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Jul 04, 2011

Tyler rated it:

I admire and appreciate Gilbert's willingness and goal of clarifying the Gospel, especially seeing how there are so many "half gospels," "false gospels," etc. He mentions the narrative element of the Gospel, but he doesn't go much further than that. I felt he dropped the ball here. Sadly, in typical Southern Baptist form, he chooses to focus 99.9% of his clarification on justification and Jesus' death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (penal substitution). Almost e More...

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May 16, 2011

Brad rated it:

Short. Simple. Significant. Here is a sustained meditation on the beauty and bounty of the gospel. I found myself at first stumbling over the simplicity of this book, but soon realized that's its genius.

In a generation that loves to talk about the "gospel" here comes a work that defines it in an accessible, penetrating, and worshipful way. I found myself thinking this would be a great giveaway as an evangelistic resource for people ministering anywhere in the bible-belt. At More...

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Apr 20, 2011

Jeanie rated it:

I gave this book a 5 star because I think everyone should read it. Even if you think you know the Gospel, there is great insight and clarity. This book is a very fast read but it also is a book to chew on and think about as well. There is application because Jesus requires us to respond to the Gospel. One of the points the author made which is one that we all know as Christians, that God is the creator, and we are the created. It went further by saying that because God is the creator, he has More...

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Jan 27, 2011

Matthew rated it:

“What is the gospel?” The answer to this question might seem obvious to some, although they might have a hard time really explaining it clearly. Others, influenced by post-modern thought or new-age spirituality, might define the gospel (if they think it can be defined at all) with vague terms about the Kingdom of God or the redemption of the world that leave the hearer wondering what exactly they are really espousing. There are a plethora of “versions” of the gospel out there, and it’s vital tha More...

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Oct 24, 2010

Josh rated it:

This review first appeared on my blog, Jacob's Café.

The latest book I got to review for christianaudio's reviewer program (meaning I received a complimentary copy) was Greg Gilbert's What is the Gospel? This book is actually part of a series from 9marks, going in-depth about what that organization considers to be the nine marks of a healthy church, as argued by Mark Dever.

I actually finished this audiobook over a week ago, but I didn't feel any urge to get a review out qu More...

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Aug 18, 2010

dvd rated it:

What is the gospel? Ask 100 people and you are certain to get a wide assortment of answers. That is why it is a good question to ask and as long as Christians present differing gospel messages, problems and division in the church will persist. That is why a book such as Greg Gilbert’s What is the Gospel? is so needed.

While leaning toward a very Calvinist viewpoint, Gilbert does an excellent job of answering the question posed. As part of the 9Marks series of books, this is quit More...

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Oct 25, 2011

Travis rated it:

Every Christian needs to have a firm grasp on the essentials of the gospel. Sadly not all do. In What is the Gospel, Greg Gilbert does an admirable job of helping Christians to grasp the essentials of the good news without over-simplifying things to a few booklet points.

Positives

This book is simply fun to read. Gilbert illustrates well, but not too much. He takes us on a simple tour of the atonement, pointing out the complexities without hurting our brains in the pr More...

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May 07, 2010

Jerry rated it:

Greg Gilbert’s new book What is the Gospel is very good, calling for a clear understanding of the gospel. Such bricks as this are stacked all over the place: “It’s become fashionable lately to present the gospel by saying that Jesus came to save humanity from an innate sense of guilt or meaninglessness or purposelessness or emptiness. Now of course those things really are problems, and many people feel them deeply. But the Bible teaches that humanity’s fundamental problem–the thing from which we More...

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Dec 08, 2010

UofM621 rated it:

Greg Gilbert did a wonderful job of answering the question asked in the title "What is the Gospel." From all indications this is Greg's first book but he would certainly have my encouragement to write more.

This book should be required reading for all Christians to ensure an embedded understanding of the heart of the Gospel. This will help them to avoid common errors that are being perpetuated in our day about the message of the Gospel. In the 7th chapter of the book Greg, More...

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May 13, 2010

John rated it:

What is the gospel? One would expect this question to have a short, simple answer, considering that Christians everywhere devote themselves to proclaiming "the gospel" (the word means "good news"). We proclaim the gospel because Jesus did it (Mark 1:14-15). We proclaim the gospel because Jesus told us to do it (Mark 16:15). We proclaim the gospel because Paul told us it is the power of salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16). We proclaim the gospel because Peter told us i More...

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Jul 17, 2010

Gene rated it:

This is a pithy little book and well worth the read-time. As Gilbert notes early in the book, although we Christians (all of us) should be crystal clear about the contents of the Gospel, most of us are not. In the first chapter Gilbert deftly outlines the non-negotioable contents of the Gospel from the first four chapters of Romans: God, Man, Christ and Response. With each of these "headings" Gilbert asks a question to focus our understanding:

God: Who made us, and to whom a More...

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Dec 26, 2010

Joseph rated it:

For so long, the gospel of God has been assumed in our churches. We now stand on the cusp of the gospel being denied from those who grew up in church and yet was never taught the fullness of the gospel and the full council of the Bible. Nevermind, the true gospel being scoffed at from the unbeliever—we know that would happen. We now have the gospel assumed or even worse yet, taught something that is the gospel is not: namely, Jesus is a good example, Jesus is just a Lord, Jesus provides wealt More...

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Aug 30, 2010

Matt rated it:

Good quick read reminding us of the importance of the gospel and the importance of being able to articulate the gospel. God. Man. Christ. Response. A lot of people are throwing the word "gospel" around--this book sets the parameters for a Biblical understanding of the gospel message.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life = an emaciated gospel
God will forgive your sins if you believe in Him = an emaciated gospel.
"Contexts change, angles change, wor More...

