Life in Christ: Becoming and Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ

by Jeremy Walker

'To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be in a position of privilege and blessing beyond anything the world might offer', begins author Jeremy Walker. Life in Christ explores the unsearchable riches of the Christian pilgrimage and traces its trajectory, highlighting key elements in the believer's experience. Do you wrestle with assurance?
Have you grasped the engagement demanded in Christian living?
Do you find the way wearying at times?
Do you struggle with your Christian identity?
Walker provides instruction for Christians to assess their own standing and progress in the faith-exhorting and equipping and always pointing them ahead to the hope of the glory of Christ. Along the way, he encourages God's people to live a life to the praise of His glory as he examines some of the basic truths that establish and direct a true child of God. Table of
1. Looking to Jesus
2. United to Christ
3. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
4. Sons of God
5. The Jewel of Assurance
6. The Marks of God's Children
7. A Work in Progress
8. A Life in Review

Genres: Theology, Christian Living

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Jeremy Walker is a pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley, England, author of Life in Christ and The Brokenhearted Evangelist, coauthor of A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ.

Reviews

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discipleship. Holiness. Endurance. Commitment. Focus. These are terms many believers struggle. Grasping what it means to be united with Christ and to live a life focused on Him, constantly driven to glorify His name in all we do in this thing called the Christian walk based on what He has done for us is indeed a rather monumental task, one we must all engage in pursuing. Recognizing the struggles that many face in this important area of their walk with God, pastor and author Jeremy Walker provides a number of salient and timely resource that addresses these concerns in his book, Life in Christ: Becoming and Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Walker notes at the outset of his book, “the gospel always carries with it the beauty of an invitation and the weight of a command…Such exhortations and encouragements never leave us in no-man’s land but either draw us to the side of Christ or disclose our distance from or antipathy to Him.” This is an important observation to make as it clearly notes that to follow Christ requires action and commitment. Beyond the arguments contained in the age old debate over whether man can respond to God of their own free will or whether it is entirely an act of God drawing the elect to Himself is the equally if not arguably more important issue of the dynamics of what happens when you declare your allegiance to Christ. Walker brilliantly notes “the living Lord requires us to look from something to something else. It is a cry to detach our thoughts, concerns, hopes, and desires from whatever distractions and deviations they have been running after and turn our full attention to some other thing.” Essentially, Walker is properly framing the Christian walk as a life that must be lived in complete surrender to the cross, one devoted in all aspects to glorifying God.

What being united to Christ means and looks like is the next topic Walker aptly engages. Being united with Christ and identifying ourselves with Him as His bride requires what the great Puritan author John Owen labeled as mortifying sin. Referencing the Apostle Paul’s declaration that if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), Walker rightly notes this implies the need for radical change, an entirely new way of looking at life and living life. He stresses an important point, namely “There is a radical, fundamental, thorough, divinely worked act of new creation that occurs in the life of the man or woman who is brought into Christ. Professing Christians who are no different from what they were before an alleged conversion are no true Christians at all.” The latter statement may be disagreeable to some; however, Walker is not averring that a Christian must be perfect in order to be considered a follower of Christ. Conversely, he is merely noting the necessary change in behavior and focus that should inculcate the life of every person who has been united with Christ. Following Christ involves a complete about face from a life devoted to sinful passion to a life devoted to Christ in full recognition that the process of sanctification is a lifelong one brought about not by human actions alone, but through the work of the Holy Spirit.

A life lived in devotion to glorifying God is by no means boring. Some feel the Christian life is devoid of fun and excitement. The tendency to view Christianity in that manner is typically born out of viewing life through the lens of worldly desires, failing to recognize the vast riches found in serving the God of the universe. Walker spends a rather enlightening chapter exploring “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Anyone who thought Christianity was dull and boring will find their perspective forever altered after reading this chapter. Walker rightly notes that God’s grace, love, and mercy are unending for His people. Maybe that is something many believers have not pondered as much as they should. The Apostle Paul, something Walker repeatedly references in this chapter, often spoke of the abounding love of God and the fact that God is rich in mercy. This love God has for His people is something Walker aptly declares to come “from One who is utterly holy, who embraces with saving power those who are entirely unholy.” Such a God is worth serving and it is that realization that should drive believers to desire to live a live that glorifies God. Furthermore, those who desire to know truth need look no further than Christ. Those who think the Bible is just a book that either is not relevant to all matters of life are clearly not aware of the reality that Christ is the “fountain of life, full of grace and truth” as noted by Walker. Scripture contains a vast array of truth to study, apply, and declare to the world.

