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Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life
God's love has the power to change lives. Christians, then, should exhibit the greatest transformation of all because, rightly understood and cherished, God's love makes them increasingly more like the One who has lavished his love on them.
So why do we so often struggle to exhibit God's love? Biblical counselor Elyse M. Fitzpatrick asks one simple question: "In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?" We need to be rescued from our "identity amnesia" and pointed to our true identity as God's beloved children--adopted by the Father, united with the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Fitzpatrick shows how a genuine transformation of identity leads to a transformation of our daily lives. Those who struggle with either legalism or lawlessness will find encouragement to return to God's love, the source of authentic and lasting change. Study questions and invitations to further discovery conclude each chapter. Now available in paperback.
So why do we so often struggle to exhibit God's love? Biblical counselor Elyse M. Fitzpatrick asks one simple question: "In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind?" We need to be rescued from our "identity amnesia" and pointed to our true identity as God's beloved children--adopted by the Father, united with the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Fitzpatrick shows how a genuine transformation of identity leads to a transformation of our daily lives. Those who struggle with either legalism or lawlessness will find encouragement to return to God's love, the source of authentic and lasting change. Study questions and invitations to further discovery conclude each chapter. Now available in paperback.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2008
299 people are currently reading
3113 people want to read
About the author
Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
55 books474 followersAuthor of 20+ books on the Christian life and the gospel's impact on everyday living, Elyse is a frequent speaker at women's conferences nationally and internationally.
Elyse's ministry is summed up in these simple words: No fluff, No bricks, just the good news of a crucified and risen Christ.
In 1971 she married her sweetheart Phil and together they raised three children and are enjoying six really adorable grandchildren.
Together they attend Valley Center Community Church in the hills of the North County of San Diego where Phil is an elder.
Elyse's ministry is summed up in these simple words: No fluff, No bricks, just the good news of a crucified and risen Christ.
In 1971 she married her sweetheart Phil and together they raised three children and are enjoying six really adorable grandchildren.
Together they attend Valley Center Community Church in the hills of the North County of San Diego where Phil is an elder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
August 8, 2019
I rarely spend so much time reading a book, but Elyse Fitzpatrick has written a theologically deep, soul-transforming book that deserves extra time! "Jesus loves me" may seem like the most basic, inane statement; but unless that truth roots itself deep in our hearts, we will never be able to live out transformed lives.
Each chapter is accompanied by a set of questions to further probe our hearts. It is definitely worth the extra time to slow down and experience the content, instead of just rushing past it.
I also found it so helpful to go through the book with a friend, to talk about the hard things and the joyful things. Also - guys, don't be put off by the butterflies and flowers. I'm honestly a little annoyed at the publisher for the feminine branding of this book, because it is a very gender-neutral book that should be read by everyone!
Each chapter is accompanied by a set of questions to further probe our hearts. It is definitely worth the extra time to slow down and experience the content, instead of just rushing past it.
I also found it so helpful to go through the book with a friend, to talk about the hard things and the joyful things. Also - guys, don't be put off by the butterflies and flowers. I'm honestly a little annoyed at the publisher for the feminine branding of this book, because it is a very gender-neutral book that should be read by everyone!
January 2, 2013
In the last couple of years, I read three of Elyse Fitzpatrick's other books, Counsel from the Cross, Comforts from the Cross, and Give Them Grace (co-authored with her daughter) and was impressed with her love for the gospel. I discovered Because He Loves Me on the suggested readings link at the Liberate website.
This is the fourth book of Fitzpatrick's that I have read. I also watched her speak twice on the Liberate 2012 conference DVDs. This sampling of her work convinces me that she rather narrowly focused. Again and again, she goes back to the same topic. One might think that would be a drawback, but its not, because the topic she continually addresses is the gospel of Jesus Christ. She seems to side with the apostle Paul who said that he vowed to know nothing except Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:2 [Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)] ).
Specifically, Fitzpatrick dedicates 200 pages to helping her readers to understand how the gospel--Christ's "incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, burial, bodily resurrection, ascension, and eternal reign" (p. 36)--matter in the every day lives of believers. I know that for me, I am at a time in my life when I cannot read enough books about the gospel. I love how different authors talk about Christ's justifying, sanctifying, adopting love for me. I pray that I never get tired of the gospel. This book was one excellent example of that type of reading. I just pray that Fitzpatrick's one track mind stays on track.
This is the fourth book of Fitzpatrick's that I have read. I also watched her speak twice on the Liberate 2012 conference DVDs. This sampling of her work convinces me that she rather narrowly focused. Again and again, she goes back to the same topic. One might think that would be a drawback, but its not, because the topic she continually addresses is the gospel of Jesus Christ. She seems to side with the apostle Paul who said that he vowed to know nothing except Christ and him crucified (1 Cor 2:2 [Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)] ).
Specifically, Fitzpatrick dedicates 200 pages to helping her readers to understand how the gospel--Christ's "incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, burial, bodily resurrection, ascension, and eternal reign" (p. 36)--matter in the every day lives of believers. I know that for me, I am at a time in my life when I cannot read enough books about the gospel. I love how different authors talk about Christ's justifying, sanctifying, adopting love for me. I pray that I never get tired of the gospel. This book was one excellent example of that type of reading. I just pray that Fitzpatrick's one track mind stays on track.
