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Sanctification, Christ in Action
Christ in Action examines both the historical roots of the Evangelical movement as well as its present-day impact in our nation. The book also specifically analyzes the effects of Evangelical teachings on Lutheranism and offers new initiatives to tackle the challenges faced by churches today.
204 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1990
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67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 5, 2024
“Finders may be keepers in the world's point of view, but Jesus figures things differently. In wanting to keep your life, you lose it. In losing, you win. In dying, you live. This is the life style he holds out for us. It's not really a life style at all; it is actually Christ's life - the life he lives through us. It is a joyous life. And from beginning to end it's always the same life: a life under the cross.” (148)
“If you and I are to have any certainty in the Christian faith, it must be grounded on the objective promises of the external word of the gospel. The experience of faith is a result, not the cause, of our salvation. The real experience which saves is the experience of Jesus in enduring the Father's wrath on the cross. In his death on the cross, he has triumphed over all the demonic forces (Colossians 2:15). In what appeared to be complete and total defeat at Calvary, he has won the final victory. The message of the cross may look like foolishness to the world, but to those who belong to Christ by faith that message is the very power of God for salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18, Romans 1:16).” (155)
“For all of its zeal and enthusiasm for Jesus, most of American Evangelicalism ends up pointing people to their hearts to find God. Jesus may have saved us, but now it's basically up to us to live for him. If we commit our lives to him, if we surrender control to him, if we have victory over sin - only then we may be sure that we are his. But there is another place to look for God. The gospel is actually the only place God has promised to be found. This gospel comes to us in many ways: in preaching, sacraments and absolution. In each case, however, the gospel has one content, and one content only: Jesus Christ and him crucified. For God hides under the cross to reveal himself more clearly to us. In his death he demonstrates that sin is destroyed and the grave has no power over us. The cross of Christ gives life to the world. And our life in Christ is a life under his cross. Day by day our sinful nature goes on dying and we go on living with him. This is why the Christian life is not really the Christian in action; it is Christ in action! (183-184)
“If you and I are to have any certainty in the Christian faith, it must be grounded on the objective promises of the external word of the gospel. The experience of faith is a result, not the cause, of our salvation. The real experience which saves is the experience of Jesus in enduring the Father's wrath on the cross. In his death on the cross, he has triumphed over all the demonic forces (Colossians 2:15). In what appeared to be complete and total defeat at Calvary, he has won the final victory. The message of the cross may look like foolishness to the world, but to those who belong to Christ by faith that message is the very power of God for salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18, Romans 1:16).” (155)
“For all of its zeal and enthusiasm for Jesus, most of American Evangelicalism ends up pointing people to their hearts to find God. Jesus may have saved us, but now it's basically up to us to live for him. If we commit our lives to him, if we surrender control to him, if we have victory over sin - only then we may be sure that we are his. But there is another place to look for God. The gospel is actually the only place God has promised to be found. This gospel comes to us in many ways: in preaching, sacraments and absolution. In each case, however, the gospel has one content, and one content only: Jesus Christ and him crucified. For God hides under the cross to reveal himself more clearly to us. In his death he demonstrates that sin is destroyed and the grave has no power over us. The cross of Christ gives life to the world. And our life in Christ is a life under his cross. Day by day our sinful nature goes on dying and we go on living with him. This is why the Christian life is not really the Christian in action; it is Christ in action! (183-184)
October 8, 2025
This is a good read for those interested in what Lutherans believe about Sanctification, and a nice refresh for those of us who are quite familiar with this. I do find this author easy to read, and he has quite a pastoral approach.
Having grown up outside of the Lutheran church, I found in my training as a Lutheran pastor, that often it is misunderstood how close to Lutheran teaching some of us who were Baptist already were. In my case, I was Reformed Baptist. So, I’ve often struggled with what is called by some the “Lutheran Difference”. While there is not a lot of this here, there is enough for me to avoid the 5-star rating.
I will applaud the excellent usage of our Lutheran Confessions and of Luther’s writings by the author. I appreciated the reminder of why I am at home in the Lutheran Church of Australia.
This is a worthwhile book for anyone who is new to following Jesus.
Having grown up outside of the Lutheran church, I found in my training as a Lutheran pastor, that often it is misunderstood how close to Lutheran teaching some of us who were Baptist already were. In my case, I was Reformed Baptist. So, I’ve often struggled with what is called by some the “Lutheran Difference”. While there is not a lot of this here, there is enough for me to avoid the 5-star rating.
I will applaud the excellent usage of our Lutheran Confessions and of Luther’s writings by the author. I appreciated the reminder of why I am at home in the Lutheran Church of Australia.
This is a worthwhile book for anyone who is new to following Jesus.
December 12, 2024
Are you a believer struggling in our modern context with American evangelicals and the Christian industrial complex? A fantastic history lesson and dismantling of American evangelical pietism that has robbed the power of the gospel and reduced Christianity to another consumer product. A pointed Lutheran response, and dare say a damn good one. Published in 1989, never more true.
Want to read
June 21, 2020Recommended by Rosenbladt.
August 29, 2020
"Our God is a God who hides in order to make Himself known." (p.131)
This book was sitting in my car for a year before I read it. This is definitely a "good read".
This book was sitting in my car for a year before I read it. This is definitely a "good read".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2015
Maybe a little dated now because of the discussion about Chuck Swindoll's books, but still the concepts are the same. Good read, not too difficult.
October 28, 2015
If you read nothing else of this book, read the last two chapters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews