Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our wonderful and all-sufficient Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20). I am pleased to announce that, by God’s sustaining grace, the book I’ve been working on for the last few years is finally available. It is titled, The Gospel of the Christ, and subtitled, A Biblical Response to the Crossless Gospel Regarding the Contents of Saving Faith.The host of this site, Lou Martuneac, has kindly offered to post sample sections from Part I of the book in forthcoming articles. In light of this, permit me to introduce this series by sharing a few words about my purpose and goals for the book.
My objective in writing the book was to provide a biblical response to the controversy within the Free Grace community over the subject of the “crossless gospel” and the contents of saving faith. Part I of the book lays the groundwork by introducing the problem of the crossless/promise-only/Grace Evangelical Society (GES) gospel and its associated doctrines. The remainder of the book still interacts with the new GES theology but it is primarily an exegetical synthesis of dozens of key passages involving the terms “gospel” and “Christ.”
The longest section of the book, Part II, clarifies the meaning and content of “the gospel,” while Part III examines the meaning of Jesus being “the Christ.” In this respect, the book goes far beyond simply providing an answer to the position of the Grace Evangelical Society on the contents of saving faith since it addresses many soteriologically significant passages and theological topics from a distinctively non-Lordship Salvation/Free Grace perspective. For this reason, I trust that the book will serve as a helpful resource on the doctrine of salvation for members of Christ’s Body who are seeking clear, biblical answers.
It has also been my prayer all along that the Lord would use this book to bring clarity, resolution, and unity where confusion and doctrinal discord have existed for too long in the Free Grace camp. May the God of all grace now be pleased to use the book to this end and even to edify each of you as you endeavor to serve our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to spread the gospel of His matchless grace.
Your fellow bondservant in Christ,
Tom Stegall
Editor's Note: This is Pastor Tom Stegall’s introduction to a new series in which I will be featuring excerpts from his new book. Please proceed to excerpt one from The Gospel of the Christ: The Sinlessness of Christ, which will link you in succession to each excerpt in the series.
Some of you will recognize Pastor Stegall from his multi-part series, The Tragedy of the Crossless Gospel, which can be downloaded from the Grace Family Journal (see Recommended Sites).
LM
Congrats Tom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I can't wait to read it!
Kev
Hey Kev,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the very encouraging note. I hope all readers are as eager to read the book as you are!
I pray the Lord will use it to encourage you "on your walk" with Him :)
In the Savior,
TS
Excellent, I've been looking forward to this book for quite some time. I couldn't agree with you more that the significance of this work transcends GES' gospel and I believe this will be a very valuable reference on many fronts. Thanks, Tom, for your efforts... tireless... or not so tireless as the case may be at times. I know you've put a lot of yourself into this and that that can't have happened without some personal sacrifices by you and your family at times.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless your efforts and use this work to facilitate a clear and present Gospel to those who would receive it.
Stephen,
ReplyDeleteAmen to all that you said.
Yes, it is certainly true that my family sacrificed in terms of their time with dear old dad and hubby, but I am so glad that they understand the value of doing so and the cause for which this book was written. "Is there not a cause?" (1 Sam. 17:29).
The best things in life are worth sacrificing for, and the person of the Lord Jesus and His precious gospel certainly qualify!
In Him,
TS
Pastor Stegall:
ReplyDeleteI want to express my sincere gratitude for your recent years of effort in defense of the Gospel against the reductionism that the Grace Evangelical Society (GES) [Zane Hodges/Bob Wilkin] introduced to the New Testament church. Your series, The Tragedy of the “Crossless” Gospel was the first comprehensive effort to expose the dangers of what has been coming from GES. Your new book not only adds to that initial effort, but once and for all gives the biblical answers to the Crossless heresy while defining the one true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Believers who have been exposed to the twin errors of Lordship Salvation and the GES Crossless gospel are sure to appreciate this balanced work you have produced.
Finally another note of thanks for the blessing and encouragement you have been to me in my efforts to address both the Lordship and Crossless assaults on the Gospel.
God bless you,
Lou
Thank you, Lou.
ReplyDeleteThe appreciation is mutual. Keep pressing on by His grace.
In Him,
TS
Hi Pastor Stegall-
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a good book to have. Though it is written to address the crossless gospel, I can't help but think it must be good for LS opponents as well. Anything that helps clarify the gospel is going to be of value. I will have to add it to my (growing!) list of soon to be released books to purchase.
Looking forward to reading it.
JanH
Hi Jan!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think you are absolutely right about the book being relevant with respect to Lordship Salvation even though it primarily addresses the aberrant FG view of the crossless gospel.
The gospel is the gospel is the gospel . . . regardless of who we are witnessing to. The same gospel applies to all mankind, regardless of religious or doctrinal persuasion.
So in the process of explaining many gospel passages in the book, even with a view toward the crossless gospel, the exegetical details of many key passages end up speaking directly to the problem of Lordship Salvation. For instance, there are lengthy sections on certain passages that have customarily been cited by Lordship proponents, such as Acts 2:38; 3:19-26; 16:31; 1 Cor. 15:2; Col. 1:23; etc. In this respect, I think the will serve as a very valuable reference tool for anyone interested in a Free Grace interpretation on scores of difficult salvation passages. That is my hope and prayer anyway.
In Christ,
TS
For instance, there are lengthy sections on certain passages that have customarily been cited by Lordship proponents, such as Acts 2:38; 3:19-26; 16:31; 1 Cor. 15:2; Col. 1:23; etc.
ReplyDeleteOh! Wonderful!
JanH