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Ultimate Rest: The Essence of the Beautiful Gospel
If you thought that–after believing in Christ–your salvation was then up to you, be prepared for a surprise. The Gospel 'is not a proposition, but an announcement’ and this book unpacks the wonder of its message. David Hewitt is the director of a contemporary church called Wellsprings Community, based in Newcraighall, Edinburgh, UK.
He writes, 'I discovered that there were other perspectives on the ‘finished work of the Cross’ that go back to the early Church Fathers. The Gospel message has been distorted at various times in history as one emphasis or another has been brought to bear, particularly in the last two centuries. When I delved deeper into teaching on the Trinity and the vicarious work of the Son of God, it was as if a weight lifted off my shoulders. Ever since, I have found that an understanding of the unrelenting, outrageous grace and goodness of God rings true in the core of my being. The Father is like the portrait Jesus gives us in Luke 15–the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep until he finds it, the woman who diligently recovers the lost coin and the father who, with lavish kindness, restores the undeserving son into the family home–and Jesus and the Father are one!'
David Hewitt, with profound simplicity, explores how our innermost longing is not for mere stasis but an ek-stasis: we have already been carried home, even carried out of ourselves … Home has come to us. John Crowder (New Mystics)
Ultimate Rest is an invitation to metanoia, to theosis, to sharing in the divine life. There is grace available in the pages of this book—grace to experience abundant life, community, inner freedom and rest. Jason Clark (Rethinking God with Tacos podcast)
There is so much here to enrich your spiritual life and liberate your soul in the experiential freedom that is given to us in the gospel. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand what the Christian faith is all about or to go deeper in knowing Divine Rest. Paul Golf (Champions of Hope)
He writes, 'I discovered that there were other perspectives on the ‘finished work of the Cross’ that go back to the early Church Fathers. The Gospel message has been distorted at various times in history as one emphasis or another has been brought to bear, particularly in the last two centuries. When I delved deeper into teaching on the Trinity and the vicarious work of the Son of God, it was as if a weight lifted off my shoulders. Ever since, I have found that an understanding of the unrelenting, outrageous grace and goodness of God rings true in the core of my being. The Father is like the portrait Jesus gives us in Luke 15–the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep until he finds it, the woman who diligently recovers the lost coin and the father who, with lavish kindness, restores the undeserving son into the family home–and Jesus and the Father are one!'
David Hewitt, with profound simplicity, explores how our innermost longing is not for mere stasis but an ek-stasis: we have already been carried home, even carried out of ourselves … Home has come to us. John Crowder (New Mystics)
Ultimate Rest is an invitation to metanoia, to theosis, to sharing in the divine life. There is grace available in the pages of this book—grace to experience abundant life, community, inner freedom and rest. Jason Clark (Rethinking God with Tacos podcast)
There is so much here to enrich your spiritual life and liberate your soul in the experiential freedom that is given to us in the gospel. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to understand what the Christian faith is all about or to go deeper in knowing Divine Rest. Paul Golf (Champions of Hope)
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2024
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October 28, 2025
Title: Ultimate Rest: The Essence of the Beautiful Gospel
Author: David W. Hewitt
Date: 2024
Publisher: Wellsprings Community
The Gospel is an announcement.
David Hewit, is pastor/director of a church in Newcraighall, Edinburgh, UK, called Wellsprings Community.
He writes,
I discovered that there were other perspectives on the ‘finished work of the Cross’ that go back to the early Church Fathers. The Gospel message has been distorted at various times in history as one emphasis or another has been brought to bear, particularly in the last two centuries. When I delved deeper into teaching on the Trinity and the vicarious work of the Son of God, it was as if a weight lifted off my shoulders. Ever since, I have found that an understanding of the unrelenting, outrageous grace and goodness of God rings true in the core of my being. The Father is like the portrait Jesus gives us in Luke 15–the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep until he finds it, the woman who diligently recovers the lost coin and the father who, with lavish kindness, restores the undeserving son into the family home–and Jesus and the Father are one!
