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Too Good To Be True: Christian Hope in a Hopeless Age
Do you feel unworthy of God’s love?
How do you shape your beliefs in this anxiety-filled world of competition and comparison? Many Christians conclude we must earn His Love.
We cover our feelings of shame, insecurity, and unworthiness by filling our lives with achievements and activities. But the more hours we spend at work—even the good work of helping others—the more we drift toward the false notion that God’s love is something we must earn, like a promotion or a paycheck.
We seek to know ourselves independently from God, and feel terribly insecure and lonely as a result. There’s a We misunderstand the nature of God’s love.
In Too Good to be True, Pastor Ricky Jones takes you on his journey to accept God’s unconditional love. Using personal stories and biblical references that paint the true picture of grace, Jones shows that being loved by God is not a task to be achieved, but rather the starting point of your own healing and new refreshing, joy-filled life.
How do you shape your beliefs in this anxiety-filled world of competition and comparison? Many Christians conclude we must earn His Love.
We cover our feelings of shame, insecurity, and unworthiness by filling our lives with achievements and activities. But the more hours we spend at work—even the good work of helping others—the more we drift toward the false notion that God’s love is something we must earn, like a promotion or a paycheck.
We seek to know ourselves independently from God, and feel terribly insecure and lonely as a result. There’s a We misunderstand the nature of God’s love.
In Too Good to be True, Pastor Ricky Jones takes you on his journey to accept God’s unconditional love. Using personal stories and biblical references that paint the true picture of grace, Jones shows that being loved by God is not a task to be achieved, but rather the starting point of your own healing and new refreshing, joy-filled life.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2016
8 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 17, 2016
I wrote this book for everyone who believes in God but does not trust him.
I hope it will convince you that God delights in his children.
I hope it will convince you that God delights in his children.
July 26, 2016
To my friends and family: this book is a labor of love. When Ricky couldn't find a book to give people that explained the full Gospel in a concise and emotionally compelling way, he decided to write his own. It started out as a small outline that got shoved into the back of a drawer. And forgotten. For a long time.
Then, through the encouragement of friends and a whole lot of work, this book was born. Ricky feels his life's goal is to communicate the love of God to people who have never felt it. We instinctively think God is like a policeman driving behind us, just waiting to catch us doing something wrong. When, in reality, God is delighted with us, his little children, through Christ and his finished work. I hope you read this book. It's all Ricky's best stuff. And it's all we've got, this Gospel message, which is too good to be true.
Then, through the encouragement of friends and a whole lot of work, this book was born. Ricky feels his life's goal is to communicate the love of God to people who have never felt it. We instinctively think God is like a policeman driving behind us, just waiting to catch us doing something wrong. When, in reality, God is delighted with us, his little children, through Christ and his finished work. I hope you read this book. It's all Ricky's best stuff. And it's all we've got, this Gospel message, which is too good to be true.
July 19, 2016
With a pastor's heart and big bag of great illustrations, Ricky Jones takes us through the good news of the gospel and reminds us it really is too good to be true. This short book stirred my heart and encouraged me with the simple truths of the gospel that I need to hear again and again and for that I'm grateful.
August 5, 2016
Refreshing. Enjoyable. Encouraging. Will be shared. Thanks Ricky.
July 11, 2024
the God of creation delights in us. He sees our whole life laid out, our failures and shortcomings, and loves us so much that he dies for us and allows us salvation thru faith. we don't have to check off boxes of good works, or follow certain rules, but by faith we are saved by his mercy. Too Good to Be True outlines many different things in an easy to follow way; who God is, what salvation looks like, what new life looks like, that God is alive, what heaven looks like. This book would be so good for the newbie christian but also stands as a good reminder for anyone. I have lots of takeaways from this book:
"to Him, we were worth it, even though He knew we were going to ruin everything"
This life will leave us wanting more because we were created for more. We live our life trying to feel avoid in us that only God can fill.
The creator of all knows, loves, and sees us as precious. We are restless until we find rest in him.