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Oct 18, 2010

Ken rated it:

I just completed this book for the second time. I am leading a Men's study group through this book.
I chose this book because it is a quick read, but it is theologically packed.
Greg Gilbert has done a great job of putting the grand themes of Justification, Penal Substitutionary Atonement, The Kingdom of God, and the Gospel in laymen's terms. His illustrations are helpful and the outline of the book is such that the concepts build on one another, ending with the grand vision of the C More...

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Apr 25, 2010

Sally rated it:

This is one of the books I received at the Together for the Gospel conference. I appreciated Gilbert's clear presentation of God-man-Christ-response. His explanation of sin being MORE than just a broken relationship between equals, but rather a rebellion by man against his sovereign ruler. By better understanding the gravity of our sin, we are more able to appreciate God's awesome grace!

Here's a quote:
“The Bible is the story of God’s counteroffensive against sin. It is the g More...

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Aug 02, 2010

Greg rated it:

"Christians can always get the world to think they are cool - right up to the moment they start talking about being saved by a crucified man. And that's where coolness evaporates, no matter how carefully you've cultivated it" (p. 110). This is a small book with a big message. It is frightening how much misunderstanding there is about the most important matter in life, the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Gilbert does an excellent job of explaining what the gospel is and is not. Anybody w More...

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Dec 31, 2010

Mike rated it:

Punchy and well-written. Good methodology. I agree with what he affirms but not what he denies. Dickson teaches us that gospel is story. In Gilbert’s treatment, gospel is more a body of doctrine. Can it be that both are true. That first and foremost gospel is story, but a body of truths emerge from the story that the NT also calls gospel? I think so, but need to test against Scripture.

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Aug 10, 2010

Mike rated it:

A nice, quick read about what the Gospel is and is not. I think I've spent a lot of my Christian life not fully realizing what the Gospel truly is. Gilbert's book just reinforced what I have finally understood in recent years: God created everything good, man rebelled, Christ died to save us and all we can do is respond. It's certainly not new territory, especially in the Reformed book crowd, but it's always relevant: we are saved by grace through faith.

As a side note, I read this on K More...

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Dec 30, 2011

Adam rated it:

Good book addressing a vital question. My main quibble with the book is that the author does not (or was not able) to really interact with those he disagrees with when he is criticizing other Christian perspectives on the Gospel and its implications. These parts can be overly broad or general - this may have to do with publishing limitations - it's a little book.

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Jul 16, 2010

Garland rated it:

Although I just skimmed this book, it seems to be a brief but thorough explanation of the essentials of he gospel:
1. God the Creator
2. man the sinner
3. Jesus Christ the Savior
4. Response - Faith and Repentance
5. The Kingdom
6. The Cross as the Center of the Gospel

The Kindle edition of this book was free which made it a great book at a great price!

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Aug 21, 2011

Todd rated it:

Gilbert's treatment of the gospel of Jesus Christ is clear, concise, and right on. Written in an approachable and conversational style, Gilbert works through both the essence and implications of the gospel, always with his Bible open. His explanations are clear, his teaching is rooted in Scripture, and his call is uncompromising. For what Gilbert was trying to accomplish, an explanation of the gospel that virtually anyone could read, this book is rock solid and easy to commend. Buy it, read it, More...

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May 16, 2011

Chad rated it:

Excellent, excellent! This book is published by IX Marks, the ministry of Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and written by the associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. At 121 pages, "What Is The Gospel" is a great read for the unbeliever who wants an introduction to the Gospel (i.e., what it is, what it is NOT, how it affects those who believe it, etc.) as it is presented in Scripture, and for the believer (whether young or mature in the fai More...

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May 30, 2010

Kara rated it:

An excellent presentation of the exact nature and implications of the gospel. In a culture that frequently seems to downplay, gloss over, or assume the gospel, a resource like this is a breath of fresh air! This is a great introduction for a curious non-Christian, an excellent foundation for a new Christian, and a wonderful confirmation and reminder for the mature believer!

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Apr 21, 2010

Cameron rated it:

This was a great book to go through. It succinctly spells out the gospel of Jesus Christ especially in a day where the gospel is either assumed, sidelined or blatantly ignored. This is a must-read book for every Christian to fully understand the foundation & center of Christianity and to proclaim the gospel not only to those that don't know the good news, but to ourselves as well.

1. God the Righteous Creator. 2. Man the Sinner. 3. Jesus Christ the Savior. 4. Response - Faith & Repent

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Jul 25, 2011

John rated it:

Gilbert has a talent of providing a clear and concise yet simple presentation of the Gospel. Every church and Christian should have a few as evangelistic tools in their library. Also a nice reminder for the mature Christian of how profound but simple the Truth is.

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Apr 20, 2010

Giancarlo rated it:

A great presentation of the gospel. Greg does an excellent job in being faithful to the message of the centrality of the cross and does this with a sharp and brilliant mind.

Buy 10 copies of this book and give it away!

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Dec 02, 2011

Jay rated it:

We're thinking about making this available at our book table at church. A good introduction for spiritual seekers and will help refine the thinking of believers. Does not necessarily set out to convince the skeptical.

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Apr 30, 2011

Daniel rated it:

A good solid useful tool to quickly clarify a Gospel framework. Commentary on the distinction between sin and sins, etc, provide useful categories for continued conversations on clarifying what the Gospel is and isn't.

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Sep 27, 2010

Terry rated it:

This book is inspiring. It sums up the great news of the gospel in glorious terms. His theology of he'll fire is traditionally wrong but otherwise the book is right on target. It was a surprisingly excellent book.

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Aug 10, 2010

Kevin rated it:

This book is short, but a clear explanation of what the Gospel is, and what it is not.
Great for people new to the Christian faith, and good for those who would like to refresh what they already believe.

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