Gospel Deeps

by Jared C. Wilson, Matt Chandler (Foreword)

While pastoring for the past fifteen years, Jared Wilson has become known in contemporary evangelicalism for his passionate, gospel-centered writing and teaching. Following Wilson’s well-received publication of Gospel Wakefulness , he writes Gospel Deeps as a “next step” to establishing the need for astonishment, which begins by looking at the astonishing things God has done in and through Christ. Wilson holds up the gospel like a diamond and examines it facet by facet, demonstrating the riches of its implications. This book serves as a valuable contribution to the emerging canon of gospel-centered literature, in the spirit of John Piper’s Pleasures of God and Tim Keller’s emphasis on a “robust gospel,” and continues in the glory-reveling legacy left by Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, and the like. The distinctiveness of Gospel Deeps is found in Wilson’s winsome and frequently ecstatic writing voice, as well as his unique approach to showcasing the gospel’s beauty.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Audiobook, Faith, Discipleship, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2012

About the author

Jared C. Wilson is the Director of Content Strategy for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Managing Editor of For The Church (ftc.co), and Director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of numerous books, including "Gospel Wakefulness," "The Prodigal Church," and, most recently, "The Imperfect Disciple." Wilson blogs regularly at gospeldrivenchurch.com, hosted by The Gospel Coalition and is a frequent speaker at conferences and churches around the world.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Gospel Deeps. I found myself drowning in the immensity and beauty of God and at the same time realizing I could breath under water. Wilson starts by setting the groundwork for the what of the gospel. He takes the ground and air (p. 34) approach like Matt Chandler. For the rest of the book he takes the kernel of the gospel and unpacks it skilfully and wonderfully. He demonstrates that although the gospel is small and simple enough for a child to understand, it’s also big and complex enough for someone to dive into it’s beauty for their entire life and never come to the bottom (pp. 24, 26-27). Says Matt Chandler in the foreward,

God is big, weighty, thick, immense. This is no cliche, although we could make it one. God is so big that to dwell on his immensity long enough could lead one into terror. In the display of his glory God is beyond overwhelming. We sense God’s bigness in his interaction with [us]. (p. 11)


Wilson begins by roundly condemning the evangelical propensity to put the gospel in a box that “gets our sins forgiven and gives us a ticket to heaven” but “end[s] up missing its depth” (p. 19). He cries out “Woe to the flatteners of what is hyperspatial, multidimensional, intra-Trinitarian, and eternal in ways awesomer than ‘one year after another’” (p. 30).

Wilson then moves forward taking each chapter to unpack one multifaceted diamond edge of the gospel. He moves from the gospel’s threefold vision (1 Peter 2) to the God focus of the gospel to Christian hedonism (“The heart of God is vast, his grace is free, his gospel is exhilarating. Uncross your arms and unpurse your lips” p. 91) to our adoption (I loved pp. 154-55). It reminded me of riding a roller-coaster for the first time--slowly climbing that first hill. Then the drop takes your breath away. You think Nothing could be more wonderfully terrible than that and then you take that dropped, hair-pin turn, 360 almost slamming into a perfectly placed stone wall but you survive.

Wilson is quickly becoming one of my favorites writers. He writes plainly so that just about anyone could pick up this book and grasp it but there’s also a depth to his words. He moves seamless in out of biblical & literary allusions and pop culture references. None of these are forced or pressured rather they enhance the topic at hand.

I can’t recommend Gospel Deeps enough. I’m planning on re-reading it later this year just to digest everything a bit more completely. If you know someone who loves the gospel Gospel Deeps is your book. If you know someone who doesn’t love the gospel enough Gospel Deeps is your book. Pretty much anyone who loves the gospel or doesn’t should read this book. It will point you to Jesus and teach you to love him more. Can you ask for anything more?

[Adam T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard for me to give a higher recommendation to a book. I devoured it on a plane ride and passed up the chance to watch complimentary movies because I was so engrossed. Wilson holds up the Gospel and Jesus Christ and revels in the beauty. I love Jesus more having read this book! It is a gift to the Church.