Yet another valuable aspect of Walker’s book is his focus on the believer’s status as sons of God. Being born again and being a child of God provides us a certain status, one that quite frankly provides a certain status, most importantly eternal life and restoration of relationship with our Creator. The fact is God loves His children and His love was demonstrated towards us that while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our transgressions. I appreciated Walker’s statement that God “bestowed this matchless, transforming love upon us, that we should be called the children of God.” Since it is God who has called us, we can in turn have confidence in our relationship with God. This aspect of assurance is often a hot button theological issue and Walker rightly notes that assurance is “the declared truth of God in accordance with objective realities. Those who find within themselves an instinct and capacity for righteousness that they did not possess before must conclude that only God could have put it there.” He is the caller, transformer, and renewer. Assurance of our salvation certainly should not lead to lax faith or “easy-believism.” Conversely, as noted by Walker, we must heed the words of the author of Hebrews who declared the need for believers to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22).

Walker also notes the important aspect of the faith, that of the reality that as children of God, we should bear marks of that status in how we live out our lives on a daily basis. This is really where the rubber meets the proverbial road regarding this subject matter. With the knowledge that the call of the gospel requires a response, that being united with Christ involves being a new creation with renewed passions and desires focused on Christ, recognizing the riches found in Christ and the reality of assurance that necessitates living a life of faith, we can then proceed to becoming a disciple of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Walker notes false indications of being a child of God include things such as merely visible morality, head knowledge, having a form of religion, eminent gifs, conviction of sin, strong assurance, and a profession of faith. Now some may assert that head knowledge is necessary, conviction of sin is vital, and the profession of faith something that should be required and they would be correct. The important distinction Walker makes is the overemphasis many place on solely those aspects, ignoring the need for repentance and faith, devotion to God, spiritual growth and movement towards maturity, and a love for God’s people. Professing faith without any element of repentance or a desire to glorify God by living in obedience to Him is a life of immaturity. The mature believer will realize that perfect in this life will not be attained; however, there should be the constant desire to be holy as God is holy, living a life that recognizes that “As a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts, we hate sin and desire holiness.”

Life in Christ by Jeremy Walker is a book that will challenge those living a life of spiritual mediocrity as well as those who have that necessary desire to pursue holiness for the glory of God. The Christian walk is one of movement, marching to meet the enemy head on, constantly moving down the path of righteousness for the sake of the kingdom. I highly recommend this book for all believers, whether new in the faith or those who have been walking with God for years. Walker does an excellent job of outlining what being a disciple and a child of God looks like, displacing notions of immaturity while calling the body of Christ to put aside that which so easily entangles us so we can press on towards maturity in the faith while declaring the message of the gospel with our mouths and with our lives, exuding a passion for the One who has saved us from bondage.

I received this book for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does a person become a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is there a certain level of understanding that a person must achieve in order to be considered a disciple, and if so, how does a person achieve said level? If a true disciple cannot be produced by obtaining a certain level of understanding (head knowledge) about the Lord Jesus Christ, then what constitutes a genuine disciple of Christ? Consequently, how can we have assurance from the Word of God that we ourselves are genuine disciples? All of these are valid questions that either we have struggled with personally, or we have had to answer similar questions by people around us who are curious about what it means to be a true disciple. In the book, Life in Christ, Jeremy Walker does an outstanding job of answering the previous questions about what the Bible has to say about being a disciple of Jesus Christ, and the assurances that God has provided us in His Word to show that we are a Spirit-wrought disciple who has been united with Christ and also adopted into the family of God.

How does one become a true disciple of Christ? To answer that question, Jeremy begins with the total depravity of man which establishes a starting place that none of us are born Disciples of Christ right out of the womb. Once the depravity of man is briefly established, then Jeremy moves on to the fact that it is not enough to just understand what it is to “have and enjoy life in Christ”, but your eternal destiny is affected by whether you actually possess life in Christ . Therefore, how does one possess “life in Christ”? Jeremy notes, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God…’You must be born again’ (John 3:3, 7). This is the language of indispensable necessity. No one enters the kingdom without being born from above, without being subject to the enlightening and regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit.” (Page 1)

