Jesus + Nothing = Everything

  I recently had the privilege of reading Tullian Tchividjian’s Jesus + Nothing = Everything (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011).  This book is basically a 200 page account of Tchividjian’s ‘discovery’ of the doctrines of grace over the past few years.  Though he does mention some of his church struggles, most of the book is dedicated to explaining what sovereign and amazing grace is as well as what God’s grace means in the Christian life.  The main point of the book, obviously, is that Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

I have to admit I’m annoyed by trendy bumper sticker, church marquee, or twitter theology – aka “one liners.” Sometimes they are dangerous because 1) they tend to become the lens by which people think about all things (i.e. Warren’s purpose driven this or that, which is essentially semi-pelagian) and 2) they are often unclear and unhelpful (i.e. Piper’s “God is the Gospel” – God is not the gospel, the gospel is the good news and announcement of Christ’s work for sinners [1 Cor 15.1-5]). But I do think Tchividjian’s “Jesus + Nothing = Everything“ is a helpful way to explain the gospel of grace.

The basic structure of the book goes like this: 1) Everything. Here he discusses how everything this world has to offer doesn’t fulfill the heart and soul’s deepest longing.  Only God in Christ can do that.  2) Nothing.  Here Tchividjian talks about idolatry, addictions, and adding to the gospel.  He also explains how moralism and legalism are traps we fall into.  3) Jesus.  In this section he explains the gospel, utilizing Colossians 1 and other texts.  He says, “Jesus is everything, and therefore, for mankind the gospel is everything.”  4) Nothing.  This part of the book is sort of a repeat of the second part (#2 above), only with more depth.  5) Everything.  Again, this part of the book is an in depth review of the first part of the book (#1 above).

I like these quotes:

“Behavior modification cannot change the human heart.  Outside cleanup never leads to inside cleanup.  Only inside cleanup leads to outside cleanup – and there’s only One who can do that” (p. 55).

“The gospel is good news – wonderful, positive, invigorating, wholesome, nurturing news – precisely because our relationship to God does not depend on our zeal, our efforts, and our generosity, but on Christ’s” (p. 140).

There are two mild critiques I have of this book.  First, the overall structure seemed random and tough to follow.  There was so much restating and repetition I was frustrated by the end of the book.  The writing style didn’t “flow” for me.  The book would have been much better if it were half as long with no repetition.  Second, this book is exactly like quite a bit of other material out there today.  It is something like a greatest hits album including stuff by Tim Keller, Michael Horton, Jerry Bridges, Gerhard Forde, John Piper, and Modern Reformation.  Please note this is good, solid, and biblical material that we should be reading!  I’m not saying Tchividjian is plagiarizing at all.  And I have absolutely no theological quibbles with this book; I think it is an outstanding explanation of amazing grace.  But you may not want to purchase it if you’re very familiar with the above named resources. If you’ve read/heard the above resources, Jesus + Nothing = Everything might be too much of a review for you.  It was for me.

Though I do have those two minor critiques, I recommend and appreciate this book.  It’d be perfect for Christians who are just learning about grace – about what the gospel means in our daily life.  I may loan it out to a few newer members of the church I’m at, those who are just discovering the beauty of the doctrines of grace.  Jesus + Nothing = Everything is a great introduction to a gospel-centered, grace-full view of Christianity and life.

shane lems

sunnyside wa

Godliness: Not By Our Strength

One of the best books on the topic of godliness is Willem Teellinck’s (d. 1629) The Path of True Godliness.  These lines stood out for me as I was writing a sermon on godliness:

“We must therefore begin to practice [godliness], not in our own strength, which means absolutely nothing, but in the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the strength of our life and by whom we can do all things.  [Here Teellinck quotes Eph. 6.10, Phil. 3.3, 2 Cor. 3.5, and 2. Cor 9.8).”

“Take careful note of this, for surely many a man begins the practice of godliness and then gives up in discouragement and withdraws from his work.  Since he began it in his own strength, he makes a mess of things.  It’s exactly the same thing as when a little child, in his own strength, wants to build a big castle.  It is a fact that our own strength means nothing in the building up of the Christian life.  Unless the power of the Almighty comes upon us, we cannot build anything that will last.  That is why we call it godliness; it reminds us that without God and his holy help we would never be able to accomplish this work.”