[Jeremy Pinnix · Rating 5 out of 5]

The point of this book is to show just how big, deep, and rich the gospel of Jesus Christ is. So much more than walking an aisle and reciting the sinners prayer. And I don't think Wilson or the publisher would print this, but it is ultimately Reformed Theology in an easy to swallow pill form. Super accessible. And for those of us who are already well versed in theology, well, it provides a much needed renewal of your appreciation for the height, width, and breadth of the gospel. I found Jared's writing style to feel like chatting with a friend. I absolutely loved it. Now, the primary reason I read this book was I saw a tweet where someone said that chapter 9, Cosmic Redemption, was the best/easiest explanation on that concept. And I have to agree.

[Josh Holler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few other Jared Wilson books, but this is his best by far. Gospel refreshment rests within its pages.

[Josiah Jost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book steeps your soul in the indescribably riches, life, and radiant light we have in Christ Jesus!

[Cale Fauver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The OG Jared Wilson.

[Jonathan McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank God for Jared Wilson... because his writing first and foremost ignites my affection for Jesus Christ.

Gospel Deeps is at times theological heady and simultaneously emotionally stirring. (There were passages of such poetic beauty that I was often left breathless. Turn right now to the last chapter, The Crosswise Excellencies of Christ and give that a spin, if you need an example.)

I love that Jared doesn't pit N.T. Wright and the big-picture gospel of Creation to New Creation against the Puritans and the neo-Puritan emphasis on a righteous and holy God that both is our savior and that we need a savior from. Some of my friends in both camps still insist on misunderstanding and demonizing the other, but Jared will simply not play their games. The voices of both are necessary and both come out and play in this book.

I cannot decide if I liked this or Gospel Wakefulness better (I will say that the writing is slightly better here than in Gospel Wakefulness... is is obvious that in Deeps, Jared is at the top of his form as a writer and has a talent for crafting phrases that dig into both mind and heart) but strongly recommend both to stir your affection for Christ and to help train your eyes to see the beauty of our Savior all around you.

[Tim Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that made me think and caused me to want to read certain passages of Scripture that were being referenced. Wilson brings up interesting questions that would be great for group study.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the goal of this book. It aims to plumb the depths of the gospel and learn more about all that is going on in God's plan to save people through Christ.

Some chapters were easier to read than others and I can't really explain why. I felt like some chapters were very easy to understand and follow and then others dealt with theological concepts that were more scholarly and nuanced. A couple times it seemed like the author was taking something simple that I take for granted and making an argument for it that was way more convoluted than it seemed to warrant at face value. It's probably just me and the limitations of my theological training. Anyway, it just seemed a little odd to me that almost every other chapter was easy to read/hard to read.

Some of the topics that I really loved reading were the work of the trinity in the gospel, the joy of the gospel (this chapter was super good), the "glory of suffering," the omnipresence of Christ, our union with Christ (and adoption as sons), the "cosmic redemption" and the "crosswise excellencies of Christ."

There's really a lot in this book to enhance our understanding of and joy in the gospel. I'll definitely need to read it again to get more out of it, but even the first reading was beneficial.

Some of my favorite thoughts are below (in order of when they appear in the book):

1. The gospel reconciles individuals to God. The gospel reconciles individuals to each other ("The horizontal relationship commands are directly connected to the vertical relationship commands. In fact, if I steal from you, it's because I have had another god before God. But even this truth demonstrates how integrally connected the gospel of Jesus Christ is to the way we treat each other; if I cam centered on the gospel, my Lord is Jesus, and if my Lord is Jesus, I don't want your wife or your stuff. If my Lord is Jesus, I want the best for you and want to demonstrate that by loving you.") and the gospel reconciles us together to God. "God is not just concerned with making us different people but making us a people. What I mean is, it is not just that God wants you and me to be kind and gentle and forgiving and obedient; he wants us to be kind and gentle and forgiving and obedient together, because the plan he has designed to most display his glory in reflected in the image of his Son is not saved individuals but a saved church."

