Why the Gospel?: Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose

by Matthew W. Bates, Scot McKnight (Foreword)

We know  what  the gospel is—but do we know  why  it is?  
  
As Christians, we often ask  what  the gospel is, when we should be asking  why  it is. Matthew W. Bates has previously demonstrated that the “good news” of the gospel is that Jesus is King. But in his latest book, he explores God’s why has God issued this royal proclamation? And what role can it play in our everyday lives? 
  
As Bates observes, we find the answer in a simple but challenging “ I am a horrible king of my own life. ” With examples from Scripture, literature, and personal experience, Bates explains what pledging allegiance to Jesus as ruler of our lives looks like. Living authentically according to God’s reign conforms humanity to the image of Jesus and extends his glory and honor to all creation.  
  
Perfect for church studies, evangelism, or personal spiritual reading,  Why the Gospel?  invites readers to consider how we can transform our lives and communities through loyalty and devotion to King Jesus. The book includes questions to guide discussion.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Discipleship, New Testament, Spirituality

198 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2023

About the author

Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) is Assistant Professor of Theology at Quincy University. His main teaching area is the Bible and early Christian literature, especially the New Testament. He also teaches courses in Western Religion, Church History, and Christian Spirituality.

Reviews

[Rachel Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents us with the idea of the "glory cycle," an interesting way to think of the meta narrative of God's mission. Using the cycle, which positions the gospel as an allegiance to King Jesus, we think through different ways in which the Gospel changes more than just the individual but all of humanity. I appreciated that the cycle was a visual. I love graphics to explain.

The author's writing style and thought patterns don't exactly mesh well with mine. At times, I had to read a few things again to really understand. On the other hand, because he thinks so differently than me, I picked up on nuances and wording that challenged me and caused me to think in a new way.

I give this four stars because, at times, I felt like the author was picking a fight on certain gospel nuances when there was none, and I'm left wondering about eternal security for the Christian (which I believe cannot be lost for someone who is regenerated).

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine if Moses showed up in Egypt and addressed his countrymen. He says, "I have great news. If you pour lamb's blood on your doorframe, God won't kill your child!". Moses wouldn't be wrong, but doesn't it seem like something is missing?

I'm grateful to Matthew Bates. I'm grateful because he helped me put my finger on something that has been bothering me. Our conversations about the gospel are about penal substitution, and that's pretty much it. Now let me be clear. I hold to the penal substitution theory of the atonement. Perish the thought of ever diminishing the message of the cross. And yet I sometimes feel we have made the gospel too small. Where is the kingship of Jesus? Where is the rescue from our enemies? Where is the heavenly kingdom and the triumph of the saints? Of God dwelling in our midst? So like Exodus, the blood of the Lamb is indispensable. Without it we suffer the same fate as our enemies. And yet the story is so much bigger than we realize. Jesus really does reign!

[Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite different from Salvation By Allegiance Alone and Gospel Allegiance. It is the most accessible of Bates’ books that I have read, but it also is the least persuasive in arguing for a re-understanding of “pistis” as “allegiance.” You really have to either have read his previous works or already be skeptical of the way that “the Gospel” is often distilled and proclaimed in America in order to vibe with this book, in my opinion.
That being said, I almost gave this book a 3 star review (nothing bad, but nothing amazing) until I hit the last two chapters. The penultimate chapter addressed the reality of the “Nones” (a growing number of people who do not identify with any specific religion, church, or related organization; some are atheist but most are agnostic, “spiritual-but-not-religious types. Some have no Christian background and are outsiders to the Faith and many are former “insiders”, leaving the church lonely, hurt, and disenfranchised).
Citing Barna Group studies and research, Bates identifies 3 primary reasons that “outsiders” are not interested in Christianity (and it’s not just because they are totally depraved) and 3 primary reasons “insiders” are leaving Christianity. In general, those outside the church find Christians to be “hypocritical, too political, and too focused on getting converts.” Due to a discipleship failure (a bi-product of misunderstanding the Gospel and then mass producing it in books, sermons, and seminary classrooms), many “insiders” are leaving the church because they are not finding “authentic relationships, wisdom in dealing with doubts and complexities, and a voltaic vocation.” I won’t spoil how Bates handles each of these 6 hurdles, but the more biblical and holistic “King Jesus Gospel” is far better equipped to address these concerns than a lesser message hyper-focused on personal salvation.
In the final chapter, Bates offers practical advice on how to share the Gospel more faithfully once we understand it more accurately. This is a chapter that I have been hoping to find throughout my time reading Bates’ work. Because this review is already too long, I will just share his presentation, but would highly recommend reading “Why the Gospel” in its entirety (after reading Bates’ previous books) to get what Bates is proposing and why he sees it as a better way forward.
A better presentation of the Gospel: “Jesus is now King! He offers saving benefits to all his people through his incarnation, death for sins, resurrection, enthronement, Spirit-sending, and return. If you will turn away from your other loyalties and instead swear allegiance to him through baptism as part of your commitment to be his disciple, you’ll become part of his forgiven and set-free family. Our mission under King Jesus is to become like him so we can work together to restore honor to humans, creation, and God now and forever more. All of this maximizes God’s glory.”