April 1, 2015
I wanted to like this more--I wholeheartedly agree with the premise that in our pursuit of Christ we have left Him behind. But the book did not flow well for me; each chapter seemed much the same. There were some gems to be sure, but they were not easily mined.
May 6, 2025
THIS BOOK! I 10/10 recommend this one! It takes the gospel, specifically the fact that we have done nothing to earn our salvation and God’s goodness yet He lavishes it upon us because of Christ’s work on our behalf, and applies it to different aspects of daily Christian living. What do serving, confessing sin, loving others, achieving, and identity look like when we start not with ourselves but with the promises of God given in Christ Jesus? This was such a beautiful, peaceful, hope-filled meditation on the gospel. I’ve found such comfort in remembering that I’m not achieving anything in my own strength, I cannot earn anything that wasn’t already given to me in Christ (and because of Christ alone), and therefore I cannot lose anything that He has given me because it was never based upon my own merit! There’s such freedom in serving when you aren’t seeking to earn the favor of a God who already loves you, and in fellowship when you love others not so that they can validate and define you but because you have already been so richly loved by God as is proven in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection! I’ve already had many discussions about this one, recommended it often, and am looking forward to doing a book study with some of my friends through it because it was just SO wonderful and Christ centered! The questions at the end of each chapter will make for a great study with friends!
December 18, 2012
Because He loves me, Christ can transform my daily life by remembering him and being persisted in seeking and acknowledging him. Only Christ saves. There is no other way. The word testifies, he has testified and as Christian we testify in our walk with him as we are transformed by his likeness. We can easily loose sight of this very thing when our focus changes from him to us. It is a daily struggle to keep him as our central. Ms. Fitzpatrick does a fine job in showing the ways we have gone our own way without ever realizing it. She does not leave her readers there, she shows by the way of the Gospel to keep Christ center in our daily lives. I think our greatest enemy in keeping Christ central is us. With our failures and expectations, we can go in the valleys of despair and forget it is God that first loved us. How often do we hope that his glory and our glory are the same thing? Most of the time they are so far apart that it puts us in a tail spin. We believe in a lie and fall from the truth.
October 8, 2017
There are some great parts in this book about our identity in Christ, but unfortunately Fitzpatrick's Reformed/Calvinistic doctrine overshadows the book's good parts. She's deterministic to the point of saying that, for example, being upset about being interrupted is a sin because God ordained the interruption. While I firmly believe in God's sovereignty and ability to control our lives, I don't believe he chooses to use that power to control us (and every little interruption in our day).
Also the writing style of this book is pretty far to the textbook side. That's okay at times, but not great for reaching a broad audience.
If you want to read about our identity in Christ and what that means, there are other great books like The Complete Green Letters (Stanford), Growing in Grace (Richards), or Walking in Victory (McCallum).
Also the writing style of this book is pretty far to the textbook side. That's okay at times, but not great for reaching a broad audience.
If you want to read about our identity in Christ and what that means, there are other great books like The Complete Green Letters (Stanford), Growing in Grace (Richards), or Walking in Victory (McCallum).
November 8, 2019
Este libro me ayudo mucho a traer a mi vida el evangelio vivo de Cristo. A reafirmar mi identidad en el y no olvidar de mi vida los puntos claves que me llevan a Jesus. Totalmente recomentado.
September 13, 2024
Addie was right— 10 out of 10! Loved this book!
March 14, 2024
Adding this to my list of books I think every Christian should read. It’s simply the gospel, iterated in beautiful ways, and practically applied to everyday life.
April 12, 2012
For all other book reviews, check out my
blog.
Summary:
One more book in the continual stream of literature about God's love, Elyse Fitzpatrick writes a commendable but ultimately flat work on the Gospel's implications for our lives. She doesn't say much wrong but doesn't say much interesting, either.
Strengths:
A major problem with current Christian literature is pacing -- too long or too bloated -- and had the popular Elyse Fitzpatrick hired a more prudent editor, this could easily have been a classic. I wish the book had cut the entire first half, because everything after is vivid, honest, and convicting. Alas, we have instead a work bloated by a protracted first half that reads like a Reformed Calvinist's instruction manual.
The first few chapters certainly had great one-liners and refreshing reminders of the Gospel. Elyse's passion for the Bible is obvious and sincere. She is a strong writer. She does not dance around sin or wrath or the atonement. There's also a great section where she allows selected verses from the Old and New Testament to tell the story of Jesus. It's a creative, breathtaking section that illuminates how powerful Scripture is no matter how often you read it.
But it isn't until the second half of Fitzpatrick's work -- conveniently titled Part Two -- that she begins to speak grounded wisdom that isn't airy or lofty. The first half is made dull because of so much "fortune cookie" language about God's love. The very attempt to personalize Jesus inadvertently turns him into a New Age hippie. But the second half actually describes a biblical Jesus that I would absolutely serve and praise. It's almost worth slogging through the earlier writing.
Weaknesses:
The entire book sometimes comes off as a guilt trip, because the questions meant to probe our spiritual lives end up being un-nuanced and too easy to answer. Like when a cop pulls you over, there's only so much you can say that leaves little room for real introspection.