2. "Christ is the agent of the Trinity's dramatic scheming against man's rebellion...we are saved from God to God by God through God and for God. The godhead works in concert so that salvation will engulf you in God."

3. "On the permanent condition of God's unrelenting grace, joy is a permanent possibility."

4. "When our greatest sorrow is our own sin, our greatest happiness will be the gospel of God making us holy...focused in the right directions, godly sorrow will produce godly joy, and vice versa."

5. "Surely one of the increasing benefits of progressive sanctification is the accumulation of sinless joys."

6. Quoting John Knox, "'As helpless sinners (which we are) we need deliverance. As responsible sinners (which we also are) we need forgiveness.' Jesus saves us from many things. We are truly victims of sin, but we're also the perpetrators. We don't just suffer evil; we produce it. We are it. Therefore, the gospel's announcement of salvation is fundamentally salvation from the wrath of God."

7. "Instead of satisfying the logic of suffering to our heart's desire, God opts to satisfy the heart's desire that suffering brings to the surface."

8. "We are home and homeward further we venture into the height, depth, length, and width of the measureless wonders of our gracious God. They stretch as far as east to west, as Jesus does. He is there on our behalf before the foundation of the world, he is here in our hearts now and reigning over his creation, he is seated there at the Father's side, and he is coming quickly. In his self-sufficiency he restores us, in his omniscience he knows us, in his omnipotence he rescues us, and in his omnipresence he secures us at all times in all places."

9. "When God adopts us into his family, he is not simply declaring us his children—he is actually making us his children...we are not just imputed Christ's righteousness but imparted it, as well."


There are so many amazing truths to ponder in this book. I got a lot out of it and, considering its subject, I'm sure I could read it many times and get still more.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently, I went snorkeling with a few others in an area with clear deep water, full of aquatic life including sharks, fish, and corals. Above the water you don't really see the life that is underneath, but once you take the plunge everything changes. As far down as I could see and further still, the depths just keep going. Fish and other animals swim out of something that can only be described as the void of the ocean. I could have stayed there for weeks and not even have began to scratch the surface of all I was observing.

I think to Wilson, the gospel can be seen in a similar way. You don't realize how deep the gospel goes until you're plunged into it. Once you think you have seen all you could see or know all there is to know, you turn your head slightly and there is another dimension you haven't even considered. In a lot of ways it can be overwhelming. In other ways it can be peaceful. I experience this in my own life on a daily basis. I like to read and I read quite a bit, but inevitably whenever I pick up another work on the Christian life I learn of a new angle to see the preeminent Christ and that moves me to a position that I was not aware of previously. I think in a lot of ways this was the goal of Wilson, and whether he accomplishes it for you, he certainly did for me.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid book from Wilson. I appreciate his attention to his craft, as he can sometimes really stop me in my tracks with a well-conceived sentence or phrase. Sometimes it's a little pretentious, but only sometimes! This was a great guide to going into the deep end of the gospel pool, and lots of helpful implications were drawn out. I especially appreciated the conclusion where he dealt with some pushback against gospel-centeredness that comes from Hebrews 5 and 6. He handled that very well.

I'm running out of time to finish the Wilson corpus in 2018 but I'm gonna give it my best! On to The Pastor's Justification.

[Andy Dollahite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson cites this as his own favorite work, and I can appreciate why. His strongest and most compelling writing occurs when he waxes poetic about the glories of Christ in the gospel. As is common in his work, he also provides several levels of practical application. One fairly significant complaint I'd register is his willingness to suggest an ontological disruption of the trinity at the cross (indirectly via a Francis Schaeffer quote).

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good entry-level look into the glorious depths of the gospel. Wilson uses accessible language to dive deep into the facts and implications of the truths of the gospel. The chapter on adoption was especially moving.