[Scott Kercheville · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-4.75. So good. Great popular level introduction to the gospel and why it matters — restoring glory to humans, creation, and to God. As is standard with Bates, inadequate or incomplete gospels are discussed (i.e., the accept Jesus as your savior so your sins can be forgiven) how the problems they solve are not the full story when it comes to the weighty problems we deeply feel and that Scripture testifies to. Many calls for allegiance/obedient loyalty to King Jesus as the proper response to the gospel.

Knowing that some will read this book and their “incomplete gospel” will be on the surgery table and how hard and confusing this is for some, I would have loved for Bates to offer a positive sentence or two for some of the incomplete gospels to express the truths that they point to or capture. It would help them walk away with not such a jarring experience. Because there is truth in some of those gospels. I will totally grant that he does clearly say they are not completely wrong and that they have good. But my fear over people having this experience caused me to waffle t/o the book as to whether I would put this in everyone’s hands. Even some of the most well-meaning and devoted to King Jesus Christians… I am reticent at the moment to just hand this to them. There are some aspects of the gospel that are true that have proved to be particularly treasured by some because of their experiences, and i really feel that just a couple sentences for some of those incomplete gospels could help them feel less like their experience with Jesus was being discarded.

That said, much of the core of the gospel and why it matters is on display here, and, as he discusses near the end of the book, this is *vital* to help reach both those inside and outside the church who are unimpressed with incomplete gospels and their shallow pictures of reality/our needs, uninspiring visions of why we are even here and what has gone wrong and what Jesus has done and is doing, and often the lackluster results that come from these gospels.

[Tim Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 4,75 would be more accurate.

A much needed book, at least in my opinion, for my location.

I would've liked a bit more depth (a bit more academic in portions, more interaction with other ideas and footnotes) at times, missed the role of the Holy Spirit at times, and didn't get a clear idea of the authors view on what sin is or the role it plays. But one can not do everything in one book, and there is a nice recommended reading list.

I appreciate that the book was practical. (Personally, I'm not a fan of questions for reflection at the end of chapters, but it makes the book good for reading in groups and discussion.) The idea of the glory cycle and Jesus Kingship as priority were very helpful, even if I'm not 100% convinced at every point when it comes to certain passages the author handles, hence the desire for more depth at times.

It was an enjoyable read. But more importantly, one that made me excited about the Gospel. Not much was very new (I've read the authors book, Salvation by Allegiance Alone) , but it was put in a fresh way. The approach of focusing on the why of the Gospel was certainly interesting.

This book is full of Bible quotations, written to be applied, and opens up the beauty of who Jesus is as the King.

[Tom Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books I read and really enjoy but they don’t make much difference in the way you think and live. There are other books that may not be all that enjoyable to read but contain thoughts that challenge the way you think and live for years beyond the time you finish them. Matthew Bates’ Why the Gospel? has become one of the second category for me.
The primary premise of this book is one that cuts at the very heart of the conservative evangelical Protestantism that I have lived my whole life in. What separates evangelicals from the rest of the billion and a half people on the planet who call themselves Christian is its emphasis on the necessity for each follower to have a personal experience of salvation in Christ i.e. to be born again. While we differ in exactly how that happens, all agree that the central component of it is belief that Jesus is God and He died for your sins, that He didn’t stay dead, but rose on the 3d day and he is coming back someday to reign over a new heaven and earth.
Bates revolutionary thought doesn’t take issue with the need to believe this. Rather he finds that the gospel doesn’t so much ask us to believe it as it calls for us to demonstrate allegiance to Jesus as our King. While the more popular presentations of the gospel call attention to our sin problem as what it seeks to address, Bates says the more central issue is our failure to properly image our creator, not only in our personal lives, but in the creation and in our societal structures.
To be saved then, says Bates, is not just to give mental assent to a set of dogmas, but rather to practice the way of Jesus by the way we live, demonstrating that we obey him as our King. The difference this makes in how we view faith is profound.
Allegiance would call us to go beyond a verbal confession to changing the way we use our money, putting the needs of others ahead of our own. It would cause us to view our care of creation as part of our faith practice as we were originally to be God’s representatives in developing the earth to its full potential.
We would see how we treat our neighbors as a reflection of our alliance to our King and thus learn that faith can’t so easily be separated from works, but one is the natural outflow of the other.
Bates is an able scholar who makes a compelling argument for his case. If you find yourself wondering why the contemporary version of Christian faith so often seems quite distant from what its founder taught, I think you will find this book encouraging and challenging.