Fitzpatrick also seems to confuse her audience; she appears to be writing to veteran Christians, but her constant recaps of the Gospel are much too condescending. If she is speaking to new Christians, then she uses too much Christianese for anyone to understand.
Her heavy reliance on Tim Keller and Reformed theology, while not a bad thing, makes the book feel copy-and-paste, like a best hits record. I sensed a little from here and there, almost to the point of plagiarism.
Bottom Line:
I really, really wanted to like this book. But so much of it is hindered by stylistic errors that I can only halfheartedly recommend it. Elyse Fitzpatrick is definitely someone I would seek for counseling or mentoring, but her work here is somewhat of a missed opportunity.
Summary:
One more book in the continual stream of literature about God's love, Elyse Fitzpatrick writes a commendable but ultimately flat work on the Gospel's implications for our lives. She doesn't say much wrong but doesn't say much interesting, either.
Strengths:
A major problem with current Christian literature is pacing -- too long or too bloated -- and had the popular Elyse Fitzpatrick hired a more prudent editor, this could easily have been a classic. I wish the book had cut the entire first half, because everything after is vivid, honest, and convicting. Alas, we have instead a work bloated by a protracted first half that reads like a Reformed Calvinist's instruction manual.
The first few chapters certainly had great one-liners and refreshing reminders of the Gospel. Elyse's passion for the Bible is obvious and sincere. She is a strong writer. She does not dance around sin or wrath or the atonement. There's also a great section where she allows selected verses from the Old and New Testament to tell the story of Jesus. It's a creative, breathtaking section that illuminates how powerful Scripture is no matter how often you read it.
But it isn't until the second half of Fitzpatrick's work -- conveniently titled Part Two -- that she begins to speak grounded wisdom that isn't airy or lofty. The first half is made dull because of so much "fortune cookie" language about God's love. The very attempt to personalize Jesus inadvertently turns him into a New Age hippie. But the second half actually describes a biblical Jesus that I would absolutely serve and praise. It's almost worth slogging through the earlier writing.
Weaknesses:
The entire book sometimes comes off as a guilt trip, because the questions meant to probe our spiritual lives end up being un-nuanced and too easy to answer. Like when a cop pulls you over, there's only so much you can say that leaves little room for real introspection.
Fitzpatrick also seems to confuse her audience; she appears to be writing to veteran Christians, but her constant recaps of the Gospel are much too condescending. If she is speaking to new Christians, then she uses too much Christianese for anyone to understand.
Her heavy reliance on Tim Keller and Reformed theology, while not a bad thing, makes the book feel copy-and-paste, like a best hits record. I sensed a little from here and there, almost to the point of plagiarism.
Bottom Line:
I really, really wanted to like this book. But so much of it is hindered by stylistic errors that I can only halfheartedly recommend it. Elyse Fitzpatrick is definitely someone I would seek for counseling or mentoring, but her work here is somewhat of a missed opportunity.
February 18, 2022
Excellent book on our identity in Christ and how it should effect how we live. Full of truth rooted in the gospel. Highly recommend for anyone struggling with “not feeling good enough” (hint: you’re not but Christ is!!;) ) or feeling weighed down by the old man. We are new in Christ and dearly loved! (I listened to the audiobook.)
June 3, 2013
A good reminder that Christianity isn't just another self-help plan. If you're like me and think of God holding a big stick just waiting for you to blow it so he can knock you off his planet, this book is for you.
August 19, 2020
I can't say enough about how influential this book has been in my daily walk! I've owned it for years, but just picked it up when my pastor specifically recommended it for me. The message overall is simple (God's love shown to me in the gospel through Jesus' birth/life/death/resurrection/ascension is all I need both in my relationship with him and with others) and yet forgotten and neglected in my moment-by-moment decisions leading to guilt, fear, anxiety, and more. The author skillfully uses scripture, quotes from many church fathers and her own counseling experience to gently but firmly re-present the gospel. This overwhelmed, challenged and comforted me, and the Holy Spirit is using it to transform my view of my identity (an adopted, not a foster, child), free me from guilt and shame and enable me to share this with my girls as I parent.
I took copious notes in my personal journal, but these are some things I specifically want to remember and document.
Chapter 1 Remembering His Love
p. 24 "If we're not completely convinced that his love is ours right now--fully and unalterably ours--we'll always hide in the shadows, focusing on our performance, fearing his wrath. ... Our faith will become all about us, our performance, and how we think we're doing, and our transformation will be hindered. What must we remember? Simply that God loves us so much that he crushed his Son so that we might be his and that this love isn't based on our worthiness or performance."
Chapter 2 Identity Amnesia
p. 40 "He does transform our outer, more noticeable behavior (where we usually focus), but this transformation has its genesis in the renovation of the hidden inner person. ... We won't have the faith to continue to say, 'Yes, Lord,' unless we're resting securely in the eternal yes he has spoken over us."