(Full disclosure: I read this via the audiobook, and I thought the reader for the audiobook did a disservice to the book in a number of ways. I did not factor that into my rating of this book, however.)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson's book, Gospel Deeps, explores the wonders and implications of many gospel truths -- including the Trinity, the purpose of suffering, and the "excellencies of Jesus." It is, at times, a difficult read, but it is well-written and will reward the reader with fresh insight -- and even awe and wonder -- as he plunges "deeply" into the God's plan of redemption.

[Jonathan Josey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when it came out in 2012. It was one of the most formative books for me in relation to the gospel and its effects on every day life. My heart was widened to what Jesus’ life, death and resurrection accomplished. Jared does a masterful job in exalting Jesus, and I truly believe my life would be different as a young Christian if it weren’t for this book.

[Matthew Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The scope of the Gospel is both broad and deep yet often its message has been boiled down to ‘how we get saved’. The main point of this book is to rescue us from this narrow perspective. Although at times the book is dense and maybe a tad repetitive any reader will come away with their soul refreshed as Wilson includes some absolute timeless and invaluable golden nuggets.

[Timothy Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, must-read book for the believer!!

After reading this book, you will not look at Jesus the same way again! This book shows that He is greater, more mighty, and more wonderful than you could possibly imagine!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly loved this book and found it very encouraging, but one or two chapters were a bit difficult for me to grasp. Also, some of the vocabulary was unfamiliar to me and if I couldn't discern the meaning of the word from the context, I had to look it up.

[Ben Clouston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books explains and displays well that you cannot out grow or wear out the gospel. Jared Wilson writes in a way that is aimed at the heart, and opens one’s eyes to the depths of Jesus and His gospel.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Though the gospel is simple, we can't wear it out."
This was richer than I was prepared for. Would be a good book to go through with a friend, especially those who want to "go deeper" or "graduate from the gospel".

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

If looking for a Christian book by a modern writer. Start by reading Gospel Wakefulness & Gospel Deeps.

[Jake Ruefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picks up at the end but there are many books like this. A good introduction for those who feel the gospel message is “wearing out” on them.

[Merri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a book definitely deserves to be read multiple times. Very rich.

[Brandi P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jared is funny and deep.

[Dave Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recent years have seen a great increase in the amount of books written on what the Gospel is and what the implications of the Gospel are. While all the talk and writing on the Gospel is a vast improvement from the pragmatic approach of the last few decades there is also a great many people raising concerns that we are so focusing on the Gospel too much. The concern is the gospel may just become another buzzard in evangelical thought. In my opinion Christians can never talk too much about the Gospel, and the true of the matter is, I don’t think we are talking about the Gospel enough in evangelicalism.

At the forefront of the current discussion on all things Gospel-centered is Pastor Jared Wilson, pastor of Middletown Springs Community Church in Middletown Springs, Vermont. In his new book Gospel Deeps Jared labors to one end to help us understand that “the gospel is deep with grace abounding because Jesus is deep with grace abounding. This good news reflects the person and work of the One who is good-Christ, who is as perfect as he is complex, full as he is eternal, beautiful as he is omnipotent” (44).

Since the book focuses on the depths of the Gospel it is no surprise that Jared wants us to understand the effect the Gospel has on our lives. He explains, “The cumulative effect of the gospel is affectionate worship of the one true God. The grand design of gospel proclamation, then, is gospel enthrallment, gospel enjoyment. The best preaching exults in the Scriptures so that hearers will know that worship is the only response to who God is and what he’s done” (80). The Gospel is meant for us to bask in and enjoy not just too just sit on the sidelines and let it pass it by without consequence. Christians have been given a precious treasure in the Gospel in order to bask in the infinite greatness of our God and King who sent His Son to die, rise, and who is now our exalted High Priest, Mediator and Intercessor.