[Aaron C. Bruun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Bates answers the BIG question, "Why the Gospel?" in a theological and Biblically veridical defense. The answer he defends is that the Gospel is about the King and His Kingdom. You'll see hints of N.T. Wright which has influenced Bates (rightfully so) in having a greater cosmic vision of God's plan of restoring glory, redeeming His creation, and establishing His eternal reign. Bates does fantastic work of showing scripturally that Jesus' central mission in His death and resurrection isn't primarily about "how to get to heaven" (though that is a part of it), it is a much bigger plan than that. Still, the main concern is loyalty to the one true King, acknowledging His authority and pledging allegiance to Him and His Kingdom. Jesus has made a way for us to be a part of His family, His Kingdom, both in the present and future rule.
After Bates defends the reason for the Gospel, he dives into current issues the church and culture are facing in declining numbers of those that give allegiance to Jesus. I thought he did a great job in identifying the issues that drive people away from the church (based on Barna's work) and what we can do to better align ourselves with God's Kingdom which ultimately is good news and will attract people to join God's Kingdom.
I can't recommend this book enough. It'll be one of those books you will want to read more than a couple of times in your life as a solid Biblical reminder of what the Gospel really is.

[John Koeshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a continuation of his previous work on the Gospel and Allegiance, though you needn't have read the others to read this. In this book, Bates presents the problem that humanity (and creation) faces is a loss of glory and how the gospel restores humanity's glory on the way to restoring creation's glory and ultimately bringing God glory. This is the first work that I've read that works out the glory theme in this way. Glory is not simplistic, whereby glory only has to do with God, but wrestles with biblical texts that point to the glory that humanity has and which God is at work to restore. He sets up his argument systematically, and clearly explains what he's thinking, and why it's important.

I highly recommend it as a book which deepens the conversation around conversion and the role of the gospel (and gospel allegiance).

[thatGirlBea]

Thanks NEtgalley for the ARC!
This book offers a fresh perspective on the Gospel, focusing on Jesus as King and the bigger picture of His Kingdom. It challenges the idea of reducing the Gospel to just personal salvation and instead highlights themes like God’s glory, rescue, and reign. The "glory cycle" visual is helpful in understanding how the Gospel transforms more than just individuals—it’s about all of creation.

While some parts could have gone deeper, and the role of the Holy Spirit felt underexplored, the practical nature and focus on current church challenges were valuable. It’s a thought-provoking read that re-energizes excitement for the Gospel and helps broaden understanding of God’s mission. Highly recommended for group discussions or personal study!

[Jamin Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Modern Seminary Class with a Pastoral Heart

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “No one preaches the real gospel,” and then go on to proclaim something that is not actually the gospel. Just like in his other books, Bates hits a home run—but this time in a very pastoral form of writing. This is well worth the read for anyone who has felt the modern gospel is shallow and wanting. This is for those who want a faith that wants you.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't yet read Bates' Salvation By Allegiance Alone, I would highly recommend reading that, along with The Gospel Precisely, before you pick up this most recent work. Not because this can't be read on its own; it gives enough of an overview of his basic assumptions surrounding what the Gospel is to satisfy his move to ask the subsequent question, "why the Gospel". But gaining a full grasp on the what goes a long ways towards helping to contexutuaize the why.

In some ways this book functions more as an apologetic, but not iin the sense of sharing information regarding the what. This is less about the cogntiive side of things and more about the emotional and the practical implications of the what of the Gospel. Its about how the what translates into a motivating purpose for living according to the truth of what the Gospel claims.

It's about why one should care at all about the Gospel, once clarified and understood. To live the Gospel is to see it most clearly.

Bates begins where one might expect him to given the interests of his larger body of work, with the King Jesus Gospel. If begin anywhere else but with the Gospel as royal proclamation we will end up with problematic motivations for following the Gospel. King first matters. Further, King first unsettles whatever else we have set in its place. The King Jesus Gospel begins with the proclomation of Jesus as "the Christ". It ends with this proclomation functioning as the fulfillment of a story, in the person and work of Jesus the story of Israel. Thus our motivation for following the Gospel is attached to what the royal proclamation says regarding what God has done in Jesus. Crucial to this is the fact that we cannot understand the person and work of Jesus outside of the messianic expectations that give this its necessary articulation. Which is why reading and hearing the larger story of Israel matters so deeply to our living out of this story in our present day. If, for example, we believe the person and work of Jesus begins with Jesus dying for me so as to satisfy a necessary punishment/consequence of death, our motivation for living the Gospel is going to look much different than living out a story of Jesus' ascension to the throne proclaiming the defeat of Sin and Death and the ushering in of the promised and awaited kingdom and king. Allowing the story to push us towards dwelling on what the story is and what the story actually says about the King Jesus Gospel can help uncover why these motivations matter in the day to day of our lives, especially when it comes to how we view and percieve Gods good creation, humanity and the very character/nature of God reigning and acting in the world by way of this established kingdom and king.

Bates takes a cue in the later chapters from Scott Mcknight, applying his "read backwards" approach to the Gospel. Here the apologetic force of the book becomes most clear, attaching how we live the Gospel to how we witness the Gospel to the world. But he is careful not to detach these two things from eachother, framing motivation in the light of a shared truth regarding a shared existence, a shared problem and a shared solution. Any us versus them approaches or assumptions need not apply. "We want to poclaim the good news to others. We desire to become more rooted in the gospel ourselves." These two things function as one. To "Gospel Backwards", as Bates puts it, is "to reverse the logic of the church's ordinary ways of presenting the good news." For example, the Church often leads wih an offer of forgiveness for ones sins. Jesus is your Savior, accept Jesus' salvation and you will be saved. Only then do we move to say something, if anything, about Jesus as King of the long awaited Kingdom. At best, such a proclomation is lobbied out somewhere into the future with Jesus' second coming, leaving this world and our experiences of it as little more than a forming ground for our individual salvation. How much different does this Gospel preach when beginning with the proclomation that Jesus is King. It is this truth that enters into the expereinces of this world with the good news this accomplishment can promise. Anything that we can say about this salvation taking root in our lives is only true because Jesus is King. Unfortunately, we have been so conditioned by a Gospel that has made this story about me and my assured salvation that it remains extremely difficult to locate and appropriate this Gospel reversal. One of the outcomes of this is a general resistance to seeing the Gospel as something that goes out into the whole world as good news for all. Salvation is the person and work of Jesus, not the saving of me from my sins. It is the defeat of the Powers of Sin and Death (the crushing of the head of the serpent), the establishment of the kingdom (new creation) and the throne (the ascension). To step into this is to experience the benefits of such a truth in a clarifying sense. It is to be formed in faith, which appropriately rendered means faithfulness or allegiance to the King. This is where we find assurance not of our individual salvation, but of the work of salvation in a world that often appears to be otherwise. And yes, to participate in faithful allegiance is to be confronted by the truth of forgiveness as well.

It is only in reversing the Gospel in this way that we can make space for the whole of the story. it is only by seeing the Gospel in this way that we become free to live out this Gospel in the fabric of our lives in ways that matter and that feel true to our experiences of this world. This is the stuff that shapes the middle ground of Bates book, centering especially on the interrelated relational dynamic that frames perceptions of Gods "glory". I really appreciated how he redefines glory away from common notions of power and control, ideas that seem purposed to create distance between creator and creation, and towards the idea of a "revealed truth". God's glory is the marriage of His revealed name (who God says He is) to God's acting in and for the world. We know who God is by the way God acts, and for God to glorify Himself this means being true to His name in a way that reveals it to creation. For us to glorify Go is not to say less of me, more of you, but rather for our actions an participation in the kingdom to image God to creation and image creation back to God. Bates astutely notes that it is here where can locate the true problem that creation shares. It is a failure of this interelated truth regarding Gods glory. Thus where Gods name is not being glrorfied (imaged) in our lives, the proclamation of the Gospel hangs its hat on the truth of Gods faithfulness to glorifying Himself by being faithful to the promise. To doing what He said He would do and being who He said He would be. This is where we find true knowledge of the Gospel, not in some neverending list of attributes or ideas that keep God and Gods ways hidden from the world.

Why the Gospel is a necessary book. It doesn't have quite the punch of his articulation of salvation and faith in his previous works, but it does function as a necessary and helpful compliment to that. It helps give us a framework for not leaving the what on the page. It helps us to live the good news of King Jesus with purpose.

[Kevin Grasso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Bates has added to his collection of books on the gospel and salvation with his latest book Why the Gospel. He opens by noting the uniqueness of his project. He says, “Countless books ask what the gospel is. But to the best of my knowledge, no book on the gospel has ever been written that fronts what may prove to be an even more important question: Why the gospel?” I think this is kind of right. If the gospel fronts Jesus saving sinners rather than Jesus being Israel’s messiah, then I think many books have been written on “Why the gospel?” In the salvation-centric gospel, the answer to “Why the gospel?” is because people have sinned and need rescuing from hell. This question is often asked in such a framework. However, I agree with Bates that if we assume (rightly in my view) that the gospel is best summed up in “Jesus is the christ/messiah,” then the question is almost never asked. This old question needs a new answer under this framework. The question is no longer “Why do we need rescuing?” but “Why do we need a king?” Bates helpfully answers this question for us.

There are four great benefits to the book in my reading of it.

First, Bates gives fresh answers to old questions. If we accept the gospel as “Jesus is the messiah,” then we need to rethink the answers we had to all the old questions. For example, Bates asks how the cross fits into the gospel in this framework? In the salvation-centric framework, the cross’s role is well-known–it is the means by which people are forgiven, the heart of the gospel. The answer is not as readily apparent for Bates’s gospel. But Bates’s careful reading of the text helps us to see how the messiah and cross fit together. As he says in his comments on 1 Corinthians 15:3, it is not just anyone who is crucified; it is the Christ, the king (pg. 22). This reorients the cross passages (and the way we read Paul) to being more kingdom-focused, which brings the Jesus of the gospels much closer to Paul’s Jesus.

Second, Bates moves us past either/or categories that are unnecessary. I found this especially helpful in his discussion of the various views of the atonement. Far too many people assume that there can be only a single meaning of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice. Bates’s discussion shows that we do not need to pick between the various theories. Different authors may draw out different meanings for Jesus’s death. Although not mentioned, we can also see this in the Old Testament. The sacrificial system in Leviticus has a very specific function, especially to cleanse the tabernacle from the pollution caused by Israel’s sin. And yet, I do not think it is too much of a stretch to say that the sacrifices also reminded Israel of God’s covenant with Abraham, which he confirmed through Abraham’s sacrificial offerings in Genesis 15. Given the diverse background of sacrifices in the OT, it is natural for the NT authors to pick up on different categories of meaning for the sacrificial death of Jesus. All that to say, I agree with Bates.

Third, Bates helps us to see past our christianese by questioning the definition of common terms (as he has already done with pistis). In my reading, the heartbeat of this book is centered around “glory,” which Bates translates as “fame.” I don’t think doxa always means “fame” (and I don’t think Bates would say that), but it certainly can have that meaning. I was a little surprised that CS Lewis’s “Weight of Glory” was not quoted in this context, since that is his argument as well. Nevertheless, it is helpful to reread some “glory” passages thinking of fame rather than bright lights. It helps to reorient the gospel.

Fourth, and possibly the most important point practically, Bates gives very practical advice for how we live as disciples and do evangelism in light of this new gospel. Although other parts of the book felt like refinements of his earlier works, the last two chapters were refreshingly practical. It is all too easy for theological polemics to never work their way out in practical living. People need to be coached on what to say to their neighbor after they are persuaded of the King-Jesus gospel. Bates helps people to see how to live as a disciple (and how that is essential and should influence every aspect of our lives) and how to do evangelism under this framework. This will surely be very useful for the church.

As a linguist, I appreciated the discussion of the double-sided nature of glory. It could be nuanced, of course, but it is, in my opinion, essentially correct.

Here are some issues I have.

First, it felt like the malformed gospels were treated too shallowly. Because it is a critique, I felt like it would have been more helpful to be very specific about what people were saying, even including quotes so that people can see the contrast. I would be worried that some would read these sections and say “I don’t say that is the gospel.” At the very least, the malformed gospels are implications of a salvation-centric gospel (without Jesus as king) that need to be corrected. I felt like Bates did a more thorough job of this in his previous works.

Second, there were some theological statements that I was surprised to read. The one I was most hesitant about was probably this: “on the deepest theological level, it is not the Father’s wrath alone that is justly poured out against human sin, but the eternal Son’s and the Spirit’s wrath too” (pg. 84). This is in the context of his discussion of penal substitutionary atonement and the different roles of the members of the trinity in salvation. To me, it feels like Bates goes beyond Scripture at this point. I see nothing in Scripture to suggest that the Son’s or Spirit’s wrath is poured out in the atonement. Bates helpfully calls us back to Scripture to refine our categories, but this seems like unnecessary speculation. There is no problem with saying that the persons of the trinity have distinct roles to play in the salvation of humans, and I think that is the better reading of the passages that deal with how different persons of the trinity are involved in salvation.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I think it will be very helpful for the church. Bates helps us to rethink old questions in light of his kingdom-focused, discipleship-calling gospel, a gospel that aligns with Paul and Jesus’s gospel much more than the version we often see in Christianity today, especially the Western variety. This is an important message for our time.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Instead of asking what the gospel is, explores why has God made this proclamation of good news, centering on the kingship of Jesus and what this means for those who place allegiance in him.

Matthew W. Bates has written several books contending that our idea of what it means to place faith in Christ are inadequate to the biblical meaning of faith, which he contends is allegiance, an unqualified allegiance to Jesus as King [I have reviewed Salvation by Allegiance Alone and Gospel Allegiance]. In this work Bates further elaborates on this idea.

He begins with an intriguing question. Why the gospel? He observes that there are many discussions of what the gospel is, indeed that this is what his previous books have addressed. What he believes we rarely consider is why the gospel and that when we do, our answers focus on things like forgiveness, getting us to heaven, freeing us from rules, improving society, reuniting us with God, and so on. He contends that these are not wrong, but not first. What is first is that we need a king and Jesus is the king we need and the king has come! We are lousy kings of our own lives and anything else to which we give our allegiance is no better. Jesus is the only worthy king, most notably in fulfilling prophecy, in the life he lived and the victory of the cross and resurrection, rescuing us from our bondage to sin and death.

Bates then proceeds to elaborate the purposes of God in sending Jesus to be our King. God wants to make us famous! The salvation that comes through Jesus the King comes with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10). It is not merely that God seeks his own glory through Jesus the King; He intends that we share in that glory, that we enjoy everlasting honor and fame. Over two chapters he describes a “glory cycle” beginning with God’s glory, humans given glory to rule over creation, our failure to carry that glory in the fall and human sinfulness, Jesus as the perfect image of intended human glory launches glory’s recovery, as we gaze on the glory of Christ, we are transformed, recovering our lost glory, and finally, we reign gloriously with King Jesus in the new creation.

His final two chapters work out the implications of these ideas, first for “nones” and then for our proclamation of the good news. He believes this “King first” gospel addresses the hypocrisy so repellant to “nones.” Allegiance to a king isn’t simply a matter of “trust” but allegiance involves both mind and body, not permitting us to profess one thing and living another in our bodies. For those objecting to politicized Christianity, this is not an apolitical message but rather one that is more political, asserting the rule of Jesus over all, yet one that is non-coercive, that suffers with and for the suffering, and seeks restoration. The King Jesus gospel calls people into authentic relationships of mutual discipleship and to a holistic vocation that sees Jesus’s calling in every human endeavor.

The implication for our proclamation is to “flip” the message. Instead of, for example:

“Because he offers forgiveness, Jesus is your Savior. Accept his salvation. Next he wants to be King of your life.“

Bates advocates:

“Jesus is the King. Accept his kingship, because through it, Jesus is offering you saving rescue, including the forgiveness of your sins.“

He offers a number of examples of invitations focusing on different aspects of the gospel, each with a “typical” and a “King first” focus.

I have not seen Bates address this, but the “king” language is triggering for some. In some minds, it represents an imperial, colonial age that is past. For others, it seems averse to democratic ideals. The male-gendered character of “king” also evokes patriarchy. Very clearly, the kingship of Jesus is different and the idea of a good king runs through so much literature, for example, The Lord of the Rings. Addressing the cultural resonances of the term would be helpful.

That said, I appreciate the focus on Jesus as King as the center, the why of our gospel, rather than simply the results of his kingly rule. Beyond that, Bates focuses on something far beyond our needs, that is our destiny to share in the glory of the King and to rule with Him. I suspect few Christians think about the idea that this is what they have been both made and redeemed for, nor for how this ought to infuse our vision of our daily lives on this good earth.

