What's So Confusing About Grace?

by Randal Rauser

At first glance the Gospel seems straightforward: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son."

Simple, right?

Then you start asking questions: Do you need to believe particular things about Jesus to be saved? If so, what things? Do you need to live in a particular way? If so, how exactly? Do you need to do good works and avoid specific sins? And if so, what kind of works and which sins? Are the demands the same for everybody everywhere or do they change over time, place, and person?

And why isn't any of this clearer?

Theologian Randal Rauser became a follower of Jesus when he was five years old and ever since then he's been trying to understand what's so confusing about grace. Now after forty years things are just starting to make sense.

Paperback

Published July 1, 2017

About the author

Randal Rauser is a systematic and analytic theologian of evangelical persuasion. He is driven by apologetic concerns and above all by the tireless pursuit of truth. The downside is that this requires him to recognize when he is wrong (which is often) for truth is complex and it offers us no guarantees that we shall always find it. At the same time, Randal does not despair of finding truth, for he believes that in a profound sense Jesus Christ is the truth.

For Randal, being like Jesus means knowing the truth, loving the truth, and living the truth. As Randal seeks to live the truth he promotes a culture of life that is anti-militaristic and pro-family, pro-environment and anti-abortion, anti-consumerist and pro-animal. A disciple on the way … alas, he is not half as smart or as good or as right as he thinks he is.

Reviews

[Mark Kamibayashiyama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great memoir disguised as a salvation faq

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

🤷🏻‍♂️

Maybe I was expecting a more sophisticated look at the Gospel, or at least some answers to the questions Rauser poses in the pages of this book, but this didn't meet those expectations. For the most part, Rauser shares anecdotes about his life that demonstrate his younger self's naivety (a naivety many Christians bear their whole life), poses an interesting theological question, shares some problems with forming an answer, and then concludes with a proverbial shrug. The book's conclusion is in essence: Christianity is complicated; Jesus loves you, though, isn't that enough?

And for this reader, that's a dishearteningly shallow conclusion.

[Denis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest and thought provoking!

An easy read, great as a discussion starter for small groups and book clubs. Well I wouldn't agree with everything in it, I have no reservations recommending this book. Well done, Randal!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflects many of the questions I have and have had on my faith journey.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of topics about Christian beliefs. What do we need to believe, how do we live? Randal explores these questions from his own life experience and made significant changes to his understanding.

[Lee Bertsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author takes us through the timeline of his unfolding understanding of the gospel beginning at age 5. He accumulated some ideas early on that really confused the meaning of grace. Anyone growing up in an evangelical church environment in the 60s, 70s, and 80s will likely find points where their experience intersects with Rauser's. Several chapters were for me a trip down memory lane. Later chapters, which detail his developing understanding of things like Bible interpretation and the nature of the Christian's future existence did not relate in a particular way to the book's title. But they were interesting and useful excursions none the less.