The one part of this book that will make you stop quite literally in your tracks is the following portion of the book, “If Christ is true, then boredom is a sin. Boredom is a sin so long as Christ is infinitely beautiful” (81). Jared explains that “boredom and his twin brother laziness are fundamentally theological failures, which is to say they are failures of belief” (81). One of the reasons this is important is because as Jared notes, “The Spirit takes up residence in the regenerated heart, and one of his chief products is the fruit called joy” (Gal. 5:22). Jared explains that, “The gospel frees us to enjoy God, but also to enjoy him in the enjoyment of his gifts” (85).

Gospel Deeps is an important contribution to the Gospel-centered movement. Gospel Wakefulness helped me a great deal especially on the portion on depression. Where Gospel Deeps has helped me to gain further insight into is on boredom. The Christian life is not a life of ease and comfort, but rather a life full of joy in God. God truly delights in us because of the finished work of Christ. The message that “If Christ is true, then boredom is sin” is an important one because many journey through their Christian lives thinking “okay” is good enough in the Christian life; when okay is not enough, and not the reason why Christ came, bled, suffered, died, rose and ascended to the right hand of the Father. It is precisely at this point that Gospel Deeps is such an important book because it calls us back to the exhilarating bigness of the gospel, in a way that will awaken the apathetic, and slumbering to the glories of Jesus even as it sets the Church ablaze with a fresh passion and zeal for the mission of Jesus to seek and save the lost, mend the broken hearted and make much of Jesus. I recommend you read this challenging book from Jared Wilson and sincerely pray it will help you as it has me to grow our roots deeper and deeper into the grace of God.

Title: Gospel Deeps: Reveling in the Excellencies of Jesus
Author: Jared Wilson
Publisher: Crossway (2012)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Crossway book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Nile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read in a long time. I got this book for free at a conference five years ago and it sat on my shelf. I saw it last month and decided to give it a read. It was filled cover to cover with wonderful truths about God which did me no good while sitting unread on the shelf. How often do I proverbially leave the gospel on the shelf and regard it as the entry to Christianity only to miss out on the depth that is found within?

Wilson’s book was so refreshing as he brought me back again and again from one angle and yet another to see the beautiful character of my savior and fall deeper in love with him.

A good analogy Wilson uses repeatedly is that the gospel is like CS Lewis’s concept of Narnia; an entire kingdom within a wardrobe. It is bigger inside than it looks from the outside and the deeper you go, the bigger it becomes. The only thing for us to do is go further up and further in.

Wilson’s attention to the trinity, incarnation, and the kingdom of heaven were particularly enlightening for me. All concepts I was familiar with, but he challenged me and opened my eyes again to the beauty of God in these truths.

I’ll close with a quote: “The gospel is the news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therein are depths within depths. Therein are multitudes. Therein are crosswise excellencies upon crosswise excellencies, highlighting each other, playing off each other, refracting and reflecting, compassing the universe in crosshatched beauty, a dance of radiance that will never rest, for the earth will be filled with his glory undeniable. He is before all things and in him all things hold together (Col. 1:17), that God may be our all in all (1 Cor. 15:28). (Pg. 196)

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" Romans 1:16-17 NKJV

In the introduction, the author Jared Wilson, explains his goal in writing Gospel Deeps, he wants us to "get past the elementary level" and to "explore Gospel itself, holding it up like a diamond and examining some of its facets." pages 18, 22.
In examining the Gospel facets Jared Wilson wants to show us the bigness, the vastness, of the Gospel.
As a Christian we know what the word Gospel means (or should). The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Good News is that "God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ." page 23. Jesus Christ's death on the cross gave us forgiveness of sin. This forgiveness is perfect and complete.There are some big words I could have used such as propitiation, atonement, justification, righteousness. Yet, there maybe some people reading this review that have no idea what these words mean. To give a deeper explanation and to keep it in simple clear words, God is a Holy God. He is Holy in that he is set apart, pure, nothing can compare to Him. The Bible tells us we are all filthy rags, because in comparison to God we are filthy, imperfect, steeped in sin. We sin on purpose, we sin when we're not conscious of it, we also sin in our minds (thinking no one would ever know). If we compare ourselves to another human (which we do) we could say "I'm not as bad as him or her." But, comparing ourselves to God, there is no comparison. Because God is Holy. When Jesus shed His blood on the cross, it was done in order for us to be made right before God. He took our punishment. He gave His life, so we wouldn't have to.
Examples of topics in Gospel Deeps: dealing with reconciliation through the Gospel, a "secure view of our self", "the sin nature that is at war in us", understanding the reality and graveness and ugliness of our sin, Abraham's obedience, "why does God allow suffering", defining God's glory, and God's love for us.

