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Theologians on the Christian Life
Newton on the Christian Life: To Live Is Christ
John Newton is famous for his legendary hymn “Amazing Grace.” Many have celebrated his dramatic conversion from a life in the slave trade to his eventual work to end it. But often overlooked are Newton’s forty years as a pastor ministering to parishioners and friends unsettled by the trials, doubts, and fears of life.
Newton is perhaps the greatest pastoral letter writer in the history of the church. He took up his pen day after day to help others fix their eyes on Christ, which, he writes, is the underlying battle of the Christian life. Through a careful study of scores of letters, Tony Reinke brings together Newton’s brilliant vision of the Christian life in one accessible place.
“Here is mastery! Reinke distills a vast flow of pure honey for the Christian heart. This is a book to read over and over again.”
–J. I. Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College
“Newton on the Christian Life is a magnum opus. A bold project, beautifully done. You know about John Newton; now you can be pastored by him.”
–Ed Welch, counselor and faculty, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation
“Linger long here. The depths and riches within these pages are truly rare, and answer what your soul most hungers for: life in Christ. I will be returning to this book many, many times over.”
–Ann Voskamp, author, New York Times bestseller, One Thousand Gifts
“For some readers, this book may just become the most important book, outside the Bible, they will ever read.”
–Ray Ortlund, pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee
Newton is perhaps the greatest pastoral letter writer in the history of the church. He took up his pen day after day to help others fix their eyes on Christ, which, he writes, is the underlying battle of the Christian life. Through a careful study of scores of letters, Tony Reinke brings together Newton’s brilliant vision of the Christian life in one accessible place.
“Here is mastery! Reinke distills a vast flow of pure honey for the Christian heart. This is a book to read over and over again.”
–J. I. Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College
“Newton on the Christian Life is a magnum opus. A bold project, beautifully done. You know about John Newton; now you can be pastored by him.”
–Ed Welch, counselor and faculty, The Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation
“Linger long here. The depths and riches within these pages are truly rare, and answer what your soul most hungers for: life in Christ. I will be returning to this book many, many times over.”
–Ann Voskamp, author, New York Times bestseller, One Thousand Gifts
“For some readers, this book may just become the most important book, outside the Bible, they will ever read.”
–Ray Ortlund, pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2015
118 people are currently reading
884 people want to read
About the author
Tony Reinke
18 books701 followersTony Reinke hosts the popular Ask Pastor John podcast and serves as the Communications Director for desiringGod.org. He has authored five books including *12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You* (2017). He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 10, 2025
Edifying read during my devotional times. I always love learning from John Newton’s pastoral heart. The chapters on suffering (ch. 9, “The Discipline of Trials”) and self-absorption (ch. 13, “Victory over Mr. Self”) in particular were tremendous.
October 16, 2022
A really excellent book, one of the best I’ve read in the last few years (maybe ever!). Particularly enjoyed chapters on ‘the daily discipline of joy in Jesus’, ‘the discipline of trials’ and ‘the goal of Bible reading’, although every chapter challenged my attitude towards what life as a follower of the Lord Jesus should and will look like. This book is gold dust - the spotlight is on Jesus throughout, and Newton’s writings are simply used to point us back to God’s word and what this means for the Christian life.
“So God brings into our Christian lives repeated disappointments and trials and losses, not because he wants to grieve us and weary us, but because these are necessary lessons teaching us to treasure Christ above ourselves. By taking our eyes off Christ, our own spiritual inclinations become hazardous to us. We turn inward for sufficiency, we pursue broken cisterns of worldly joy, legalistic obedience, and self sufficiency. The very things we pursue, if we were to get them, would be like pouring boiling water over our own heads”
You know this book has done a good job when it leaves you wanting to read the Bible more, rather than another book about John Newton. Not the lightest or easiest read, but worth the time. Read as an ebook but going to buy a physical copy so I can lend it out because everyone should read this!
