In this latest effort, author and Pastor Andy Stanley pens a lucid, salient, and timely biblical journey on the topic of God's grace. This book, as with Stanley's other works is well written and full of biblical truth for both the layman and seasoned scholar alike. He rightly begins his discussion of God's grace at the beginning of the biblical story, namely the story of creation in Genesis 1. Stanley aptly notes "On the surface, it appears that the birth of Jesus signaled the beginning of an age of grace. However, a careful reading of the Old Testament reveals grace to be God's preeminent characteristic from the very beginning." This is an extremely valid point to make given the New Atheistic perspective of the Old Testament God promulgated by individuals such as Richard Dawkins attempts to make God out to be a genocidal maniac. In opposition to such a view Stanley points out God's grace is the impelling narrative from the very first verse of Scripture.The story of God's grace continues to the calling of Abraham by God to form a new nation, one through which he would in the words of Stanley "extend grace to a graceless world." Even despite seeming odds that would have seemed to the ordinary individual to be evidence of it being impossible for God to fulfill the promises he gave Abraham, God never failed to make good on his covenant with Abraham. Additionally, God providing individuals with what they by all reality did not deserve is further evidenced in the life of Jacob and Joseph. When situations seem to call for an individual to get what they deserved, instead God's grace and mercy shine through the biblical narrative.The next stop on Stanley's story of biblical grace is the giving of the law to the Israelites. While many perceive the law as a set of rules devoid of grace, Stanley rightly reminds us "the Ten Commandments do not stand in contrast to grace; they are introduced within the story of God's grace. God's law is featured heavily in the Old Testament, but only as the subtext of a grander narrative that highlights his grace toward a helpless, undeserving group of people." The law was a perpetual reminder of God's amazing extension of grace toward a sinful people. Through the law and the sacrificial system subsumed therein; God provided a means by which his people could not just have their sins covered, but also a way by which they could have God dwell in their midst via the tabernacle.As the journey through the Old Testament continues, Stanley reminds the reader of the possession of the Promised Land by the Israelites, in particular how God punished the sin of the inhabitants of the land and extended grace to his people, a group of sinners themselves. The stories of King David also clearly reveal God's continued provision of grace and his selection of individuals who have a heart for God over those whom most individuals would have perceived as the definition of a leader. Even in David's darkest moments such as his affair with Bathsheba and subsequent planned murder of her husband, God provided punishment for sin yet remained faithful his covenant promises to Israel.Stanley also provides valuable insight into how God's grace is noted in the New Testament even in the genealogies found in the gospels. He notes "the story of Jesus is the story of God drawing near to those who have been pulled away by sin and were subsequently pushed away from the self-righteous." Even a cursory look at Jesus' genealogy reveals list of arguably shady characters. Yet even through seemingly flawed individuals God's grace throughout history is evident. After all, Jesus clearly stated he did not "come to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." The gospels also reveal the culmination of what the law pointed to in the Old Testament, namely the fact "Forgiveness and eternal life were not attained through the Law. Forgiveness required a payment." As prophesied by Isaiah, the payment for our sins was found in the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ whose death demonstrated God's commitment to extending grace to the unworthy. God's grace is not just a onetime event found by believers at the moment they accept Christ as their savior. Stanley rightly notes "the grace of God is the life of the Savior coursing through the souls of believers to sustain us through those things that will not or cannot change. It is a well of living water."Stanley concludes his book with a rather interesting look into his experiences of why individuals stay away from the church. It was fascinating to read the answers given such as "I don't have time" or "I know I should but...." From Stanley's experience as a pastor, individuals rarely provide valid theological answers as to why being a part of the body of Christ or at least stepping through the doors of a church is not part of their life, other than the Christmas/Easter crowd. In response to this, Stanley provides an outstanding answer, namely that many believers view church as strictly for church people and not as a means by which to evangelize or to meet the needs of those who are ultimately search for God's grace in their lives, regardless of whether they realize it or not. We far too often forget Jesus' words found in Luke 5:31, ""It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." Stanley correctly avers "When grace is no longer front and center in the messaging and programming of a church, something else is. Something less than grace." This is certainly not a call to allow sinners to attend church without any hint of repentance or being sanctified through the power of the Holy Spirit. What Stanley is rightly pointing out is it is the mission of the church to connect people to Christ for transformed lives, lives transformed through the grace of God providing forgiveness of sin through the shed blood of Christ.The Grace of God by Andy Stanley is an excellent resource for those desiring to obtain a holistic perspective of God's grace as evinced throughout the biblical message. It would make an excellent companion to other timely books on this subject such as Philip Yancey's What's So Amazing About Grace. For those who need a fresh perspective on God's grace in their lives and how to reach others who are searching for God, Andy Stanley's latest effort is well worth the read. You will quickly discern it is written from the heart of a pastor who has a clear desire to reach the world with the timeless message of God's grace.I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com [...] book review bloggers program. 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." I enjoyed reading Andy’s book very much. It’s a great one to read at night right before you go to bed. Just read a chapter and sleep with Grace on your mind. The book is not deep theology but instead it puts flesh on the deep theological topic of Grace so that it’s easy to embrace. I really enjoyed Chapter 5 Ruled by Grace. Andy makes a beautiful point that, “When we see God’s law the way he intended it, we understand that the grace of God and the law of God are not opposing concepts.
What do You think about The Grace Of God (2010)?
Really liked this. He looks at the whole Bible, and follows the story of God's grace throughout.
—reza
God made grace simple. Christians made it complicated. Andy Stanley made it simple again.
—GGRRRR
One of Andy's best and a message everyone should hear.
—Orangesoccerang
