“Takes us to the very heart of the gospel”
“Grace, she takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name
Grace, it's the name for a girl
It's also a thought that could change the world ….
Grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things”
U2 “Grace”
Karma – you get back what you pay out – seems to be the basis on which the world and our lives operate.
Grace – the biblical notion of undeserved merit or favour – seemingly stands in stark contrast to the way in which we think of our world, ourselves and the God who stands behind and over it all.
And yet – if we are honest about ourselves and others – grace is what we all wish for. Grace is what we all desperately need.
Grace – is at the centre of our understanding of Jesus – his person and work. Grace is at the heart of the Christian life. And yet grace – is what so many of us fail to comprehend, what so many of us quickly forget and move away from.
That's why this short book is so good. By addressing the question “Is forgiveness really free?” the author takes us to the very heart of the gospel – the news it proclaims and its significance for us all.
Each chapter asks and answers a simple yet profound question. These questions are profound – for they address matters right at the core of Christianity. They are relevant to all who have sought to understand grace and its implications. In order, they are:
Is forgiveness really free?
If grace is free, is it worth anything?
Why does God give grace to some and not to others?
What place does the Old Testament Law have in the life of grace?
Is grace a licence to sin?
How does grace change me?
How does grace change us?
How bad are human beings really?
One of the great things about this book – is that at under eighty pages no chapter is more than ten pages long – meaning no chapter would take more than 10mins to read. In one sitting this book could be read in under two hours (as I did) – or a chapter a day would see it easily done in under two weeks. I think this book fits the category of a short step for a long gain.