The rest of Chapter 1 focuses on what being born again feels, and looks like, from a biblical perspective. I loved the clarification that Jeremy provides towards the beginning of the chapter about our actions (or lack thereof) in the process of being born-again:

“We must be born of God if we are to enter the kingdom: it is an indispensable necessity. But this new birth always results in faith and repentance, and we are never directly commanded to be born again (for that belongs to God) but rather urged by messengers of the gospel of peace to repent of our sins and to turn to God and His Christ in faith, and so obtain everlasting life. That is our experience of this change of heart. The question with us must not first be, ‘Am I elect?’ or ‘Will I be born again?’ but, as we hear the commands and invitations of the gospel, ‘Am I repenting of my sins and believing in God’s Son, Jesus the Christ?’ for this is our known and felt experience of salvation.” (Page 4)

Honestly, Chapter 1 is one of the clearest presentations of the Gospel that I have read in a book in quite some time. The doctrines of repentance, faith, justification, regeneration, and propitiation are clearly defined and handled with gentle pastoral care by Jeremy. The chapter as a whole does an outstanding job of starting the book off strong and laying the groundwork for the rest of what Jeremy wants to deal with in the remaining 7 chapters of this book.

Chapters 2-4 discuss our newfound identity in Christ and union with Him once we have experience regeneration, Chapters 5-6 talk in-depth about how we can have biblical assurance of our true discipleship, and last two chapters discuss both the need for progressive sanctification and a thorough examination of one’s life and the growth (or lack thereof) in our fight to be holy. I would have to agree with most of the other reviewers that Chapters 5 and 6 on Assurance are the strongest chapters in a book that is filled with incredible depth. Jeremy does an outstanding job of showing that most of the issues surrounding assurance are due to an ignorance of our new union to Christ and how that union affects us on a daily basis. If you are trying to obtain assurance that you are indeed a true disciple of Christ, then you don’t need to base that on your emotions or progress in the Christian life. Instead, you need to look to Christ who purchased you with His precious blood and has imputed to you His righteousness and given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of your inheritance. As Walker rightly states:

“So much confusion enters when people become more concerned with assurance than with Christ. The problem is that assurance does not save. Not even faith saves in itself. It is Christ who saves by faith. Faith is not the belief that we are saved but the belief that we are lost which sends us fleeing to Christ to save us. The question is not if we are elect but rather if we are trusting in Christ, for faith is the sure evidence of our election rather than election the warrant for our faith. (John 6:29; 1 John 5:1)”. (Pg. 92)

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what constitutes a true disciple of Christ written by an author who approaches this topic with pastoral love and care, and not as someone wanting to bury you under condemnation.

Title: Life in Christ: Becoming and Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ

Author: Jeremy Walker

Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books

I received this book for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Kholin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a bit hard to get into at first, Life in Christ is entirely worth the read. The author digs deep into Scripture in eye-opening ways, the applications are encouraging, and it’s organized neatly. I highly recommend it and I’m looking forward to returning to it for new insights.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deals with what I see as one of the most neglected aspects of the Christian life as represented in mainstream American evangelicalism: Discipleship. As the title implies, the book also covers the glorious doctrine of Union with Christ—which in its own right is a teaching that is largely overlooked. Jeremy Walker‘s “Life in Christ: Becoming and Being a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ” is a welcome addition to contemporary discipleship resources that is not only pastoral, but thoroughly biblical and theologically precise.

In the first chapter, ”Looking to Jesus,” he instructs the reader as to how one comes to Christ for salvation. Walker examines the command and invitation of the gospel, as well as the purpose and promise of the gospel. Beginning with the contrast between human depravity and the necessity of regeneration, the author weaves biblical references in and through to help the reader understand the Bible’s teaching of conversion–repentance and faith–and the grace of being declared righteous according to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

In chapter two, Walker seeks to unpack the doctrine of Union with Christ. He points to the teachings of the apostle Paul to explain the Christian’s position “in Christ” and the Christian’s nature as a “new creation.” (pp. 22–27) The author continues by rightfully expounding upon 2 Corinthians 5:17. He explains that for the Christian, “the old has gone and is gone for good; the new has come and keeps on coming.” (p. 28) Walker then closes out the chapter with an evangelistic appeal: “Whoever comes to Christ in faith–repenting of his sins, seeing his misery without Christ, seeking grace to be in Christ–and earnestly desiring that one day he might see and be with Christ–will find Christ to be his Savior and Lord and will enter into the blessed realities of the new creation in himself now and look forward to a life in a new heaven and new earth with Christ in days to come, the very heaven of heaven.” (p. 34)