Chapter 3 The Identity Gift
p. 51 "No only have you been given an identity that you weren't born with or that you didn't ear the right to use, but you're invited to empty the checking account and use all the benefits this identity brings!"
p. 58 "The truth that many of us have lost and desperately need to find is that Christianity isn't essentially a program to help moral people be better. No, it's a relationship based on the premise that we aren't good now and will never be good enough in this life. We need someone to be good in our place, to suffer what we deserve to suffer, and to live the righteous life we should have lived."
Chapter 4 The Verdict
p. 71 "The Father poured out all his wrath on his Son. There is no more left for you or me. He won't condemn you now because condemning the innocent is an abomination to him, and that's what he says you are: innocent. ... I'm encouraging you now to fully embrace your sinfulness for one simple reason: so that you can fully embrace this great exchange, our 'justification.'"
p. 75 "I have to remind myself over and over that his righteousness is now mine and that the way my heart harasses me is ore a function of my pride and self-sufficiency than a sincere desire for godliness. If godliness before him is what I was really after, then one look at the cross and empty tomb would suffice. But I can see that I'm frequently more concerned about whether I approve of myself than the fact that he approves of me. I sinfully long to be able to look at my life and feel good about my personal accomplishments--See what a good mother I am!--and it's that desire that spawns crushing guilt. The only way to silence my heart and find solace is to continually remind myself of my new identity in Christ and to be satisfied with that alone. ...
When I come to him in meekness and dependence, I'll learn the difference between proud self-condemnation (which is all about me) and humble conviction of sin (which is all about him, his grace, and his law). ...
We have to remember that God isn't like us. He doesn't love us because we're lovable; no, his love is predicated solely upon his gracious choice. Remember his love came to us when we were his enemies. Why would he leave us now that we're his beloved children?"
Chapter 5 Your Inheritance
p. 82 "Have you ever wondered what makes the good news (or gospel), good news?... It is the 'good news of happiness' because through it you are bound once and for all time to the One who inclined your heart to desire happiness in the first place. He made you desire him, and he has answered your desire."
Chapter 6 Look and Live
p. 101 "What is this 'blamelessness' that God loves to bless [2 Chron. 16:9]? Is it a perfect record of disciplined righteousness? No. It's simple reliance on him and a turning away from all other sources of support (see 2 Chron. 16:7-9). It's believing that the righteousness of God requires has to be pursued by faith and not by our own efforts (Rom 9:32)."
Chapter 7 Be Who You Are
p. 109 "... you r growth in holiness is firmly bound to your appreciation of the gospel and God's love, for it is only an appreciation of his love that can motivate genuine obedience. Outward obedience can be and frequently is generated by other motives, such as a fear of failure or desire for approval, but this kind of obedience (which isn't obedience at all) only results in pride, despair, or self-indulgence and, because it is done out of love for self, more sin."
p. 117 "He has done everything that needs to be done to secure our relationship to himself. But that's not all he's done. He has also already prepared good works for us to do, to 'walk in.' ... we can be courageous in our faith-we can boldly pursue godly living because he has made us able to do so."
Chapter 8 I Will Cleanse You
p. 134 "The gospel declarations the Lord has made are meant to free us from our never-ending craving for more. Because he has made us his own and given us everything in Christ, we don't have to shove others aside, envy them, fight with them, or murder them. We've got something better: a God who delights in drawing near to us, exalting us, and granting us grace (James 4:6-8)"
p. 135 "Our problem is not that we desire happiness. No, our problem is that we continue to foolishly believe that we can attain it apart from him."
p. 136 "Only a deep appreciation of all he has done for us in Christ will motivate us to pursue true happiness, to put off all of our shabby attempts to make our mud pies a little more tasty, and to seek the One who loves us more than we'll every comprehend."
Practical steps to take as you fight by faith for real happiness.
1. Pray that God would reveal your unbelief and idolatry to you.
2. Prayerfully mediate on Scripture and ask God to apply it to you.
3. confess any unbelief or idolatry that you're aware of.
4. Ask God to make himself your chief joy.
5. Think back to the last time you know you sinned and ask yourself: what did I think would make me happier than what I had?
6. Mediate on Gods' goodness to you in the gospel.
7. Invite others to speak into your life and help you see your sin, particularly your unbelief and idolatry.
8. Prayerfully make a plan of how to respond to gospel obligations the next time you're tempted to sin: Remind myself that God is in control and that he is more interested in my holiness than my work for him.
Chapter 9 Walk In Love
p. 142 "...God declares that you are his beloved child. You are very dear to him; he cherishes you. You are his darling, and he will faithfully block every move you try to make away from him."
"Until we really grasp how much he loves us, we'll never be able to imitate him. We won't come near to him if we're afraid of his judgement. We won't repent and keep pursuing godliness if we don't believe that our size doesn't faze his love for us one bit."
"Any obedience that isn't motivated by his great love is nothing more than penance."
p. 151 "What is the most loving thing I can do at this moment?"
Chapter 10 Take Courage; Your Sins Are Forgiven
p. 157 The thesis of the book, "In our desire to live the Christian life, most of us have simply left Jesus behind."
"...every forward step depends upon summing up the main points of the gospel and then living them out in our lives."
p. 158 :Maturity in the Christian life is measured by only one test: how much closer to his character have we become? The result of the Spirit's work is not more and more activity. No, the results of his work are seen in our quality of life; that are 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.' It is life like his."
