel.[...]

I really wanted to like this book, but just felt that the author never really defined his terms. His main point is that churches should have gospel doctrine and gospel culture, which is a splendid point. However, what is gospel culture? What does that term mean?The author offers very little in describing what this is supposed to look like. Each chapter has 3 paragraphs at the end with a little snippet and these sections are incredibly vague. For example, Ortlund states, "most of all, a church's gospel culture is marked by beautiful holiness. It remains imperfect in this life, but it's visible and lovely." (p.48) But how does this happen and what does it look like? He doesn't unpack that, so I am just unsure what he's talking about.Again, on p. 62 Ortlund described gospel culture as creating "cheerful defiance" and then offers two vague quotes out of context by Augustine and Luther that don't really support his argument. He also doesn't even define cheerful defiance. I just found everything incredibly vague and poorly described.However, chapter 4 was very helpful to me. Ortlund described the family of God with the equation: gospel + safety + time to emphasize what a gospel culture needs in order to grow. This was his strongest chapter and a helpful way to describe how Christians grow in a healthy gospel culture.However, much of the rest of the book was just vague fluff. I can't seriously recommend this book, but I am interested to find others who may share some of my concerns. It seems like I am the only one who didn't just unreservedly love this book. I'd also appreciate some serious interaction with someone who felt differently. Like I said at the beginning, it was a fine idea. I just didn't see Ortlund defining his concepts very well.

Very fast delivery. Very satisfied with book.

This is a book I come back to often. Ortlund is clear and compelling in casting a vision for both gospel doctrine and gospel culture. Highly recommend.

So short, yet so beautifully written and explained that I cried half the time and fell in love with Jesus even more. I have a renewed sense of purpose in Him. Thank you, Ray Ortlund!

I’ve read this book about 3 times already. Very informative and a great read. I recommend this series to everyone

This is now the third book I've read of the 9marks of a healthy church. It is nothing less than phenomenal and eye opening. A reminder that no matter how long we have been walking with God, no matter how much we think we know, and no matter how well we think we know a particular subject such as the gospel, we always have much much more to learn. Thanks to the faithful brothers who make opportunities and information like this available to the many.

This short book is part of the "9 Marks of a Healthy Church" series. It is written for Christian church leaders and lay people alike. The emphasis of the book is on the creation of a "culture of grace" in local churches. If individual Christians live out the implications of the gospel then local churches will experience "a culture of grace where good things happen to bad people."

Great understanding and explaination of the Gospel.

Important and challenging read for every pastor. Do the doctrines of grace create a culture of grace in our churches?

Das was in unserer Zeit ganz in Vergessenheit geraten ist, hebt dieses Buch hervor: Was ist das Evangelium und welche Bedeutung hat es für die Gemeinde. Ortlund zeichnet in seinem Buch ein herrliches Bild von einer Gemeinde, die vom Evangelium durchdrungen ist.