Walker speaks of “The Unsearchable Riches of Christ” in the third chapter, and described the glorious riches of Christ. Surveying the book of Ephesians, he shows the reader the “unsearchable” love, grace, forgiveness, wisdom, power, joy, truth, assurance, hope, and mercy in Christ (pp. 38–44). The glorious person of Christ is next to be considered, as the author gives a Christological overview regarding the deity, humanity, agony, and glory of the Savior. The chapter concludes with an explanation of the glorious mystery of the gospel and the revelation of Jesus Christ. “The unsearchable riches of Christ are proclaimed in order that they might be known and enjoyed, received by sinners who have come to rest in the boundless resources of Jesus Christ as their Deliverer, the One given for the very purpose of meeting the needs of fallen people. That in itself is unsearchable!” (p. 48) All other pursuits leave something to be desired, but the knowledge and loveliness of Christ, which is inexhaustible, is satisfying beyond measure.

Chapter four is about the blessed doctrine of adoption. Rooted in the writings of the apostle John, the author presents the breathtaking reality of God’s love towards His children: “This is indeed a love that comes from God the Father, the God who does abiding good to the utterly undeserving, establishing an intimate relation with them in giving, as a gift of love, His own beloved Son. This is a love without measure flowing from the infinite heart of a good and loving God, an ocean without shore, a realm without frontier.” (p. 58) The author shows how the love of God is everlasting and unchangeable, abounding and unlimited, and undeserved and overwhelming. (pp. 58–59) He has given us a new nature and calls us His sons, and Walker beckons us to behold this truth for wonder and encouragement, for trust and confidence, for obedience and fortitude, for joy and thankfulness, and finally, for joy. (pp. 60–65)

Continuing with his examination of the apostle John’s writings, Walker addresses eternal security in chapter nine: “The Jewel of Assurance.” He points to the pastoral mindset of John in his first epistle and how he wanted his readers to know Christ and have life in Him (cf. 1 John 5:13). We see that assurance of salvation is definable, desirable, and possible. (pp. 67–76) The author closes the chapter with the pneumatological reality of assurance: “It is the Spirit of adoption who works in us faith and its fruits, implanting and stimulating graces which are the evidence of new life and witnessing with our spirit to their presence and reality and owning us by His sweet influences and by these means as children of God. The good grounds of confidence in the life of a saved person produce, through the Spirit’s witness, their full gift in our minds and hearts.” (p.77)

In what I see as the most important chapter of the book, “The Marks of God’s Children” seeks to present a framework of the Christian life. The author begins by laying to rest some common ”inconclusive indications” of assurance of salvation like visible morality, head knowledge, and external religion. (pp. 80–84). He then devotes the rest of the chapter to showcase the marks of a true Christian. These “indispensable indications” of biblical assurance are repentance and faith, devotion to God, growth in holiness, and love for the saints. (pp. 85–108) This section alone is worth the cost of the book and is a spiritual gem for the newly converted and veteran Christian alike. I will certainly be using this material for disciple-making in the future.

“A Work in Progress” is the title of chapter seven, in which the author surveys the apostle Paul’s writings on sanctification. It is a masterful call to persevere; to press on in the Christian life. We should strive to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12) and not be passive in our pursuit of holiness. Walker rightly points out that Paul’s exhortation to put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:13–17) “is not a call to occasional endeavor but a command constantly and thoroughly to work at a task until the point of completion.” (p. 113) This is not works-righteousness… the indicatives of the gospel (what Christ has done) are prior to the imperatives of the gospel (what is expected of us). “Our joy and blessing as God’s children,” says Walker, “are bound up in God’s ultimate purpose for us, and he is sovereignly bringing it to pass.” (p. 125)

The final chapter focuses on the apostle Paul’s later writings, particularly those sections where we gain some insight into his impending death. “A Life in Review” is a heartfelt look at the apostle’s unending endurance in the fight and race of the faith. Paul looks around, looks back, and finally looks ahead to a great crown, a great Christ, and a great company of redeemed sinners in the consummation. (pp. 130–138)

Jeremy Walker’s “Life in Christ” is a warm and encouraging explanation on what it means to be a Christian. With pastoral sensitivity and theological clarity, he presents a biblical faithful work on being a disciple and living life to the glory of God. Like a modern-day Puritan, Walker marries doctrine and practice to create a magnificent resource for instructing maturing disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I received a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes. I was in no way encouraged or coerced to write a favorable review.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was thought-provoking and at times convicting.