David Hewitt, in this book, explores how our innermost longing is not for mere stasis but an ek-stasis: we have already been carried home... Home has come to us. Ultimate Rest is an invitation to metanoia, to theosis, to sharing in the divine life.
Hewitt's writing is compassionate and deeply rooted in Scripture. He frames the Gospel not as a demand to perform, but as a declaration of what Christ has already accomplished. The message of Ultimate Rest is exactly that—an invitation to rest in the finished work of Christ, rather than strive to earn what has already been freely given.
This isn’t a checklist kind of book. It's not a self-help book. It’s not about doing more for God. It’s about learning to stop, to breathe, and to rediscover what it means to live from a place of grace and trust.
This book is quick to read - it's only 130 pages - including a number of prayers in the appendices. It’s thoughtful, theologically rich, and deeply pastoral. A quiet but powerful reminder that we were never meant to carry the weight, but to rest in our salvation.
DISCLOSURE:
I received this book free through the Speakeasy blogging book review network.
I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Author: David W. Hewitt
Date: 2024
Publisher: Wellsprings Community
The Gospel is an announcement.
David Hewit, is pastor/director of a church in Newcraighall, Edinburgh, UK, called Wellsprings Community.
He writes,
I discovered that there were other perspectives on the ‘finished work of the Cross’ that go back to the early Church Fathers. The Gospel message has been distorted at various times in history as one emphasis or another has been brought to bear, particularly in the last two centuries. When I delved deeper into teaching on the Trinity and the vicarious work of the Son of God, it was as if a weight lifted off my shoulders. Ever since, I have found that an understanding of the unrelenting, outrageous grace and goodness of God rings true in the core of my being. The Father is like the portrait Jesus gives us in Luke 15–the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep until he finds it, the woman who diligently recovers the lost coin and the father who, with lavish kindness, restores the undeserving son into the family home–and Jesus and the Father are one!
David Hewitt, in this book, explores how our innermost longing is not for mere stasis but an ek-stasis: we have already been carried home... Home has come to us. Ultimate Rest is an invitation to metanoia, to theosis, to sharing in the divine life.
Hewitt's writing is compassionate and deeply rooted in Scripture. He frames the Gospel not as a demand to perform, but as a declaration of what Christ has already accomplished. The message of Ultimate Rest is exactly that—an invitation to rest in the finished work of Christ, rather than strive to earn what has already been freely given.
This isn’t a checklist kind of book. It's not a self-help book. It’s not about doing more for God. It’s about learning to stop, to breathe, and to rediscover what it means to live from a place of grace and trust.
This book is quick to read - it's only 130 pages - including a number of prayers in the appendices. It’s thoughtful, theologically rich, and deeply pastoral. A quiet but powerful reminder that we were never meant to carry the weight, but to rest in our salvation.
DISCLOSURE:
I received this book free through the Speakeasy blogging book review network.
I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own.
October 22, 2025
I was sent a review copy of this book, and was intrigued by the title, the subtitle and the topic. I'm interested in how to reclaim Sabbath in ways that feel appropriate for our time and place. Hewitt is the director of a church community in Edinburgh; he describes himself theologically as a Trinitarian. I appreciated the somewhat mystical spirituality of this book, as well as the practical suggestions at the end. Hewitt writes with the heart of a pastor who wants people to experience the gift of a grace that does not have to be earned by constant work. I highlighted several quotes - from Hewitt and others - that I found helpful.
I'm not sure if it is because of Hewitt's geographical setting, or simply the cultural milieu he's in, but I felt lost at times. He refers to writers and even a version of the Bible I've never heard of. My biggest obstacle was the use of masculine language for both God and humanity, as I've been immersed in gender-inclusive language since 1983.
I'm not sure if it is because of Hewitt's geographical setting, or simply the cultural milieu he's in, but I felt lost at times. He refers to writers and even a version of the Bible I've never heard of. My biggest obstacle was the use of masculine language for both God and humanity, as I've been immersed in gender-inclusive language since 1983.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews