Book ReviewHow often have you heard the saying, “Christianity isn’t a religion, it is a relationship with Jesus Christ”? Well, that’s okay as far as it goes, but that relationship needs to go further than a simple cliché. We need to know how we relate to Jesus more fully, to just say we believe in him or that we believe he is the Son of God without knowing the “why” is to relate less, to have less of a relationship. Our faith should mature. It must. Consider these words from the book:
“If we are to experience a healthy relationship with God, we need to be intimately acquainted with the biblical teaching about the divine identity of Jesus. This involves more than merely knowing about, and agreeing with, the doctrine of the deity of Christ, though that is certainly essential. It must become more to us than a line we say in a creed. We need to know what it means to say that Jesus is God and why it matters. We need to see Jesus as God. We need to think about Jesus and relate to him in the full light of the truth of his identity. We need to appreciate the significance of his divine identity for our relationships with God and others.”
The stated aim of the book “is to provide a comprehensive case from the New Testament for the deity of Jesus Christ.” Their reasoning is that “The deity of Christ is…a major theme throughout the New Testament. Recognizing that theme in all of its many expressions will not only help you in your faith in Jesus as God but also make your understanding of Scripture much richer.”
Their case is well informed and set out in clear terms. To be sure, it gives the reader a taste of all the latest and best Christological scholarship. However, this is no dry and dusty academic tome, it is highly functional and user friendly. Pastors will find it an especially useful item in their arsenal. Anyone interested will find it quite understandable. Incredibly, it is a book that makes highly academic thoughts highly accessible to the average reader. There are lots of tables and charts, scripture references, and a wealth of documentation which all lead to its utility as a resource you will come back to time and again. As the author’s declare:
“Our purpose in this book is not limited to presenting the big picture of the New Testament evidence for the deity of Jesus and explaining its relevance to the Christian life. We also want to equip you to remember this information and be able to present it to others.”
In order to do this, the writer’s have organized “the biblical teaching on the deity of Jesus into five categories that will be both memorable and easy to explain. We summarize these five categories using an acronym based on the word HANDS.” “This acronym is not a gimmick. …The biblical teaching about Jesus found in his HANDS constitutes a powerful cumulative case for regarding Jesus as our Lord and God.”
Any reviewer of this book could go on and on about exactly why it is going to be considered a standard within a few short years, but let me be succinct as possible. This book delivers on its purpose and hits the target of its aim with a bull’s-eye. As an edification and means of articulation for the believer, as an apologetic, as a teaching tool, a preaching platform, and yes, as an invitation to a higher level of worship, this book succeeds in astonishing fashion, giving Jesus Christ the glory he is due. Jesus Christ is God, and this book nails it, hands down.
I sincerely believe this to be an important work that will be an invaluable asset to anyone who reads it, because if they read it, they will use it. I know firsthand because, after finishing it, I decided to use the acronym as a preaching outline. I couldn’t wait to get this into the hands and hearts of my congregation. That is the very highest endorsement I can give, and I do so without reservation. To find out more, read a sample chapter, and see some charts and tables, visit
http://www.deityofchrist.com/
“If we are to experience a healthy relationship with God, we need to be intimately acquainted with the biblical teaching about the divine identity of Jesus. This involves more than merely knowing about, and agreeing with, the doctrine of the deity of Christ, though that is certainly essential. It must become more to us than a line we say in a creed. We need to know what it means to say that Jesus is God and why it matters. We need to see Jesus as God. We need to think about Jesus and relate to him in the full light of the truth of his identity. We need to appreciate the significance of his divine identity for our relationships with God and others.”
The stated aim of the book “is to provide a comprehensive case from the New Testament for the deity of Jesus Christ.” Their reasoning is that “The deity of Christ is…a major theme throughout the New Testament. Recognizing that theme in all of its many expressions will not only help you in your faith in Jesus as God but also make your understanding of Scripture much richer.”
Their case is well informed and set out in clear terms. To be sure, it gives the reader a taste of all the latest and best Christological scholarship. However, this is no dry and dusty academic tome, it is highly functional and user friendly. Pastors will find it an especially useful item in their arsenal. Anyone interested will find it quite understandable. Incredibly, it is a book that makes highly academic thoughts highly accessible to the average reader. There are lots of tables and charts, scripture references, and a wealth of documentation which all lead to its utility as a resource you will come back to time and again. As the author’s declare:
“Our purpose in this book is not limited to presenting the big picture of the New Testament evidence for the deity of Jesus and explaining its relevance to the Christian life. We also want to equip you to remember this information and be able to present it to others.”
In order to do this, the writer’s have organized “the biblical teaching on the deity of Jesus into five categories that will be both memorable and easy to explain. We summarize these five categories using an acronym based on the word HANDS.” “This acronym is not a gimmick. …The biblical teaching about Jesus found in his HANDS constitutes a powerful cumulative case for regarding Jesus as our Lord and God.”