“So God brings into our Christian lives repeated disappointments and trials and losses, not because he wants to grieve us and weary us, but because these are necessary lessons teaching us to treasure Christ above ourselves. By taking our eyes off Christ, our own spiritual inclinations become hazardous to us. We turn inward for sufficiency, we pursue broken cisterns of worldly joy, legalistic obedience, and self sufficiency. The very things we pursue, if we were to get them, would be like pouring boiling water over our own heads”
You know this book has done a good job when it leaves you wanting to read the Bible more, rather than another book about John Newton. Not the lightest or easiest read, but worth the time. Read as an ebook but going to buy a physical copy so I can lend it out because everyone should read this!
July 13, 2015
I’ve been plunging into several William Cowper biographies lately, and I’m amazed at how bitterly many of his biographers hate John Newton. As I’ve read the perspectives of, say, Hugh l’Anson Fausset or David Cecil, I see transparently festering contempt for Newton. So, when I received this volume on John Newton in Crossway’s “Theologians on the Christian Life” series, I was ready for a refreshing change. I knew Tony Reinke has a sincere appreciation for this man and his legacy. After such unveiled contempt, even a little hagiography would be excusable!
In this series, thus far I’ve read the volumes on Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I generally appreciated and enjoyed them, though I also found some weakness in each of them. I had no desire to nitpick, I just really expected more. And, so, beginning this book, I’ve been very interested to see how it would measure up.
John Newton (1725-1807) made a lasting contribution to the Christian church when he penned the words to the hymn “Amazing Grace.” However, there is a rich store of resources from the pen of John Newton which have gotten much less fanfare over the last three centuries. Newton’s placement in history at the point at which “the Post Office had developed to the point where letter delivery was more affordable and reliable than ever” allowed him build a substantial letter writing ministry. These one thousand or so letters rivaled his sermons “in both substance and usefulness.”
Tony Reinke has submerged himself into this vast quantity of letters in an attempt to show that Newton was, indeed, a theologian, and then presents for a popular audience the essence of his theology. Reinke shows Newton as a “spiritual doctor,” or more specifically an expert in “cardiology,” a student “of his own heart and the hearts of others.”
The first and most enduring impression I had upon reading this book was that Newton exalted the supremacy, centrality, and glory of Christ. Christ, to him, is the “priceless treasure” that seeps through all of what he writes. “Like an unceasing echo, the theme of Christ’s super-abundant grace is heard in everything Newton writes” Newton “will not allow us to abstract the Christian life from Christ” and so, a book on Newton’s view of the Christian life is largely a book about Christ. This emphasis seeps through all of what Reinke writes about Newton! Here you can really see how Reinke has steeped himself into Newton’s work and does a fantastic job of bringing this emphasis out.
I would like to highlight a few portions that were especially helpful: There is an excellent discussion of “gospel simplicity” (Simplicity of Intention/Dependence). The discussion of seven types Christians with character flaws is excellent and convicting (Austerus, Humanus, Prudens, Voatilis, Cessator, Curiosus, and Querulus). Don’t let the Latin trick you, the observations in this section are extremely concise and simply explained! The chapter on “Discipline of Trials” is also excellent and very thought provoking!
Upon reflection, I’ve concluded that this is the best book in the series, a fair amount better than the works on Edwards, Luther, and Bonhoeffer. Each has remarkable strengths, but none I have read in the series yet measures up to this one.The only notable weakness I would point out is perhaps connected to it strong points. Reinke has submerged himself in Newton’s letters and masterfully described his theological thinking, but he has perhaps not given enough space to show how that theology worked itself out in practice, both in his life’s decisions and also in his pastoral advice on specific topics. Some of the exploration of Newton’s theology could have been tied a little tighter into concrete events in his personal or pastoral life. At one point towards the end of the book Reinke intimates that there is much more to be said about Newton on topics such as friendship, fellowship, marriage, discerning God’s will, etc. I think that rings true, and I am left wishing Reinke devoted some space to these subjects if he could do so without too severely truncating his coverage of Newton’s theological thinking.
Reading this book is certainly profitable from a devotional perspective. It also is a helpful volume if you want to better understand the theological emphasis of 18th century evangelicalism. On both accounts I can sincerely recommend it and I hope many Christians read it, not only to know John Newton, but ultimately Jesus Christ, who he so vigorously pointed to.
In this series, thus far I’ve read the volumes on Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I generally appreciated and enjoyed them, though I also found some weakness in each of them. I had no desire to nitpick, I just really expected more. And, so, beginning this book, I’ve been very interested to see how it would measure up.
John Newton (1725-1807) made a lasting contribution to the Christian church when he penned the words to the hymn “Amazing Grace.” However, there is a rich store of resources from the pen of John Newton which have gotten much less fanfare over the last three centuries. Newton’s placement in history at the point at which “the Post Office had developed to the point where letter delivery was more affordable and reliable than ever” allowed him build a substantial letter writing ministry. These one thousand or so letters rivaled his sermons “in both substance and usefulness.”
Tony Reinke has submerged himself into this vast quantity of letters in an attempt to show that Newton was, indeed, a theologian, and then presents for a popular audience the essence of his theology. Reinke shows Newton as a “spiritual doctor,” or more specifically an expert in “cardiology,” a student “of his own heart and the hearts of others.”
The first and most enduring impression I had upon reading this book was that Newton exalted the supremacy, centrality, and glory of Christ. Christ, to him, is the “priceless treasure” that seeps through all of what he writes. “Like an unceasing echo, the theme of Christ’s super-abundant grace is heard in everything Newton writes” Newton “will not allow us to abstract the Christian life from Christ” and so, a book on Newton’s view of the Christian life is largely a book about Christ. This emphasis seeps through all of what Reinke writes about Newton! Here you can really see how Reinke has steeped himself into Newton’s work and does a fantastic job of bringing this emphasis out.
I would like to highlight a few portions that were especially helpful: There is an excellent discussion of “gospel simplicity” (Simplicity of Intention/Dependence). The discussion of seven types Christians with character flaws is excellent and convicting (Austerus, Humanus, Prudens, Voatilis, Cessator, Curiosus, and Querulus). Don’t let the Latin trick you, the observations in this section are extremely concise and simply explained! The chapter on “Discipline of Trials” is also excellent and very thought provoking!
Upon reflection, I’ve concluded that this is the best book in the series, a fair amount better than the works on Edwards, Luther, and Bonhoeffer. Each has remarkable strengths, but none I have read in the series yet measures up to this one.The only notable weakness I would point out is perhaps connected to it strong points. Reinke has submerged himself in Newton’s letters and masterfully described his theological thinking, but he has perhaps not given enough space to show how that theology worked itself out in practice, both in his life’s decisions and also in his pastoral advice on specific topics. Some of the exploration of Newton’s theology could have been tied a little tighter into concrete events in his personal or pastoral life. At one point towards the end of the book Reinke intimates that there is much more to be said about Newton on topics such as friendship, fellowship, marriage, discerning God’s will, etc. I think that rings true, and I am left wishing Reinke devoted some space to these subjects if he could do so without too severely truncating his coverage of Newton’s theological thinking.
Reading this book is certainly profitable from a devotional perspective. It also is a helpful volume if you want to better understand the theological emphasis of 18th century evangelicalism. On both accounts I can sincerely recommend it and I hope many Christians read it, not only to know John Newton, but ultimately Jesus Christ, who he so vigorously pointed to.
June 20, 2022
It's been a real joy to dip into this every morning for the past couple of months and reading in a 'devotional' style.
To start with negatives: some chapters were markedly more dull than others (although none terrible), and despite Reinke clarifying at the start that it's not a biography, I do wish there were more biographical elements to frame and contextualise the theological observations.
But in short, Newton was an absolute boss. The stand out brilliance of this book (and Newton's works) is that he speaks on subjects/doctrine well known to the Christian, but with such good observations and turns of phrases that he makes well trodden ground a pleasure to tread over once again. It's helped me to appreciate that growing as a Christian is not necessarily learning new things, but coming to know what you already know more deeply.
Particularly strong chapters were those on maturity, trials, and 'Victory over Mr. Self' and I hope to revisit them all regularly.
To start with negatives: some chapters were markedly more dull than others (although none terrible), and despite Reinke clarifying at the start that it's not a biography, I do wish there were more biographical elements to frame and contextualise the theological observations.
But in short, Newton was an absolute boss. The stand out brilliance of this book (and Newton's works) is that he speaks on subjects/doctrine well known to the Christian, but with such good observations and turns of phrases that he makes well trodden ground a pleasure to tread over once again. It's helped me to appreciate that growing as a Christian is not necessarily learning new things, but coming to know what you already know more deeply.