4.5 stars

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read. There is a lot of challenging material but it is also motivating and encouraging.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book. There were times when it was slow, maybe a bit hard to follow but I appreciate the conversations and thoughts that stemmed from it and the message here.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in Christ by Jeremy Walker was written to believers so that they would "consider something of the Christian's experience of God's lovingkindness, his sense of God's tender mercies and great goodness, and his relationships with Christ in them and responses to them." Even though Pastor Walker writes to professing Christians, he still includes a clear Gospel presentation in his book. He cites a plethora of biblical references to support his points, from the Old Testament as well as New, and unashamedly writes from a Reformed perspective.

Although this book is devotional in nature, I still found the writing style pleasantly precise and somewhat scholarly. Like many devotional books, each chapter includes a list of questions for further reflection. I'm usually not a fan of study questions, but these questions are thought-provoking and provide guidance for personal and/or family devotions. Reading through the questions at the end of Chapter 7 - 'A Work in Progress' prompted me to think more deeply about my desire for godliness and my ongoing battle for holiness.

Life in Christ is a great aide to help new believers understand what it means to belong to Jesus Christ and follow Him: "This is the proof that God is at work in our hearts, when, with newly opened eyes, we gaze with repenting faith upon the Son of God in all His saving glory, and --believing-- enter into the family of God. This is life in Christ." It's also good for the seasoned Christian to know Christ more fully and understand the reality of being united to Him as Pastor Walker reminds us that "there is a real sense in which conversion is not so much the end of our battles as their beginning." Regardless of where you are in your Christian walk, this book is a great resource for studying the doctrines of sanctification and perseverance.

Life in Christ encouraged me to reflect on my level of gratefulness for the spiritual blessings and unsearchable treasures of being in Christ. Pastor Walker reminded me that "These riches are deposited in the incarnate Son so that they might be found and obtained by sinners like us." I was also challenged by his warning: "If you clutch solely at the sand of this world you will always be dissatisfied and -- what is far worse -- you will be lost forever. This is the folly and misery of those who seek their blessings outside of and apart from Christ."

The only critique that I have of this book was the inclusion of a quote by D.A. Carson. While Dr. Carson is a well-known professor of the New Testament, he has been identified by some Reformed leaders as a proponent of New Covenant Theology. However, New Covenant Theology does not align with Pastor Walker's Reformed covenantal view. Since this book is geared toward new believers, I believe that the inclusion of a quote by D.A. Carson could lead some to assume that Dr. Carson's books can be read without heightened discernment.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for the individual believer and/or family.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life in Christ by Jeremy Walker looks at what it means for someone to be ‘in Christ’. It is a relatively short book of 176 pages with eight chapters, each chapter considering a different aspect of being in Christ:

* Looking to Jesus
* United to Christ
* The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
* Sons of God
* The Jewel of Assurance
* The Marks of God’s Children
* A Work in Progress
* A Life in Review

Walker builds a foundation of salvation before considering the wonderfully rich benefits of being in Christ and warning of the very real danger of Christians – even people who have followed Jesus for many years – not comprehending the ‘jewel of assurance’ and their sure standing before God.

Walker quotes extensively from the writings of the Puritans throughout and, indeed, his own style of writing is remarkably similar to that of the Puritans, with what may seem unfamiliar turns of phrase and choice of words to the modern reader. The book tries very hard to be both informative and practical, with questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter. While it is aimed more at the mature believer, it could be adapted for group study/discussion as well as individual study.

I enjoyed Walker’s chapter on assurance:

Assurance will take away those crippling doubts and crushing fears which hinder the saints…. The assured believer is also a convinced and courageous believer. When we do not know where we stand, we do not know how to act. To know who we are helps us to follow a right course without quibbling or cavilling.

In his final (inspiring) chapter, Walker examines the life of Paul and what being ‘in Christ’ meant to the apostle. Walker encourages Christians to be grounded in Christ, make certain of who they are in Christ, and then devote themselves fully to Him, so that at the end of their lives, like Paul, they can finish well.

Walker has given two interviews about Life in Christ on the Janet Mefford Show and the Confessing Baptist Podcast.