“How the devil tries to keep this fact hidden from the eyes of men!  That is why there are found everywhere so many who now and then put on holy airs as if they henceforth want to be godly, but you see after only a short time they have returned to the world, having so very quickly lost interest.  This happens because they began in their own strength; therefore, they found their work too much for them and quickly tired of it because they found no more joy in it.  Therefore, all students of true godliness who wish to begin this work well and truly wish to bring it to completion must renounce their own strength.  They must surrender themselves entirely to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is ‘the Author and Finisher of our faith’ (Heb. 12.2)….”

That’s worth reading a few times for sure.  By the way, RHB has Teellinck’s book on sale for $11 right now.

shane lems

sunnyside wa

To Know the Love of Christ…

 John Bunyan lists several ways to grow in the knowledge of Christ’s love.  One is to know by the law that we are sinners.  Another is to know that our own righteousness is worthless in justification.  Yet one more is to know the difference between the law and the gospel:

“If you want to know the nature of this love, be much in acquainting your soul with the nature of the law, and the nature of the gospel (Gal 3:21).  Though they are not diametrically opposed to one another, yet they do propound things so differently to man, that if he doesn’t know where, when, and how to take them, it is impossible not to confound them, and in confounding them, lose his own soul (Rom 9:31-32).  The law is a servant, both first and last, to the gospel (Rom 10:3-4).  When the law is made a lord, it destroys, and when its dictates and commands are dependent upon for life, then it is for sure made a lord and savior.”

“The right knowledge of the nature of the love of Christ, is obtained and retained by keeping these two doctrines at an everlasting distance as to the conscience…not allowing the gospel to be removed one hair’s breadth from my conscience. …For there is nothing that Satan desires more than that the law abides in the conscience of an awakened Christian, and there to take the place of Christ, and faith.  For Satan knows that if this happens, the vail is presently drawn over the face of the soul, and the heart darkened as to the knowledge of Christ, and being darkened, the man is driven to despair of mercy or is put upon to work for life (2 Cor 3:13-15).”

In other words, if we begin to think Christ’s love for us is dependent upon our law keeping, we do not really know his love at all.  He loves and died for ungodly sinners.  The law shows us our sin, the gospel shows us our Savior.

The above Bunyan quote is found in All Loves Excelling, pages 86-7; I adjusted the wording in order to make it a bit easier to read. 

shane lems

Altogether Blameworthy

 Here’s a great paragraph from Luther’s treatise called On Christian Liberty. 

“…The moment you begin to have faith you learn that all things in you are altogether blameworthy, sinful, and damnable, as the Apostle says in Romans 3, ‘Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’ and ‘None is righteous, no not one; …all have turned aside, together they have gone wrong.’   When you have learned this you will know that you need Christ, who suffered and rose again for you so that, if you believe in him, you may through this faith become a new man in so far as your sins are forgiven and you are justified by the  merits of another, of Christ alone.”

Martin Luther, On Christian Liberty.

shane lems

Christ or Nothing

 These are some great words from Samuel Rutherford to his friend John Henderson.  Rutherford wrote this from a prison in Scotland in 1637.

“Know the Lord and seek Christ.  You have a soul that cannot die.  Seek for a lodging to your poor soul, for that house of clay will fill.  Heaven or nothing! Either Christ or nothing!  Use prayer in your house and set your thoughts often upon death and judgment.  It is dangerous to be loose in the matter of your salvation. ….Love your enemies and stand by the truth which I have taught you, in all things.  Fear not men, but let God be your fear.  Your time will not be long; make the seeking of Christ your daily task.  Seek a broken heart for sin, for without that there is no meeting with Christ.”

You can find this quote on page 104 of the Puritan Paperback entitled The Letters of Samuel Rutherford.  I especially like that sentence, which is a great commentary on Psalm 51.17.

shane lems

sunnyside wa