Particularly strong chapters were those on maturity, trials, and 'Victory over Mr. Self' and I hope to revisit them all regularly.
January 26, 2022
Really very much enjoyed, and found very helpful.
Some real highlights: chapters on the discipline of trials, gospel simplicity, indwelling sin, Christ all-sufficient ("It is sufficient for us as present to know that we shall see Jesus"), and all the places we got a big chunk of Newton's text in the middle of a page!
I wasn't sure if it's a 4 or 5-star book (I want to give it 4.5) because I felt like the arrangement of the chapters wasn't consistently excellent (a couple of them I wasn't sure how they were different from each other, or what they added - or they just weren't memorable) and while Tony Reinke mostly does a good job of gathering Newton's thoughts in a clear and helpful thematic way, there were definitely moments I was jerked out of enjoying Newton by Tony's thoughts (he seems way more concerned with Newton's Calvinism than Newton was, for example).
I think whenever I read modern books that draw heavily on old authors I find myself wondering why, if all the gold is in Newton (and it is, and Reinke presents it well) I'm not here reading Newton instead. So maybe I'll do that next time.
All that criticism being said though, it did make me love Jesus more, and want to love him more, and gave some really beautiful wisdom on suffering and the Christian life and the human heart, and I'd recommend it. About half the chapters were absolutely stellar - I'll probably read them again with real benefit and enjoyment. And because I think for the good of those chapters I would give it as a gift and read it again, they make the book as a whole absolutely worth it (and I've convinced myself it's 5 stars as I'm writing, so this seems a good place to finish).
Some real highlights: chapters on the discipline of trials, gospel simplicity, indwelling sin, Christ all-sufficient ("It is sufficient for us as present to know that we shall see Jesus"), and all the places we got a big chunk of Newton's text in the middle of a page!
I wasn't sure if it's a 4 or 5-star book (I want to give it 4.5) because I felt like the arrangement of the chapters wasn't consistently excellent (a couple of them I wasn't sure how they were different from each other, or what they added - or they just weren't memorable) and while Tony Reinke mostly does a good job of gathering Newton's thoughts in a clear and helpful thematic way, there were definitely moments I was jerked out of enjoying Newton by Tony's thoughts (he seems way more concerned with Newton's Calvinism than Newton was, for example).
I think whenever I read modern books that draw heavily on old authors I find myself wondering why, if all the gold is in Newton (and it is, and Reinke presents it well) I'm not here reading Newton instead. So maybe I'll do that next time.
All that criticism being said though, it did make me love Jesus more, and want to love him more, and gave some really beautiful wisdom on suffering and the Christian life and the human heart, and I'd recommend it. About half the chapters were absolutely stellar - I'll probably read them again with real benefit and enjoyment. And because I think for the good of those chapters I would give it as a gift and read it again, they make the book as a whole absolutely worth it (and I've convinced myself it's 5 stars as I'm writing, so this seems a good place to finish).
April 8, 2021
This book was wonderfully edifying. It was water to my soul. Off to buy the works of John Newton.
How can I distill this book? Perhaps like this: Dear Christian, let the daily pursuit of your life be constantly gazing upon the all-sufficiency of Christ. In Him there is everlasting joy, the end of sin and self, and a purpose in all our suffering.
Speaking of Christ as an infinite source of joy and happiness, Newton says:
How can I distill this book? Perhaps like this: Dear Christian, let the daily pursuit of your life be constantly gazing upon the all-sufficiency of Christ. In Him there is everlasting joy, the end of sin and self, and a purpose in all our suffering.
Speaking of Christ as an infinite source of joy and happiness, Newton says:
...if the whole creation around us were destroyed, and you or I were the only creatures in the universe–the Lord, the sun of the soul, could make us completely happy, and fill our capacities for happiness to the utmost, immediately from himself.
June 30, 2024
Gold. I could go back and read this again right now. I haven’t read much of Newton, but have been thinking about buying his works. Reinke’s one critique of Newton is that he fell short in accenting God’s delight over his redeemed children. Reinke may essentially be saying that Newton isn’t a Christian hedonist, or at least not enough. I’ve been so helped by what I’ve read of Newton’s letters that I’m interested to see if I agree with Reinke as I read more Newton.