We've God to understand ourselves in the light of our new identity, seeing ourselves as we truly are: sinful and flawed, loved and welcomed.
p. 171 "So now, before you focus on ways you need to change, spend a good long time looking at the gospel. You've got a new identity: you're God's adopted son. You've got a perfect record; you don't have to try to prove anything about yourself or seek to assure yourself any longer. Christ's perfect righteousness is yours. Because of this, you've got never-ending relationship with the Joy of the Whole Earth; this relationship will never end because you've been made a partaker of his life, and you're completely redeemed and reconciled with him. All this has been given to you by faith, which was also given to you."
Chapter 11 Gospel Centered Relationships
p. 175 "The primary relationship every Christian has is with our Father and with his Son. Every other relationship is simply a reflection of this one great love."
p. 176 "He joins us to himself in eternal union, without asking us to lose our individuality. Just as he doesn't' lose his individuality even though he is three persons in unity, so we don't lose ours, through we are spiritually joined to him (1 Cor. 6:17)."
p. 179 "Maturity in Christ does not occur because we attend Bible studies. Maturity in Christ occurs when, by the Spirit and in God's grace, our brothers and sisters take biblical truth and apply it lovingly, patiently, boldly to our hearts."
p. 184 "Because the gospel has defined everything about who we are, we don't have to pretend we're sinless. We don't have to keep up appearances. There's only one reputation that means anything to us now, and it's not ours. I can afford to look like a sinner because I have a Savior who loves sinners."
p. 185 "Real life and real life change are experienced in relationships where we pursue, confess, encourage, confront, and welcome others because we know that our wedding day is approaching and we want the whole family to be ready."
p. 191 "the hope of the gospel is simply this then: that Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son, was born in a lowly manger, lived a perfect life, suffered from the moment of his first breath, was indescribably shamed and cruelly tortured, and then died without the comfort of his Father or the angles on Calvary's cruel tree. After three days in darkness and the tomb he rose again, still in human flesh, and then after forty days he ascended to the Father. Because of this, we have an entirely new identity, not one based on our accomplishments, our self-respect, the accolades of others, our own good works. We are completely and irrevocably justified; we have been entirely forgiven, reconciled, redeemed. We will have eternal life with him, and everything we go through now is in some way tied to these truths."
"We turn from Jesus and forget the gospel when we fail to remember that we've been completely reconciled through the body of his flesh and try to reconcile ourselves to him through our good works."
I took copious notes in my personal journal, but these are some things I specifically want to remember and document.
Chapter 1 Remembering His Love
p. 24 "If we're not completely convinced that his love is ours right now--fully and unalterably ours--we'll always hide in the shadows, focusing on our performance, fearing his wrath. ... Our faith will become all about us, our performance, and how we think we're doing, and our transformation will be hindered. What must we remember? Simply that God loves us so much that he crushed his Son so that we might be his and that this love isn't based on our worthiness or performance."
Chapter 2 Identity Amnesia
p. 40 "He does transform our outer, more noticeable behavior (where we usually focus), but this transformation has its genesis in the renovation of the hidden inner person. ... We won't have the faith to continue to say, 'Yes, Lord,' unless we're resting securely in the eternal yes he has spoken over us."
Chapter 3 The Identity Gift
p. 51 "No only have you been given an identity that you weren't born with or that you didn't ear the right to use, but you're invited to empty the checking account and use all the benefits this identity brings!"
p. 58 "The truth that many of us have lost and desperately need to find is that Christianity isn't essentially a program to help moral people be better. No, it's a relationship based on the premise that we aren't good now and will never be good enough in this life. We need someone to be good in our place, to suffer what we deserve to suffer, and to live the righteous life we should have lived."
Chapter 4 The Verdict
p. 71 "The Father poured out all his wrath on his Son. There is no more left for you or me. He won't condemn you now because condemning the innocent is an abomination to him, and that's what he says you are: innocent. ... I'm encouraging you now to fully embrace your sinfulness for one simple reason: so that you can fully embrace this great exchange, our 'justification.'"
p. 75 "I have to remind myself over and over that his righteousness is now mine and that the way my heart harasses me is ore a function of my pride and self-sufficiency than a sincere desire for godliness. If godliness before him is what I was really after, then one look at the cross and empty tomb would suffice. But I can see that I'm frequently more concerned about whether I approve of myself than the fact that he approves of me. I sinfully long to be able to look at my life and feel good about my personal accomplishments--See what a good mother I am!--and it's that desire that spawns crushing guilt. The only way to silence my heart and find solace is to continually remind myself of my new identity in Christ and to be satisfied with that alone. ...
When I come to him in meekness and dependence, I'll learn the difference between proud self-condemnation (which is all about me) and humble conviction of sin (which is all about him, his grace, and his law). ...
We have to remember that God isn't like us. He doesn't love us because we're lovable; no, his love is predicated solely upon his gracious choice. Remember his love came to us when we were his enemies. Why would he leave us now that we're his beloved children?"
Chapter 5 Your Inheritance
p. 82 "Have you ever wondered what makes the good news (or gospel), good news?... It is the 'good news of happiness' because through it you are bound once and for all time to the One who inclined your heart to desire happiness in the first place. He made you desire him, and he has answered your desire."
