Friday, June 7, 2013

Book Review: A Timely Book of Grace

Chosen Books provided a complimentary copy of By Grace Alone: Finding Freedom and Purging Legalism From Your Life by Derek Prince in exchange for an honest review.
     There have been many books written on grace. In fact, it seems there are a dime a dozen available on any bookstore's shelves. Yet, I found this one memorable. Author Derek Prince (1915-2003) captivates the reader with an in-depth exploration of grace. By Grace Alone, wisely, begins with what grace is not. The Pharisees are infamous for their outward piety and myriad of laws and minutiae that were to be kept down to the iota. Once, Prince explains why the Law was given to Moses, he subsequently explores the idea of why grace alone saves, it saves us from death, it saves us from ourselves. The Law and grace are two different avenues. You can't go down both. Believers must put of the "old man" and put on the "new." We can stop aiming for perfection, as we will never attain it. However, with faith in Christ, we can live freely in His grace becoming the people we were created to be.
      We live in a competitive world. We learn to want to be first in everything we do. We are conditioned to strive for perfection. It only gets us tired and weary. In His rest we find grace. In His grace we find freedom. By Grace Alone explores the way to find that rest in Christ. In that grace, we  will find the presence of the Almighty. His grace will flow to us in abundance. The shackles of legalism will no longer hold sway over us. We will be free.
     Before I came to Christ, I was in the rat race of life always trying to obtain a perfection that left me wanting more, never measuring up that left me in despair. I am still learning to live in God's grace. Every day I find more freedom as I let Christ's righteousness be mine. I only wish I had this book several years ago. The biblical truth Prince imparts is important and timely for our culture. What will you be left with once you are worn out, after you have run out of yourself? Will you have trophies to dust for all of your religious works? All that will be left is exhaustion and a shell of the person you were meant to be.
     I highly recommend this work for all Christians. It is too easy to become entangled with the Law and aim for self-righteousness. Even if you have been a Christian for years and years, this book is for you. It is a great reminder of the grace we were excited about when we came to Christ. Reignite your passion and first love. In Jesus is grace and By Grace Alone we are saved.

 

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