My Thoughts:
I gave Gospel Deeps 5 stars because:
1. It reminded me that the Gospel not only saves me, but is the center-point of my daily life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is my life-boat and my anchor. It not only saves me from eternal death, but it is life. An abundant life. This does not mean a trouble-free life; but a life made solid, and with purpose, because of it.
2. Jared reminded me that the Gospel is not just for unbeliever's to know and come to belief in. It is for me, right now, where I am.
3. The Gospel is not a "cliche", it is not a churchy word that an evangelical throws around. It's a God word with a God definition. Not man-made.
4. Jared Wilson explained his points well and they made a deep impression on me. His applications gave me something I could relate to.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a copy of Gospel Deeps when I attended the Desiring God National Conference and I was excited to see it in the book bag. I have been following Jared Wilson on Twitter for a while so I wanted to see how he did beyond 140 characters. Overall, Jared is as good with full paragraphs and chapters as he is with Tweets. The book was solid and readable.

The first half of the book, which I started reading in the hotel during the DGM conference, is wonderful. The skills for concise, pithy statements that covey truth in a memorable fashion was evident as he dealt with some fairly lofty theological ideas. Those first chapters are heavily marked up and I tweeted a few quotes here and there.

However, when Wilson got to he more weighty issue of the atonement, his writing style changed. Perhaps it was because of the nature of the subject being discussed but my underlines and margin notes quickly disappeared. I felt like I was reading one of his well-written seminary papers rather than the same book I'd started with. Now, what Wilson said was spot on and extremely important. I have no argument there. My let down came in HOW he said it. I was hoping his pith would continue but it seems his muse had put on weight by this point as his writing was no longer as nimble as it had been.

I would still recommend the book from anyone looking to explore these important questions. This isn't a systematic theology nor a theological text book, it is mostly a devotional reflect on what the gospel actually means in real life. And for that I'm grateful.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it's worth, Jared Wilson is from a theologically altogether more conservative background than I am. Complementarian gender roles in marriage, all-male church officers, a less sacramental worldview--these differences and others could become obstacles for me in some conversations. However, in this book, Pastor Wilson lines out, explains, and scripturally grounds the multifaceted depth, height and breadth of the person, position, and power of Jesus Christ in a manner virtually no Christian could dispute, and without once leaving a solid trinitarian perspective behind in the dust.

With easy-going prose, not many theological technicalities, and an easygoing conversational manner that truly makes me want to meet him in person, in fewer than 200 pages Wilson reminds those who've been absent from church for a while, those who've been attending Sunday and weekday worship faithfully, pastors who preach the gospel, how it's all about Jesus, because ultimately it's also about God's total loving claim upon all creation; I especially appreciated chapter 8, "Cosmic Redemption." A scripture index at the back is useful, also. Very definitely a very high recommend!

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In short," says Calvin, "since rich store of every kind of good abounds in [Christ], let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from no other." Wilson bravely endeavors to unpack this storehouse of all good and grace and glory by leading the reader deeper and deeper into the unfathomable depths of Christ's gospel. Wilson walks the tension well here: going deep, without making his work exclusive to theologians or professors of Greek. Wilson shows his readers how the gospel enriches one's understanding and application of the trinity, suffering, creation, atonement, and much more. The greatness of this work is quite simply in leading its readers to revel in the excellencies of Jesus, as suggested in the book's subtitle. Great read - A.