Chapter 6 Look and Live
p. 101 "What is this 'blamelessness' that God loves to bless [2 Chron. 16:9]? Is it a perfect record of disciplined righteousness? No. It's simple reliance on him and a turning away from all other sources of support (see 2 Chron. 16:7-9). It's believing that the righteousness of God requires has to be pursued by faith and not by our own efforts (Rom 9:32)."
Chapter 7 Be Who You Are
p. 109 "... you r growth in holiness is firmly bound to your appreciation of the gospel and God's love, for it is only an appreciation of his love that can motivate genuine obedience. Outward obedience can be and frequently is generated by other motives, such as a fear of failure or desire for approval, but this kind of obedience (which isn't obedience at all) only results in pride, despair, or self-indulgence and, because it is done out of love for self, more sin."
p. 117 "He has done everything that needs to be done to secure our relationship to himself. But that's not all he's done. He has also already prepared good works for us to do, to 'walk in.' ... we can be courageous in our faith-we can boldly pursue godly living because he has made us able to do so."
Chapter 8 I Will Cleanse You
p. 134 "The gospel declarations the Lord has made are meant to free us from our never-ending craving for more. Because he has made us his own and given us everything in Christ, we don't have to shove others aside, envy them, fight with them, or murder them. We've got something better: a God who delights in drawing near to us, exalting us, and granting us grace (James 4:6-8)"
p. 135 "Our problem is not that we desire happiness. No, our problem is that we continue to foolishly believe that we can attain it apart from him."
p. 136 "Only a deep appreciation of all he has done for us in Christ will motivate us to pursue true happiness, to put off all of our shabby attempts to make our mud pies a little more tasty, and to seek the One who loves us more than we'll every comprehend."
Practical steps to take as you fight by faith for real happiness.
1. Pray that God would reveal your unbelief and idolatry to you.
2. Prayerfully mediate on Scripture and ask God to apply it to you.
3. confess any unbelief or idolatry that you're aware of.
4. Ask God to make himself your chief joy.
5. Think back to the last time you know you sinned and ask yourself: what did I think would make me happier than what I had?
6. Mediate on Gods' goodness to you in the gospel.
7. Invite others to speak into your life and help you see your sin, particularly your unbelief and idolatry.
8. Prayerfully make a plan of how to respond to gospel obligations the next time you're tempted to sin: Remind myself that God is in control and that he is more interested in my holiness than my work for him.
Chapter 9 Walk In Love
p. 142 "...God declares that you are his beloved child. You are very dear to him; he cherishes you. You are his darling, and he will faithfully block every move you try to make away from him."
"Until we really grasp how much he loves us, we'll never be able to imitate him. We won't come near to him if we're afraid of his judgement. We won't repent and keep pursuing godliness if we don't believe that our size doesn't faze his love for us one bit."
"Any obedience that isn't motivated by his great love is nothing more than penance."
p. 151 "What is the most loving thing I can do at this moment?"
Chapter 10 Take Courage; Your Sins Are Forgiven
p. 157 The thesis of the book, "In our desire to live the Christian life, most of us have simply left Jesus behind."
"...every forward step depends upon summing up the main points of the gospel and then living them out in our lives."
p. 158 :Maturity in the Christian life is measured by only one test: how much closer to his character have we become? The result of the Spirit's work is not more and more activity. No, the results of his work are seen in our quality of life; that are 'love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.' It is life like his."
We've God to understand ourselves in the light of our new identity, seeing ourselves as we truly are: sinful and flawed, loved and welcomed.
p. 171 "So now, before you focus on ways you need to change, spend a good long time looking at the gospel. You've got a new identity: you're God's adopted son. You've got a perfect record; you don't have to try to prove anything about yourself or seek to assure yourself any longer. Christ's perfect righteousness is yours. Because of this, you've got never-ending relationship with the Joy of the Whole Earth; this relationship will never end because you've been made a partaker of his life, and you're completely redeemed and reconciled with him. All this has been given to you by faith, which was also given to you."
Chapter 11 Gospel Centered Relationships
p. 175 "The primary relationship every Christian has is with our Father and with his Son. Every other relationship is simply a reflection of this one great love."
p. 176 "He joins us to himself in eternal union, without asking us to lose our individuality. Just as he doesn't' lose his individuality even though he is three persons in unity, so we don't lose ours, through we are spiritually joined to him (1 Cor. 6:17)."
p. 179 "Maturity in Christ does not occur because we attend Bible studies. Maturity in Christ occurs when, by the Spirit and in God's grace, our brothers and sisters take biblical truth and apply it lovingly, patiently, boldly to our hearts."
p. 184 "Because the gospel has defined everything about who we are, we don't have to pretend we're sinless. We don't have to keep up appearances. There's only one reputation that means anything to us now, and it's not ours. I can afford to look like a sinner because I have a Savior who loves sinners."
p. 185 "Real life and real life change are experienced in relationships where we pursue, confess, encourage, confront, and welcome others because we know that our wedding day is approaching and we want the whole family to be ready."
p. 191 "the hope of the gospel is simply this then: that Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son, was born in a lowly manger, lived a perfect life, suffered from the moment of his first breath, was indescribably shamed and cruelly tortured, and then died without the comfort of his Father or the angles on Calvary's cruel tree. After three days in darkness and the tomb he rose again, still in human flesh, and then after forty days he ascended to the Father. Because of this, we have an entirely new identity, not one based on our accomplishments, our self-respect, the accolades of others, our own good works. We are completely and irrevocably justified; we have been entirely forgiven, reconciled, redeemed. We will have eternal life with him, and everything we go through now is in some way tied to these truths."
