This book is another title in the ministry 9Marks' series on the nine marks of a healthy church. At the beginning of The Gospel, Ortlund explains the purpose of this book:
The purpose of this book, then, is simple. I want to show how Christ puts his beauty into our churches by his gospel. That explains the title of this book: The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ. Beauty is powerful. ... We possess, in the gospel alone, God's wonder-working resources for the display of Christ among us. And as you read, I hope you find yourself thrilled with the beauty of Christ. That's my ultimate goal.
But what is the gospel? Chapter one, titled "The Gospel for You," is focused on John 3:16 and unpacks this familiar verse phrase by phrase. It succinctly yet robustly explains fully what the gospel means for the individual. Ortlund says it like this:
God, through the perfect life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, rescues all his people from the wrath of God into peace with God, with a promise of the full restoration of his created order forever - all to the praise of the glory of his grace.
The second chapter is called "The Gospel for the Church" and is focused on Ephesians 5:25 (scroll over the reference to see the verse) and explains how "the doctrine of grace creates a culture of grace where good things happen to bad people." The third chapter, "The Gospel for Everything" is on Revelation 21:5 and focuses on the "bigness" of the gospel and how it impacts our future.
The fourth chapter shifts into exploring further implications of the gospel - "specifically, what does the gospel create in this present world that wasn't here before?" Chapter five is titled "It Isn't Easy, But It is Possible" and is framed around Galatians 2:14 and the difficulties of creating a gospel culture within the church. "What We Can Expect" is chapter six and is based on the encouraging verses of 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 as Ortlund asks, "As our churches press further into gospel doctrine and gospel culture, what can we expect to see?" In the final chapter, "Our Path Forward," Ortlund wraps everything up with Revelation 14:4,
"They follow the Lamb wherever he goes."
He ends by pointing out three treasures the church should reach for: power, courage, and love.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The Gospel is a book that any church member should try to get their hands on. It will make you love your church better, but more importantly, it will draw your eyes to Christ to make you love him better. This Bible is centralized in this book, Christ glorified, and the church magnified. What more can you ask for in a book?
Buy The Gospel here.
*I received a copy of this book from Crossway through their Beyond the Page review system. I was not required to give a positive review
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