Christ + Nothing = Everything
Tullian Tchividjian
Crossway Books, 2011
Tchividjian's book speaks to a crucial truth of Christianity. Perhaps the theme is most concisely summarized by a quotation in his book: the only thing you contribute to your salvation and to your sanctification is the sin that makes them necessary (quoting Templeton, p. 103).
The strength of Christ + Nothing = Everything is the discussion of that crucial truth as expressed in the book's title. But the overall impact of the work is weakened by several qualities which seemed to drive the reader to disengage rather than to dig in and follow the author's arguments.
What's different about this book:
- the absolutely essential truth that ONLY CHRIST effects my salvation and my justification. The author does an excellent job explaining this and laying out the damning ramifications of my attempting to add to or subtract from that finished work.
- The excellent bibliography to other powerful Christian thinkers who have compelling thoughts on this truth. I really wanted to take off and read a few of those books as well.
- the compelling back story of the author's life events that instigated the study and the book. We've all experienced them: the older guard that resists change. Tchividjian mirrored the grace he wrote of as he shared his experience at Coral Ridge with grace and admirable economy of words.
The heart and accuracy for the Gospel is solidly present in Christ + Nothing = Everything. The book will be used to extend the Kingdom. But purchasing this title will not be on the top of our vendor list this year.
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