We were created with a longing for a relationship with him. For a spiral of joy through him
He is alive. A living savior demonstrates His power every single day. So many testimonies prove it. All of creation proves it. His presence is seen and felt, and He is alive.
"The Earth is full of His unfailing love"
Psalm 33:5
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky
above proclaims his handiwork."
Psalm 19:1
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has
been made"
Romans 1:20
... I died, and behold I am alive forevermore"
Revelation 1:18
we tend to view salvation as something we must earn. Trying to earn a priceless sacrifice is impossible and exhausting. We are saved not by our own works, but by his mercy.
we will make it not because our faith in Christ is strong, but because Christ is strongly holding onto us
isn't it good to know that no matter what, there is a Lord of the universe who loves us so and has a good plan for us? Whatever comes to us comes from the hands of someone who loves and delights in us.
"all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence"
Jude 1:24
"to Him, we were worth it, even though He knew we were going to ruin everything"
This life will leave us wanting more because we were created for more. We live our life trying to feel avoid in us that only God can fill.
The creator of all knows, loves, and sees us as precious. We are restless until we find rest in him.
We were created with a longing for a relationship with him. For a spiral of joy through him
He is alive. A living savior demonstrates His power every single day. So many testimonies prove it. All of creation proves it. His presence is seen and felt, and He is alive.
"The Earth is full of His unfailing love"
Psalm 33:5
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky
above proclaims his handiwork."
Psalm 19:1
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has
been made"
Romans 1:20
... I died, and behold I am alive forevermore"
Revelation 1:18
we tend to view salvation as something we must earn. Trying to earn a priceless sacrifice is impossible and exhausting. We are saved not by our own works, but by his mercy.
we will make it not because our faith in Christ is strong, but because Christ is strongly holding onto us
isn't it good to know that no matter what, there is a Lord of the universe who loves us so and has a good plan for us? Whatever comes to us comes from the hands of someone who loves and delights in us.
"all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence"
Jude 1:24
February 5, 2017
It took a few hours to read the book and as I made my way through, I kept thinking "I know people that need to hear this message... but it's not really resonating with me." If you've got a friend who is trapped in a cycle of shame, this is a good gospel review. But for someone like me who had a pretty good grasp of God's delight in myself, I need more a message of "God loves you and desires your transformation to holiness. Get your butt in gear and pursue that in front of this watching world." I did really appreciate the chapter on feeding the beliefs that matter. Perhaps just a personal preference but I preferred the book "Extravagant Grace" by Barbara Duguid, which as I remember is topically similar.
October 30, 2018
The book was a much needed read that proved to be refreshing. It delivered lots of hope through great illustrations and stories. I finished the book with an overwhelming sense of hope for the future.
February 19, 2021
Great book by a pastor who wants others to know God's love and grace. Wonderful words of honesty that show God's enormous mercy. Biggest lesson: we don't earn it, we don't hold on tight enough, He did all the work, He holds us close, and our response can be rest and peace.
April 13, 2024
I would say reading this book is analogous to a B12 shot, a little jolt to your spirit. It’s a quick and digestible read. I’m walking away feeling refreshed and with a changing perspective on how God really looks at his children- with love and delight.
May 22, 2017
This book is great for small group discussions.
July 17, 2017
Great illustrations that show God's gracious smile upon His children, and an emotionally engaging work.
November 23, 2019
I can't even express how good this is.
September 29, 2016
In my experience, Christians often struggle with a sense of assurance – whether its assurance of salvation or assurance that God loves them. Some of the reasons may be because they never felt quite loved or accepted by their parents when they were kids. At other times, it seems to be related to how those they were deeply entwined with betrayed them, as in a disastrous marriage. And still at other times it may be the result of poor biblical instruction. Or it might even be a mash up of all of these background experiences, so that as they come to God they perceive him through this messy, mangled set of lenses. Ricky Jones, Pastor of RiverOaks Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has recently penned a 125 page paperback, “Too Good to Be True: Christian Hope in a Hopeless Age,” where he tackles assurance for the Christian. Much of the book is autobiographical, showing how the author himself came at God from a background of insecurity and uncertainty. It is easily written, and easily read.