Lastly, I’ve long objected to the way we have often presented a “two stage” salvation, first Jesus as Savior and then Jesus as Lord or King. Bates frames this so well in observing that all the things we associate with salvation are the gifts of the King for those who turn from other allegiances to follow him alone.

________________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Jared Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was released about a week or two ago, but I was blessed to receive an invitation to join the book’s launch team—so I’ve been ruminating on its contents for about a month or so now. While those who have read Bates’ previous works will be familiar with the themes in this book, this is far from a regurgitation of his previous material.

As the title suggests, “Why the Gospel?” shifts the focus from *what* the gospel is to *why* we need it in the first place. However, Bates does begin by reminding us *what* the gospel is—namely, that Jesus is King. Along the way, he critiques several formulations of the gospel that he calls “malformed.” These malformed gospels are prominent formulations of the gospel that are usually only *partially* true—and more often than not, improperly focused.

He then moves into the heart of the book, which is the question of “Why?” Why do we need the gospel of King Jesus? Here, Bates argues (successfully, in my opinion) that it is only through Christ’s Kingship that God’s purposes for creation can be actualized, and His glory maximized. In other words, the gospel accomplishes the restoration of God’s acknowledged glory and the royal transformation of His human imagers. Given the West’s historically disproportionate emphasis on the crucifixion, Bates’ focus on the equal necessity of incarnation, resurrection, and ascension in the gospel story is quite helpful.

Of course, Bates does not undermine the vital importance of the crucifixion. Any book that asks the question, “Why the Gospel?” must inevitably tackle the daunting topic of atonement. Why is Christ’s death necessary for gospel restoration? It is here that I find Bates’ book to be just slightly underwhelming (though still ultimately helpful).

Bates handles the atonement in a manner quite similar to scholars like Scot McKnight (see “A Community Called Atonement”), Joel B. Green (see “The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views”), and more recently, Joshua McNall (see “The Mosaic of Atonement”). Essentially, he contends that there is not any one model of atonement that is fully explanatory; rather, atonement should be understood as an integration of several working models and theories, the whole of which is greater than the sum of its parts. I tend to agree with this thesis. However, I couldn’t help but feel that his discussion of atonement was a bit cursory, and it left many important questions unaswered (or at least unsatisfactorily answered). For example, he is content to call penal substitutionary atonement a satisfaction of God’s divine justice—but he doesn’t really work through the logic of how killing a perfect and innocent person for the sins of others somehow satisfies divine justice. That’s not to say that the cross doesn’t satisfy divine justice; but that kind of radical and counterintuitive claim deserves some thoughtful explanation. In Bates’ defense, however, book lengths are often limited by publishers, so he likely did not have the space to expound more than he did.

The book concludes with some useful sociological information regarding the religious “nones” and what seems to be deterring many of them from religion. Bates shows how the gospel, properly formulated, can and does address the needs of these “nones.”

Like most of Bates’ work, “Why the Gospel?” makes for an excellent tool for evangelism. Written at the popular level, it serves as a great companion to “Gospel Allegiance,” which is Bates’ most comprehensive pop-level book addressing the *what* of the gospel. With the caveat that I am slightly underwhelmed with the section on atonement, I still heartily recommend this. Bates’ discussion of glory and the role it plays in scripture and the gospel is particularly insightful; that alone is worth the price of the book. I am so thankful for Matthew Bates. His excellent scholarship and his evident passion for the gospel of King Jesus have both been deeply impactful for me.

[Tom Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are books I read and really enjoy but they don’t make much difference in the way you think and live. There are other books that may not be all that enjoyable to read but contain thoughts that challenge the way you think and live for years beyond the time you finish them. Matthew Bates’ Why the Gospel? has become one of the second category for me.
The primary premise of this book is one that cuts at the very heart of the conservative evangelical Protestantism that I have lived in my whole life . What separates evangelicals from the rest of the billion and a half people on the planet who call themselves Christian is their emphasis on the necessity for each follower to have a personal experience of salvation in Christ i.e. to be born again. While we differ in exactly how that happens, all agree that the central component of it is belief that Jesus is God and He died for your sins, that He didn’t stay dead, but rose on the 3d day and he is coming back someday to reign over a new heaven and earth.
Bates revolutionary thought doesn’t take issue with the need to believe this. Rather he finds that the gospel doesn’t so much ask us to believe it as it calls for us to demonstrate allegiance to Jesus as our King. While the more popular presentations of the gospel call attention to our sin problem as what it seeks to address, Bates says the more central issue is our failure to properly image our creator, not only in our personal lives, but in the creation and in our societal structures.
To be saved then, says Bates, is not just to give mental assent to a set of dogmas, but rather to practice the way of Jesus by the way we live, demonstrating that we obey him as our King. The difference this makes in how we view faith is profound.
Allegiance would call us to go beyond a verbal confession to changing the way we use our money, putting the needs of others ahead of our own. It would cause us to view our care of creation as part of our faith practice as we were originally to be God’s representatives in developing the earth to its full potential.
We would see how we treat our neighbors as a reflection of our alliance to our King and thus learn that faith can’t so easily be separated from works, but one is the natural outflow of the other.
Bates is an able scholar who makes a compelling argument for his case. If you find yourself wondering why the contemporary version of Christian faith so often seems quite distant from what its founder taught, I think you will find this book encouraging and challenging.