I am grateful to Heritage Books and Cross Focused Reviews for providing me with a free copy of this ebook for the purpose of writing a review.

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed Jeremy Walker's writings before, I looked forward to this book.

"Life in Christ" is basically a book about the gospel. What must I do to be saved? Walker tells us - Look unto Jesus! It is not ourselves, our church, our family, our money, etc. It is Jesus and Him crucified! Jeremy does not stop there. He shows us what our life in Christ should look like and how God, not only changes a person, but births a new creation in them. We are not the same. We are new creatures.

This book is very understandable and easy to read. In some places I felt like I was reading a sermon from Spurgeon. Here is a small example:

"We look to Him at Calvary. There hangs the suffering, bleeding, dying Lamb. Look to Him, with the crown of thorns piercing His noble brow. Look to Him, with the blood pouring from His hands and feet, cruelly pierced with Roman nails. Look to Him as the gore drips from His wounded flesh, torn from His back by a vicious scourge. Look to Him as He bows His head in agony under the weight of His holy Father’s just anger against sin. Look to Him as He cries out from the midst of an impenetrable darkness, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” Look to Him as He shouts with a loud voice, “It is finished!” Look to Him as He yields up His Spirit."

Wow, Just thinking of what Jesus done brings tears to our eyes. He took our place. He was punished for me! Like I heard an old preacher say years ago, "If that don't fire you up, your wood must be wet." What a savior we have!

I loved this book. It is not only written with sound doctrine, it also has, what Edwards called "Religious Affections". It will stir your heart toward Christ. If you need encouragement, not the feel-good self-esteem kind, but true gospel edification, this is the book for you.

I highly recommend this book to all, believer and unbeliever alike, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book, free of charge, from Reformation Heritage Books and Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary-ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be in a position of privilege and blessing beyond anything the world might offer, begins author Jeremy Walker. Life in Christ explores the unsearchable riches of the Christian pilgrimage and traces its trajectory, highlighting key elements in the believers experience. Do you wrestle with assurance? Have you grasped the engagement demanded in Christian living? Do you find the way wearying at times? Do you struggle with your Christian identity? Walker provides instruction for Christians to assess their own standing and progress in the faith exhorting and equipping and always pointing them ahead to the hope of the glory of Christ. Along the way, he encourages God s people to live a life to the praise of His glory as he examines some of the basic truths that establish and direct a true child of God.

Jeremy Walker does an excellent job in his book, explaining first the gospel; that is the salvation message. He then walks you through the next chapters, showing us that we are free, and no longer bound to sin.

He also assures his readers about eternal security, which I think is very important, especially to new believers. It is so important to know that we are secure in Christ!

Chapter 7 reminds us all that we are "a work in progress". We can do nothing to work out our salvation, and we are new creatures in Christ, the old is gone and the new keeps growing.

This is a good book, a recommended read, although not an "easy" read, it is a short book; if it is read with concentration and care will be a great asset!

I received this book free from www.crossfocusedreviews.com . I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the most essential item in our Christian life? Surely our life in Christ, though neglected in many circles, is the right answer. Christianity, as it has been said, is Christ, and our relationship to Him is vital at every point. To help us think clearly here enter Life In Christ by Jeremy Walker to spur our thoughts in a proper direction. As the subtitle says, we get help on “becoming and being a disciple of The Lord Jesus Christ.”

I suspect this volume began as a series of sermons, but they flow wonderfully to give us more than a mere book of sermons. The first chapter begins with a frank discussion of looking to Jesus as the key to salvation. That is the right starting point. We have nothing to discuss until we are in Christ! I loved Mr. Walker’s description of the glory of the statement : “if anyone is in Christ” (pg. 22). There is no distinction in any of us who are in Christ! From here he goes on to proclaim “the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

There are other great chapters. “The Jewel of Assurance” is especially good. He tries to strike the right balance when he reminds us that we are a “work in progress.” Mr. Walker is a Calvinist, but there really are only a few places where you couldn’t agree as one who isn’t a Calvinist. You will be helped to get your thinking straight and focus on being Christ’s disciple.

Don’t think that this volume could only help a new Christian. The truths here are of the type that we can never be reminded of enough. In addition, this volume covers this key ground with verve. I recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Adam Gamberi]

Very helpful and equipping to the Christian or the not yet believer to help show you where the Bread of life may be found!