December 15, 2025
5 ⭐️’s - read it to find out why 😂😂
December 17, 2025
Amazing book on who Christ is and how to live for him!!!!! So helpful and wonderfully written.
March 23, 2019
30/10 stars. As per usual for a Tony Reinke book.
This book is one of the most edifying books I've ever read.
The truth is rich and deep and wonderfully drawn from Newton's letters, and it is one I intend to read over and over again.
This book is one of the most edifying books I've ever read.
The truth is rich and deep and wonderfully drawn from Newton's letters, and it is one I intend to read over and over again.
June 30, 2025
John Newton is such an inspiration figure! Reinke's work on Newton and the Christian Life is an excellent resource that I will likely turn to again and again. Newton's overarching theme on the Christian life is the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ. A life that is not entirely focused on Christ is on that is missing the mark. Newton's letters over decades of a long life of ministry is full of this life giving advice. May we all focus our lives on Christ as much as Newton did and use him as an example to follow.
June 13, 2025
What a gift it has been to read this book slowly over a longer period of time. It is rich in true, deep encouragement in Christ alone, his person and work, through the trials of life, may they be suffering or struggles with indwelling sin. Reinke quite gloriously walks through the life and theology of John Newton plucking glorious fruit of deep gospel refreshment along the way. Read, Christian, read!
May 26, 2015
We become by beholding. “by Beholding we are gradually formed into the resemblance of Him whom we see, admire and love.
It was hard to choose a quote that reflected the heart of this study of Newton because there was so much and so much of it was good. Newton strived for one thing and that one thing was Christ. As his writing suggest, the one thing we fight for is not an easy to obtain as so much of life detracts us from Christ.
We may all know the hymn that John Newton was famous for Amazing Grace however; do we think on the inspiration of those words that were penned. John Newton had the confidence and the freedom to face his own personal sins directly because he also knew the grace of Christ to walk away from those sins. I appreciated his words on indwelling sin and how God desires for us to feel the weight of that sin so that all we have and know is Christ. It is always our union with Christ that frees from sin. It is God’s grace that the very thing that keeps us from God (sin) drives us to him our confession and our union with Christ.
In an age where programs are king and the gospel is secondary, it is uplifting in the writings and study of Newton to see the Gospel in simplicity in living in the glory of God alone. It is the man who drinks deep at these streams will not thirst after other waters. When we behold Jesus and his love by the eye of faith, we may, with the Prophet of old, sit down by a barren fig tree and a failing crop, and still rejoice in the God of our salvation.
John Newton is the example to live is Christ. John Newton had all the temptations as we do and had succumbed to his temptations as well, however, in knowing the Glory of Christ in grace and the depth of his sin, each time has died to himself and lived thru Christ; all in the simplicity of the Gospel.
A Special Thank You to Crossway Books and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
It was hard to choose a quote that reflected the heart of this study of Newton because there was so much and so much of it was good. Newton strived for one thing and that one thing was Christ. As his writing suggest, the one thing we fight for is not an easy to obtain as so much of life detracts us from Christ.
We may all know the hymn that John Newton was famous for Amazing Grace however; do we think on the inspiration of those words that were penned. John Newton had the confidence and the freedom to face his own personal sins directly because he also knew the grace of Christ to walk away from those sins. I appreciated his words on indwelling sin and how God desires for us to feel the weight of that sin so that all we have and know is Christ. It is always our union with Christ that frees from sin. It is God’s grace that the very thing that keeps us from God (sin) drives us to him our confession and our union with Christ.
In an age where programs are king and the gospel is secondary, it is uplifting in the writings and study of Newton to see the Gospel in simplicity in living in the glory of God alone. It is the man who drinks deep at these streams will not thirst after other waters. When we behold Jesus and his love by the eye of faith, we may, with the Prophet of old, sit down by a barren fig tree and a failing crop, and still rejoice in the God of our salvation.
John Newton is the example to live is Christ. John Newton had all the temptations as we do and had succumbed to his temptations as well, however, in knowing the Glory of Christ in grace and the depth of his sin, each time has died to himself and lived thru Christ; all in the simplicity of the Gospel.