"We turn from Jesus and forget the gospel when we fail to remember that we've been completely reconciled through the body of his flesh and try to reconcile ourselves to him through our good works."
June 28, 2024
“how Christ transforms our daily life”
oh how the joy, simplicity and wonder of the gospel
transforms not just our eternity but our daily life as well - what a gift to read this incredibly sweet & applicable book in community with other Godly women!
oh how the joy, simplicity and wonder of the gospel
transforms not just our eternity but our daily life as well - what a gift to read this incredibly sweet & applicable book in community with other Godly women!
November 19, 2018
Probably an unpopular rating, I would actually say 3.5 stars if that were an option. I know Elyse Fitzpatrick is sound & cares deeply about the Gospel & there wasn’t necessarily anything wrong with what she was saying. I know people who have been super encouraged by this book! I just personally found this to be a difficult, mostly unenjoyable read. I found myself disagreeing with a few things, feeling like it was either all over the place or repetitive, & kind of a chore to finish if I’m being completely honest. Also, couldn’t decide if her intended audience was Christians or non-Christians. There were definitely still snippets of goodness that were convicting &/or encouraging & thought provoking but over all I just didn’t enjoy this read. 😬
August 16, 2023
A great reminder of how to preach the gospel to ourselves and an encouragement to go back and find our first love again. It’s scripturally sound, but it has some outdated themes related to mental health and womanhood. It shouldn’t have just been marketed to women, either, but that’s a tangent for another day. There wasn’t much I will be able to concretely remember about this book. My favorite part was the appendix when she clearly outlined what it means to be saved and how to do it. I think I will reference that for people in the future!
Would recommend. I think others will appreciate it more than I did.
Would recommend. I think others will appreciate it more than I did.
January 5, 2025
“The problem of our ongoing fallibility and failure has been answered in the gospel. We are, each one, more sinful and flawed than we dared believe, but more loved and welcomed than we ever dared hope. The love of God for us in the gospel assures our hearts and brings us peace, especially when we see our sins and failures.”
4.5: This book is split into two parts. Part 1 focuses on how God’s love, that is demonstrated in the gospel, transforms our identity. Part 2 explains how the gospel impacts every part of our daily life. Part 1 was incredibly impactful to me as it reminded me of the truth that my standing before the Lord is secure because of Christ’s work, not my own. It was a powerful reminder of God’s love and goodness to me through Christ. I recommend this book to anyone who struggles with falling back on their own works to feel right with God.
4.5: This book is split into two parts. Part 1 focuses on how God’s love, that is demonstrated in the gospel, transforms our identity. Part 2 explains how the gospel impacts every part of our daily life. Part 1 was incredibly impactful to me as it reminded me of the truth that my standing before the Lord is secure because of Christ’s work, not my own. It was a powerful reminder of God’s love and goodness to me through Christ. I recommend this book to anyone who struggles with falling back on their own works to feel right with God.
January 23, 2023
I’ll be honest, I was spotty on this audiobook, listening to it during work and drives, so I’m sure I didn’t get everything in, but why this book was so great:
1) there’s so much scripture read directly
2) the author has a sweet tone in her writing and it feels like a good friend is speaking soothing encouragement to you about how much they love God and God loves you.
3) this was a great listen on days when I felt deep anxiety while running a busy day. Better than soft music or telling myself to chill, hearing scripture verses and gospel truth was more calming
1) there’s so much scripture read directly
2) the author has a sweet tone in her writing and it feels like a good friend is speaking soothing encouragement to you about how much they love God and God loves you.
3) this was a great listen on days when I felt deep anxiety while running a busy day. Better than soft music or telling myself to chill, hearing scripture verses and gospel truth was more calming
August 12, 2022
I have been impressed with Fitzpatrick in the past but this was the first book of hers I read. Not sure where she is now and this book is over 15 years old but I still really enjoyed it and it stood up well over time. Recommended
February 3, 2025
I think 4.5 stars is more appropriate of a rating. I really enjoyed Elyse Fitzpatrick’s deep and rich knowledge of the Gospel and how she presents practical application for each aspect of it (Christ’s incarnation, perfect life, death, resurrection and ascension) for any circumstance in life. My main struggle is not being aware enough in the moment to identify where I’m not believing truth!
February 21, 2019
Four stars because I love the message of the book. However I couldn't give it the 5 because I had a very hard time getting through it. It felt very dry and redundant in the first half. It did get better for me in the second half but I had already lost a lot of momentum on it so it was still a minor struggle to get through.
All in all, it's a great book for someone struggling with their identity in Christ.
