Title: The Truth
about Grace
Author: John
MacArthur
Pages: 128
Year: 2012
Publisher: Thomas
Nelson
Note: I received a
complimentary copy as a reviewer for BookSneeze. Follow this reviewer on Twitter
@lcjohnson1988 or my blog http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/
Grace--what do you think of when
you hear this word? Is the picture that
comes to your mind one of people saying a prayer before meals, then afterwards
eating and talking together? What does
or even how does Scripture use the word?
In this short, 128 page book John MacArthur seeks to set forth a
foundation of true Biblical understanding of the word grace.
One of
the Scriptures he quotes often in this book is located in the second chapter of
Ephesians “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should
boast.”(NASB) John MacArthur discusses
what some have understood grace to be as well as what some think it is not.
In five
chapters entitled “Grace Defined,” “Grace Received,” “Grace Misunderstood and
Twisted,” “Grace realized,” and “Grace Lived Out,” the author tries to untangle
knots that have been made through man’s attempt to either add or misconstrue
Scripture. There within the pages of
this book many Scriptures are explored and explained so that we can understand
what God has to say about His grace.
One
particular quote noted in the book is from Louis Berkhof’s book Systematic
theology, he observed, “While we
sometimes speak of grace as an inherent quality, it is in reality the active
communication of divine blessings by the inworking of the Holy Spirit, out of
the fullness of Him who is “full of grace and truth”.” (pg 5) Perhaps if you let
that simmer in your mind for a minute you will find that to be an awesome
truth. Grace is more than something we
receive. As you read this book, you will
gain new insights into the meaning of grace.
In the book, you might also be reminded of something you knew before,
but hadn’t thought about in some time.
Either way this book is worth an afternoon of quiet reading and
reflection.
Rating: Five stars.