A Special Thank You to Crossway Books and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
February 6, 2017
What a treasure of a book! Reinke did an amazing job collecting quotes and themes from John Newton's life. Newton, if you didn't know, wrote the famous hymn, "Amazing Grace." I read this book along with my devotions and boy, did it stir my affections for Christ every morning! Every page is Christ-saturated and dripping with the amazing grace that saves, keeps sanctifying us and that will bring us home. Newton believed and depended on Christ's sufficiency all the way to the end and said famously before his death, "“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior.”Amen! Lord, help me believe both of these truths deeper and deeper!
February 21, 2016
This is a book I wish every Christian could read.
May 9, 2024
A great work on one of my favorite men in Christian History. While not known especially for his theological nuance and expertise, Newton offers us much to consider throughout his corpus. But probably his greatest offering isn’t his orthodoxy but more-so his orthopraxy. Newton was many things in his life, from a slave trader to a hymn writer, but through all of it he was not a man who would lie to himself. At the heart of his piety was his great desire to be honest with himself, specifically his sins and temptations. Because he knew his heart so well, he knew his savior even deeper. This work on Newton outlines his Christian piety and the ways in which he was so profoundly simple in his advice and writings on Scripture for the Christian life.
January 1, 2021
This book is gold! It speaks to so many aspects of the Christian life but I particularly loved the chapter on the discipline of trials.
“Trials remind us of the vanity of this life, and the vanity reminds us that this world is fallen, and the fallen was reminds us that it is a deeply unsatisfying world. For all the entertainment and the joy offered here, trials make us uneasy and set our hearts on things above, where Christ is.”
“Trials remind us of the vanity of this life, and the vanity reminds us that this world is fallen, and the fallen was reminds us that it is a deeply unsatisfying world. For all the entertainment and the joy offered here, trials make us uneasy and set our hearts on things above, where Christ is.”
February 14, 2025
“Although my memory is fading, I remember two things very clearly; I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior” - John Newton
Wow, just incredible. I read this with 5 other guys in a book club with a professor I deeply admire. It is just beautiful. One of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. I will continue to return to this book as my time on this earth continues to pass. So many deep theological and pastoral truths, I couldn’t even begin to explain them in a review. If I could summarize it into one coherent statement, it would be this:
Remain solely dependent on the all-sufficiency of Christ.
Wow, just incredible. I read this with 5 other guys in a book club with a professor I deeply admire. It is just beautiful. One of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. I will continue to return to this book as my time on this earth continues to pass. So many deep theological and pastoral truths, I couldn’t even begin to explain them in a review. If I could summarize it into one coherent statement, it would be this:
Remain solely dependent on the all-sufficiency of Christ.
Read
December 30, 2024I don’t know if it’s true, but it is said that Newton’s sermons are nothing special. Yet, his pastoral work, especially through personal correspondence, has left a profound legacy, filled with practical life application, intimate study of the heart and deep biblical insight. This book is an excellent exposition of this legacy.
January 28, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book, the author does a great job in presenting the Theme that encapsulated Newtons life, To Live Is Christ. You dont notice when Tony Reinke transitions from Newtons words to his own which makes it flow well. There is endless encouragement for the christian in these pages.
May 3, 2020
Absolutely exceptional! Let Tony Reinke introduce you to John Newton, and then, invite Newton into your life as a conversation partner from the past who can provide hope and help for your ministry.
April 30, 2023
What an encouraging read. Loved every page.
“All shall work together for good: everything is needful that Christ sends; nothing can be needful that Christ withholds”.
“All shall work together for good: everything is needful that Christ sends; nothing can be needful that Christ withholds”.
April 2, 2019
This book came to me at a time when I needed a fresh look at Jesus. It was illuminating on John Newton, but even more so on Christ. I think that’s just the way Newton would have wanted it.
September 29, 2016
A new favourite of mine - really Christ-centred and therefore warming. Chapter 4 on 'gospel simplicity' was fantastic!
February 6, 2017
This is the first book in the series "Theologians on the Christian Life" that I have read. And if they are all this good, then I'm going to be eating them up this year.
