“Jesus Plus Nothing” is the central theme of Andrew Farley's new book The Naked Gospel.
Christian, are you a legalist? Are you bound by your to do list for God? Does the word "obligation" weigh heavily in your mind when you consider your Lord?
These are all questions I would consider asking someone before I would recommend The Naked Gospel: The Truth You May Never Hear in Church by Andrew Farley, Lead Teaching Pastor of Ecclesia — Church Without Religion, located in Lubbock, Texas.
My first impression of The Naked Gospel was one of effective marketing. The dust cover is transparent and the Table of Contents is printed on the front cover. The book opens with an enthusiastic, encouraging dedication to the author's son and lists a quote referencing Arthur Bury’s book also called The Naked Gospel. The final touch is the discussion guide entitled "Nude Reflections."
This book is for the born again Christian. All three of these marketing techniques bring to mind what Andrew Farley's main premise is — Jesus Plus Nothing. These marketing techniques are quite interesting and imaginative, but the content is what stirred quite a few conversations with my husband and friends on the issues raised in this work.
In Chapter One, the reader is asked a series of questions to begin the dialogue of the book. I was quickly taken aback as I immediately disagreed with some of the statements made. Not wanting to give away the content, suffice it to say, these are standard and pointed questions. My advice to the reader would be to read these questions very closely before you answer.
The Naked Gospel is a fresh, clear look at the issue of Salvation by Grace, not works, as well as living under Grace, not Old Testament Law. New (or seasoned) believers will be encouraged as they read that there was nothing they did that brought about salvation in their lives, therefore, there is no amount of works they can do now to keep or maintain their salvation.
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