Review of The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur

 

The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur is a book which ultimately explores the question of what following Jesus truly means, particularly against the backdrop of the “lordship salvation” controversy. MacArthur both defends lordship-salvation and at the same time, provides a thorough critique of the other position, easy-believism. MacArthur outlines in chapter 2 of the book some of the problems with what he refers to as the ‘typical gospel presentation nowadays’: “Listen to the typical gospel presentation nowadays. You will hear sinners entreated with words like, “accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior”; “ask Jesus into your heart”; “invite Christ into your life”; or “make a decision for Christ.” You may be so accustomed to hearing those phrases that it will surprise you to learn that none of them is based on biblical terminology. They are the products of a diluted gospel. It is not the gospel according to Jesus.” MacArthur most frontly critiques and refutes the idea that “conversion to Christ requires no spiritual commitment whatsoever” (pg. 38)

MacArthur clarifies that he is not in anyway whatsoever proposing the idea that works are a precondition for salvation (pg. 48 - “Works are not necessary to earn salvation”). He is simply showing that it is wrong to assume that one is a Christian simply because he/she professes it without showing any outward evidence in their lifestyle. “Not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is”, as he says. In chapter 3, Dr. MacArthur shows how Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus in John 3 proves this point. He especially points out that Nicodemus came to Jesus with a positive word of affirmation (what might equate to today’s idea of “accepting Jesus into your heart). We might expect Jesus “to welcome Nicodemus warmly and interpret his positive response as a profession of faith, but that was not the case”(pg. 51). In this passage, Jesus treated Nicodemus as an unbeliever. Since Jesus knew the hearts of men (John 2:24), he obviously knew whether or not Nicodemus truly was one who had saving faith. MacArthur shows how John 3 demonstrates that it is possible for one to be fanatically religious, yet “no nearer the kingdom of God than a prostitute” (pg. 53) 

In chapter 4, MacArthur deals with the next chapter from John’s gospel in which the story of the woman at the well takes place. John 4 demonstrated conclusively that Jesus, rather than appealing to his listener’s misplaced interests, confronted them with their ultimate need. This story shows that Jesus demands true worship, not an empty bogus profession of faith. MacArthur notes that it is interesting that the woman’s first action after her conversion was to go and tell others about Jesus (John 4:28-30). She had a real faith. Jesus knew the woman’s sinful past, and when he invites her to “drink”, it is not leaving an excuse for continuing to live as she used to: “Jesus never sanctioned any form of cheap grace. He was not offering eternal life as an add-on to a life cluttered with unconfessed sin. It is inconceivable that He would pour someone a drink of living water without challenging and altering that individual’s sinful lifestyle. He came to save His people from their sin (cf. Matt. 1:21), not to confer immortality on people in bondage to wickedness (cf. Gen. 3:22 – 24)” (pg. 68)

Chapter 21 seemed to enforce the point (i.e. that true believers will have a dynamic faith that evidences itself in good works not an empty profession of faith) really well. MacArthur appeals to Matthew 7 to show that many people who profess to be Christians are in fact self-deceived: “Here in Matthew 7, the Lord gives us a glimpse of the coming judgment and the tragedy of those who will stand before the throne with high expectations but only a verbal profession or mere intellectual knowledge. They will protest that they did things for the Lord, but their words and their hearts are empty. Tragically, Christ will turn them away from heaven” (pg. 212). The “many” of Matthew 7 who will be “turned away from heaven” are, according to MacArthur, “religious people who have chosen the road of human achievement. They are the same ‘many’ we met in Matthew 7:13, who took the wide gate and broad way. Their plea will be the religious deeds they have done (v. 22). Paul said people like this hold “to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). They are much like the Pharisees, obsessed with religious activity, not necessarily apostates, heretics, antichrists, atheists, or agnostics — just people trying to earn God’s favor through external works rather than living out the righteousness that is based on faith (cf. Rom. 10:5 – 10) (pg. 212).” Note especially that these people say “Lord, Lord” (thus affirming the truth of his divinity). Their faith exists only in the spoken realm, with no evidence of itself in reality. Their lifestyle is that of one who is unrepentant and self-deceived, yet they “go through the motions”, as it is often said, and might even be highly involved in churches and other religious activities, yet Jesus will say to them “I never knew you”. Notice he says that never knew them, not that he once knew them but then lost them, or that they lost their salvation somehow. They were never real believers in the first place!

This book encourages all who profess to be Christians to “examine themselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10-11) to see if they are truly Christians. Generally, those who are self-deceived have what is called a “false assurance”, usually never examining themselves. The Gospel According to Jesus shows that the true message of Jesus was one of a call to submit to His authority and his lordship and to repent and trust in Him alone.