All in all, it's a great book for someone struggling with their identity in Christ.
July 31, 2014
I'd say this was really about 4.5 stars. I think it was slightly longer than it needed to be. The main point of this book is how the God's love, as demonstrated through the life, death, resurrection and eternal reign of Jesus, affects our 'everyday' lives. The gospel shouldn't just something you believe to be saved, and then forget about as you strive to 'live a good Christian life'. This book really digs into how knowing God's love and grace transforms how you think about yourself (our identity) and about your actions(our life). God has given us a new identity, a new life in Christ, yet we often continue to live the same way we did before we knew Christ, forgetting about what it means that Jesus loves us and sacrificed himself for us and now intercedes for us, and we get discouraged if we don't see changes in our lives. Complacency sets in when we lose our focus on our first love, Jesus. Our changed lives will never come as a result of us striving to follow a bunch of rules, but as a response to God's gracious gift of forgiveness and love to us, as we rest secured in our identity as God's beloved children.
October 5, 2017
I don't read a lot of Christian books written by women. Most are aimed at a specific audience that in not a part of. Steph started reading this book to me while we were traveling. I love for her to read to me and this is what she had with her. The more she read, the more I liked what the author had to say. So much so that I bought my own copy. Not only do I not read a lot of Christian women authors, I don't give a lot of 5 Star reviews of books. But this one is deserving of it.
Fitzpatrick has a thoroughly biblical understanding of the gospel. She explains and illustrates very clearly how to apply the gospel to our daily lives in a transformational manner. I lot of people these days talk about the gospel but view can show you how it truly impacts our daily lives with clarity. Fitzpatrick has accomplished that. This will be a book I will continue to reference and reread regularly. It is useful for both the seasoned and new believer alike.
Fitzpatrick has a thoroughly biblical understanding of the gospel. She explains and illustrates very clearly how to apply the gospel to our daily lives in a transformational manner. I lot of people these days talk about the gospel but view can show you how it truly impacts our daily lives with clarity. Fitzpatrick has accomplished that. This will be a book I will continue to reference and reread regularly. It is useful for both the seasoned and new believer alike.
April 5, 2011
This book might be thought of as targeted to women because of the cover and the fact it is written by a women, but every Christian could benefit greatly from this book. Fitzpatrick makes the daily practicality of the gospel very, very tangible. What it means to be gospel-centered and Christ-centered is transformed from theological and theoretical to something that can make a difference in your thinking and actions right now.
My wife was introduced to this book in a women's study last summer, and I watched the big impact it had on her and many other women in the church. I've seen it have a big impact in a counseling situation as well. I'd recommend it to any believer.
My wife was introduced to this book in a women's study last summer, and I watched the big impact it had on her and many other women in the church. I've seen it have a big impact in a counseling situation as well. I'd recommend it to any believer.
February 20, 2017
There are a lot of noteworthy points throughout this book, ones that I marked and plan to review in the future. However, those points are more like snippets that got me thinking and where hidden in chapters which were at times repetitive and at other times unrelatable. It was a very densely worded read as well, and for someone only just starting to pick up nonfiction it was a bit much.
This book works well for a discussion group, the points I mentioned above giving fodder for group thought. However, I am not as keen on it as a solitary read as it is fairly easy to get lost in the chapters.
This book works well for a discussion group, the points I mentioned above giving fodder for group thought. However, I am not as keen on it as a solitary read as it is fairly easy to get lost in the chapters.
June 16, 2023
This book is helpful to the Christian struggling with understanding and accepting God's unconditional love. Whether you've messed up or maybe you were raised to believe God is constantly angry with you, this book is helpful for grasping the faithfulness of His love. Some sections were dry, repititive, or unnecessary (there was a description of a child being harmed that was disturbing to me), therefore my 4 star review. It was one of the most balanced books I've read on this subject and definitely recommended. I read it over a several month period and recommend taking it slow.
January 9, 2018
Great book on practical implications of the gospel. Full of good reminders on the truths of law and grace in the Believer's life. Deducted one star because it was a bit repetitive. This would be a good book for a new Christian, especially.
"Whether we're overly introspective and excessively aware of our failures or blindly proud and self-sufficient, the gospel dares us to look away to Another in faith."
"Whether we're overly introspective and excessively aware of our failures or blindly proud and self-sufficient, the gospel dares us to look away to Another in faith."
January 15, 2010
Beautiful book about the gospel message and how it impacts our lives. What a joy to get away from the me-ism of works centered "gospel" messages...i.e. Glory Story. It is His work that matters, and His alone. Only because of His love am I able to love and serve others. Sometimes simplicity is the most beautiful.
April 21, 2018
This book very practically helps you open your eyes to the reality that the gospel changes your life everyday. It is not something we ever graduate from. Through the truths in this book I have found freedom to live in to my identity and struggles towards righteousness. If you desire to live for God, I recommend you read this book.
April 29, 2018
Highly recommend this book! A wonderful and challenging reminder of the joy we experience when we fix our minds on the hope of the gospel! This book was balanced with the grace of Christ and challenge to confess and repent of sin. Fabulous book that my heart needed! May it help us see how to return to our first love and experience great joy and zeal for the Lord and advance of the gospel!
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