“Too Good to be True” walks the Christian reader through the various aspects of why they should trust God and know that he really does love them. As Jones rightly observes, “your faith is only as helpful as what you have faith in” (92). And further, not “one of us can really do anything to change the opinion of another person. However, we can change whose opinion we value most” (106). In a nutshell, this little book is a series of Gospel pep-talks for those whose hope is pooped out! It is fun to read, encouraging, and softly challenges our grumpy perceptions of God and his dealings with us.
My only beef with the book is the chapter “God’s Children or His Pets?” There the author rightly explains that God sees us as his children, that he deeply loves us even when we make a mess of our lives. The problem comes when Jones states that God “is never disappointed in us; he only sees us through eyes of love, pride, and joy” (84). I find the notion that God is never disappointed in us an unfortunate and unsatisfactory thought that may well set believers up for discouragement. Allow me to explain. Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1.3); he is the face of the Father in human form. And Jesus expressed disappointment in his disciples, whom he deeply loved, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith” (Matthew 8.26); as well as when his disciples showed a real lack of confidence and he responded, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you” (Matthew 17.17)? And then that one time when he told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16.23). So, it seems unhelpful to say that God is never disappointed in us. I think we can happily say, instead, that the Father loves us so seriously and deeply that he desires the best for us, and when we settle for less, his deeply loving heart is disappointed in us. Yet he goes on loving us, and growing us to be more like his Son.
All in all, “Too Good to be True” is a delightful book, full of Gospel encouragement. One way it could be valuably employed is as homework reading in a pastoral counseling setting. Also, if a reader is wrestling with assurance, this little piece might be just the thing to build some buoyancy. I gladly recommend the book.
“Too Good to be True” walks the Christian reader through the various aspects of why they should trust God and know that he really does love them. As Jones rightly observes, “your faith is only as helpful as what you have faith in” (92). And further, not “one of us can really do anything to change the opinion of another person. However, we can change whose opinion we value most” (106). In a nutshell, this little book is a series of Gospel pep-talks for those whose hope is pooped out! It is fun to read, encouraging, and softly challenges our grumpy perceptions of God and his dealings with us.
My only beef with the book is the chapter “God’s Children or His Pets?” There the author rightly explains that God sees us as his children, that he deeply loves us even when we make a mess of our lives. The problem comes when Jones states that God “is never disappointed in us; he only sees us through eyes of love, pride, and joy” (84). I find the notion that God is never disappointed in us an unfortunate and unsatisfactory thought that may well set believers up for discouragement. Allow me to explain. Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1.3); he is the face of the Father in human form. And Jesus expressed disappointment in his disciples, whom he deeply loved, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith” (Matthew 8.26); as well as when his disciples showed a real lack of confidence and he responded, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you” (Matthew 17.17)? And then that one time when he told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16.23). So, it seems unhelpful to say that God is never disappointed in us. I think we can happily say, instead, that the Father loves us so seriously and deeply that he desires the best for us, and when we settle for less, his deeply loving heart is disappointed in us. Yet he goes on loving us, and growing us to be more like his Son.
All in all, “Too Good to be True” is a delightful book, full of Gospel encouragement. One way it could be valuably employed is as homework reading in a pastoral counseling setting. Also, if a reader is wrestling with assurance, this little piece might be just the thing to build some buoyancy. I gladly recommend the book.
August 27, 2016
Appreciated this read. Great reminders of God's grace in an easy, readable format. Like sitting down to coffee with an old friend. And Ricky is an old friend, so made it even better. Thankful for the truths in the book that so often are made complicated, but really aren't.
August 14, 2016
Review to come.
December 12, 2016
Helpful insights, generally bad writing and editing.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews