Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose
Overview
We know what the gospel is—but do we know why it is?
As Christians, we often ask what the gospel is, when we should be asking why it is. Matthew W. Bates has previously demonstrated that the “good news” of the gospel is that Jesus is King. But in his latest book, he explores God’s intentions: why has God issued this royal proclamation? And what role can it play in our everyday lives?
As Bates observes, we find the answer in a simple but challenging realization: “I am a horrible king of my own life.” With examples from Scripture, literature, and personal experience, Bates explains what pledging allegiance to Jesus as ruler of our lives actually looks like. Living authentically according to God’s reign conforms humanity to the image of Jesus and extends his glory and honor to all creation.
Perfect for church studies, evangelism, or personal spiritual reading, Why the Gospel? invites readers to consider how we can transform our lives and communities through loyalty and devotion to King Jesus. The book includes questions to guide discussion.
This is a Logos Reader Edition. Learn more.
- Explains what pledging allegiance to Jesus as ruler of our lives actually looks like
- Invites readers to consider how we can transform our lives and communities through loyalty and devotion to King Jesus
- Includes questions to guide discussion
- Introduction
- King First
- Famous Somewhere
- Glory’s Two Faces
- Gospel Recovery
- Royal Transformation
- Good News for the Nones
- Gospeling Backwards with Purpose
- Recommended Resources
Matthew Bates calls the church to recover the gospel of King Jesus, a gospel which is beautiful, bountiful, and transformative. Bates masterfully shows how the fully orbed gospel of the biblical witness is still good news for ‘nones’ and ‘dones,’ those without religion, and those who have walked away from it. An ideal book for Bible study groups who want to be reminded of why the gospel is indeed ‘good news.
—Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in New Testament, Ridley College
Matthew Bates expertly uses Scripture to refurbish the gospel. But he doesn't park the gospel along a scholarly roadside, he insists: God intends restorative action—Let's drive! Bates invites readers on a journey of knowing the king who is the good news.
—Nijay Gupta, professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary
Matthew Bates’s Why the Gospel? will help you discover God’s fullest gospel purposes, so that you and others can more thoroughly embrace a lifestyle of loyal discipleship.
—Scot McKnight, Northern Seminary
- Title: Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose
- Author: Matthew W. Bates
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Pages: 186
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subject: Christian life › Biblical teaching
- ISBNs: 9780802881687, 0802881688
- Resource ID: LLS:WHYGSPLLJSSPRPS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-18T19:50:33Z
Reviews
2 ratings
Ryland Brown
5/17/2023
This is a great resource for the church. In recent years, many books have discussed what the gospel is, and I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Bates' work, Salvation by Allegiance Alone, to get a clear picture of how the gospel is more than just personal forgiveness of sins, even though that is of utmost importance! This work is different in that it addresses the why in the gospel? What is God's motive in the gospel and why is this message still compelling after 2,000 years. 5 out of 5.
Ryan Riley
5/16/2023
Jesus is King, and he is restoring creation, the image of God in man, and renewing the glory (honor and fame) to creation, man, and God! This is the message in Dr. Matthew W. Bates' <i>Why the Gospel?</i>, which asks and seeks to answer an important question. In my opinion, he successfully restores a more wholistic picture of the Good News about Jesus. Better still, Dr. Bates provides a framework for practically applying this more complete gospel message. This book is a must read for all Christ followers. If any talk of reframing or "changing" the gospel scares you, don't be dissuaded from picking up this volume. Dr. Bates grounds every argument solidly in scripture. This is the best, practical guide to the gospel I've encountered. While many other books have brought me to the same line of thinking about the gospel, I still wrestled with how to apply the ideas beyond my own, personal worship. Dr. Bates provides suggestions for applying the gospel of King Jesus in many contexts: Church community, evangelism (especially to the "nones"), and rehabilitating the image of Christians to the watching world.