Any reviewer of this book could go on and on about exactly why it is going to be considered a standard within a few short years, but let me be succinct as possible. This book delivers on its purpose and hits the target of its aim with a bull’s-eye. As an edification and means of articulation for the believer, as an apologetic, as a teaching tool, a preaching platform, and yes, as an invitation to a higher level of worship, this book succeeds in astonishing fashion, giving Jesus Christ the glory he is due. Jesus Christ is God, and this book nails it, hands down.
I sincerely believe this to be an important work that will be an invaluable asset to anyone who reads it, because if they read it, they will use it. I know firsthand because, after finishing it, I decided to use the acronym as a preaching outline. I couldn’t wait to get this into the hands and hearts of my congregation. That is the very highest endorsement I can give, and I do so without reservation. To find out more, read a sample chapter, and see some charts and tables, visit
http://www.deityofchrist.com/
14 comments:
This is a review of an advance copy I received...the book will arrive on the scene in September, and it should arrive at its proper place in your personal library shortly thereafter...
I have not preached it yet, but I plan on doing so soon, and I can easily imagine that it will be used in that capacity over and over again, in many situations and locales by many types, preachers and otherwise...it is that good, folks, and you will want it, go to the site and check it out...
You read my mind -- I went to buy the book (based solely on your recommendation!), and found that I could not get it until September... Guess you have to be connected!
JD said-
....user friendly.
.....Anyone interested will find it quite understandable.
JD....You promise????
Chris, I will be preaching from the hands outline as I said, and I am sure that you will see the value of it...yeah, I am really thinking that this book is going to be one that is used across a large spectrum of the Church...
I can tell this topic is something we (Christians/church) need, as it seems to be a recurring theme in some of the broadcasts I listen to; i.e. Dr. Easley on Moody.
OK, JD, I'll try to get my listening ears and thinking cap ready! :) Even though I'm still trying to digest the material from the last 6-8 weeks.
I'm all ears, JD. Can't wait! As the Lord will is, we will be there.
I think this Sunday will be something different, the hands probably in a couple of weeks from now...
Many thanks for the gracious review, J. D.! Nothing thrills us more than to hear that a pastor has read the book and has been moved to magnify our eternal Savior through a series in the pulpit! Indeed, we’ve hoped that the HANDS acronym would make the material in the book useful for pastors, adult Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and others who shepherd groups in various ways.
I would like to extend an offer to readers of your blog who fit one of the above categories. If anyone here regularly preaches or teaches in some capacity, I will send that person a copy of the page proofs for Putting Jesus in His Place by e-mail. Just contact me through the web address in my profile. If after reviewing the page proofs you think that you can make a good-faith effort to share the material in the near future with those under your leadership, I’ll send you a free copy of the book as soon as it’s published. I’ll simply take you at your word. But, again, you can examine the page proofs first so that you can make an informed decision.
I honestly think that a strong case can me made for the claim that the deity of Christ is the #1 overall target for opponents of orthodoxy and the one thing that most Christians are least equipped to defend. The former point is hardly surprising. After all, the authority of Christianity rests on the fact that Jesus did not merely speak on behalf of God, but rather spoke as God himself. And our opponents know that. But the latter point is startling, considering the centrality of the doctrine to our faith.
Why are so few Christians equipped to defend this vital truth? I think it’s because there are few high-quality, far-reaching, and easily-understood resources on the subject. In fact, there has not been a popular book attempting to comprehensively defend the deity of Christ since Josh McDowell’s Jesus: A Biblical Defense of His Deity appeared 25 years ago! It was this gaping hole in the marketplace that drove us to write Putting Jesus in His Place and to make every effort to package it in an accessible, memorable way.
I believe that we need a grassroots revival of understanding on the deity of Christ, with entire churches equipped to defend this vital truth. And we hope that our book might play a small role in this big vision. But if that’s going to happen, we’ll need your help. That’s why I’m eager to make this offer to those of you who are in a position to get the ball rolling. I hope to hear from you soon!
For the glory of the God-man,
Ed Komoszewski
That is quite an offer, Pastor Ray, Garry, Jim V., etc., I hope you guys see this...
I plan on posting more about this in the future leading up to the release of the book in September...the church needs to get behind this work...
Brad, Steve Weaver, Terry Stauffer, um yeah, there are a lot of pastors whom I will let know about this...
That would be great, J. D.! Thanks for your help!
I wonder if I should consider adding a section to the “Related Resources” page on the book’s website, linking to audio files and transcripts of various pastors’ sermons. That might prompt other pastors to preach on the deity of Christ and would be a nice archive for people looking for exhortational delivery of the book’s contents.
After I preach it, Ed, I will send you a file for your review (ironic, huh?)...
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