This was one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I can easily see this as a book that I come back to over and over again throughout my life and am already looking forward to reading it again. My copy of this book is covered in underlines, exclamation points, and boxes. Reinke did an excellent job in capturing the heart of Newton's theology, and his commentary on Newton blended in with direct quotes from Newton so that you thought as if the whole book was written by Newton himself.
Christ-centered is a catch phrase in today's Christian subculture, but Newton truly embodied it. To live is Christ is more than simply the subtitle of this book on Newton, it was the dominant theme of the life of Newton.
This was one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I can easily see this as a book that I come back to over and over again throughout my life and am already looking forward to reading it again. My copy of this book is covered in underlines, exclamation points, and boxes. Reinke did an excellent job in capturing the heart of Newton's theology, and his commentary on Newton blended in with direct quotes from Newton so that you thought as if the whole book was written by Newton himself.
Christ-centered is a catch phrase in today's Christian subculture, but Newton truly embodied it. To live is Christ is more than simply the subtitle of this book on Newton, it was the dominant theme of the life of Newton.
November 2, 2023
Finished 1/14/17
Finished 7/3/17
It has been a very long time since a book has done so much for me. Reinke has done a great service to the church by opening up the lines of pastoral communication between us and John Newton. In an age of instability, relativism, and rampant self-centeredness, Newton points us over and over to the person of Jesus. By doing so, he places every category of the Christian life under a single heading: 'To live IS Christ.'
Newton, with Reinke's help, has pointed me back to the North Star of the Christian life: Jesus. I plan on re-reading it this month, using it as a foundational text in discipling others, and returning to it often. PLEASE read this book!!
And thank you, Tony Reinke, for such a gift.
Finished 7/3/17
It has been a very long time since a book has done so much for me. Reinke has done a great service to the church by opening up the lines of pastoral communication between us and John Newton. In an age of instability, relativism, and rampant self-centeredness, Newton points us over and over to the person of Jesus. By doing so, he places every category of the Christian life under a single heading: 'To live IS Christ.'
Newton, with Reinke's help, has pointed me back to the North Star of the Christian life: Jesus. I plan on re-reading it this month, using it as a foundational text in discipling others, and returning to it often. PLEASE read this book!!
And thank you, Tony Reinke, for such a gift.
March 9, 2025
This book was phenomenal! It presents John Newton’s theology in a very approachable and practical way. It is centered on Christ from beginning to end and I would recommend it to any christian! I found the chapters on Indwelling Sin and Trials particularly helpful and encouraging for my current pilgrimage to the Celestial City.
February 17, 2021
What an edifying read !
January 11, 2022
FINALLY finished this book, it took me the better part of a semester and all of break. There is such a weight to Newton’s teaching, convictions, and joy in the gospel. This was a hard and challenging read mainly because every chapter was just packed to the brim, but also because Newton drives right at the heart of sinners and all the ways we try to avoid the Savior. There were times when I felt like I needed to take this book one page at a time. I could read each chapter 3 times and get new insights each time. My only gripe is that I wish this book was divided into more chapters with less in each chapter — each chapter covered very broad subjects with a lot to be said. Overall, definitely recommend to anyone looking for a challenging read. It may take some months (and a lot of self-reflection), but it will leave you richer.
August 12, 2023
There is so much good to say about this book. Reinke focuses less on Newton's well-known biography, and more on Newton's theology by compiling a sort of "Systematic Theology of John Newton" from archives of letters and sermons, and does so masterfully!
This book was so helpful in so many ways. It truly brought out a love of Christ from the perspective of Newton. Especially helpful was his treatment of those who were dejected and suffering. Also, the section on the profiles of those "respectable sins" was incredibly sanctifying. Always, there was a Christ-centered focus, where the reader was constantly reminded of Christ's primacy, His loveliness, His worth and work.
I highly recommend this book, and it was a treat to listen to!
This book was so helpful in so many ways. It truly brought out a love of Christ from the perspective of Newton. Especially helpful was his treatment of those who were dejected and suffering. Also, the section on the profiles of those "respectable sins" was incredibly sanctifying. Always, there was a Christ-centered focus, where the reader was constantly reminded of Christ's primacy, His loveliness, His worth and work.
I highly recommend this book, and it was a treat to listen to!
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