Recovering Redemption

Pete Evans | December 2014 - Highfields Book of the Month

By Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer - (2014) Nashville : B&H publishing group
Perhaps the key difference to this particular book on change is that it is the opposite of a self-help guide. But that's not the focus of this book. This is all about what God has done. This is a book about how to change. Another one. Yeah, I know. I'm sure you've come across plenty in your time, whether written by Christians or not. Diet plans, exercise regimes, business strategies, prayer guides, Bible reading schemes. No doubt you’ll have tried some (if not all) of the above. And yet for most of us, change in our own lives remains elusive.
So what’s different about this book? Why should you bother reading it? And will it make a difference in your life? Will it actually help you to change?

Perhaps the key difference to this particular book on change is that it is the opposite of a self-help guide. That makes it unusual. Often we're told that we have to adjust our habits, alter our diet, implement the 'four principles of success' or whatever. The focus is on us and what we do. But that's not the focus of this book. This is all about what God has done.

Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer spend a lot of time talking about the gospel. It's the good news of what God has done for us in the work of Jesus and what God can do in us by the power of His Holy Spirit. That process is known as Redemption; Jesus buys us back, redeems us from slavery to sin at the cost of His own life and then changes us by His power in us.

The authors argue that the gospel shows us that we can't change by ourselves – we're slaves. It's only once we're freed from sin’s power by the power of the cross and start to live as redeemed, free people under the Lordship of Jesus that we're able to change.

But before you worry that this is some turgid theological treatise that you’ll never be able to understand, let me reassure you. This is a very, very readable book. Deep, profound gospel truth is repeatedly communicated in a contemporary way with a lot of great illustrations. I'd put it in your hand to read even if you aren't a Christian yet. This is great news and it's shared in a way that 21st century people can easily understand.

Whether you don't believe in Jesus yet, or you do but you can't believe what a mess you're making of following Him (welcome to the club!), this book is for you. All you have to know is that the way you're living your life isn't working and all you have to want is to change. And Chandler and Snetzer will point you to the one place where true, lasting, fulfilling life is found and will show you how God takes us there.

You can change. You can't do it yourself. God can.

It's called Redemption.