[Michael Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bates is an intriguing author. In years past, I have engaged with his work as he seeks to offer a more precise understanding of "gospel" and how faith as allegiance to King Jesus is a better way of understanding the Scriptural language of faith, justification, discipleship, and works. After reading Gospel Alliegance and Salvation by Alliegance Alone, I walked away appreciating his clarity on what the gospel is and his emphasis on faith as a trusting loyalty. Although I didn't agree with his formulations on justification, or that faith is only or primarily allegiance, I did like much of his work.

This work was my least favorite of his. Although he does a really good job in certain sections, he went further afield in key areas and made statements that were often unclear or simply confusing.

He did great work on how God restores human glory/honor/dignity. He does great work demonstrating the Kingship of Jesus as being the center of the gospel. There were many strong areas.

At the same time, I wrote many questions marks and was taken aback by a variety of statements. Bates lacked clarity in differentiating imperfect allegiance and works. Bates' construction in this book would leave me lacking confidence in God's power to save me and focus more on if I have been loyal enough. His critiques of various gospel errors are often a straw man or caricature.

Bates calls us to a more serious look at how the gospel must include obedient commitment. Yet, a weakness in his language and formulation begins to appear. His language and formulation can easily begin to center our faith, ironically not on the power of Jesus as Saving King, but on my work in response to Him. His language of our salvation is not centered on Jesus' power and ability to preserve His people, but on my power and allegiance.

Bates recognizes the grace of King Jesus and God's love as central. He seeks to lift up Jesus, but his own views have overemphasized something to the point of harm.

Pros
- Clarifies gospel and storyline of scripture
-offers a strong description of holistic commitment to Jesus
- Takes seriously the call to obedience as that central response to the gospel
- Explains our and God's loss of glory and the rescue of it as essential to the Bible's storylinemb


Cons
- lacking clarity at key times in writing and concepts
- statements that are theologically concerning
- his language centers salvation on our work in joining a saving community and embodying alliegance to the point of losing sight of God's power and grace as central

[Amber Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Bates poses a fascinating question from the very cover of this book that is well worth exploring: "Why the gospel?"

Since we think we know the answer, we don't think to ask the question. But it's a really important question...especially because it requires that we be really clear on what the gospel actually is.

The definition of the gospel that I think is both the most simple and the most accurate is "the royal announcement that Jesus is King over all creation." When we say that Jesus is the Christ, that's what we're really saying. (Christ is a Greekish way of saying Messiah...which is the Hebrewish way of saying "annointed"...which refers to how they poured oil on their kings and priests. So what Matt is really asking is..."Why do we need a KING" of all things?

We're probably conditioned to think of Jesus as SAVIOR before we think about him as KING...but as Bates explains, Jesus is savior *because* he is King, not the other way around. So why do we need a KING? That's the real question this book is getting at...and the answer has some poignant, real-life implications.

I knew I wanted to read this book because when my kids were still really young, I was intentional about talking to them about how we don't do a good job of being our own bosses. We don't make good kings. Even at young ages, they could see this. So they got baptized because they were very clear on wanting Jesus to be their King.

Another part of it is that God created humans for the purpose of reflecting his wise rule over all creation in the here and now. As long as we are our own kings, we are going to keep on making a mess of things. Bates not only elaborates on this, but he shows how it relates to God's glory and God's desire to give *humans* glory - as or Bates puts it, fame.

Bates notes that when we pledge allegiance to Jesus as King, it changes how we invite people to follow Him. He devotes a whole chapter to "Good News for the Nones" that explores 6 objections young adults (both un-churched and post-churched have to Christianity) and another chapter on how gospeling with a focusing on Jesus as King subverts many of these objections. He shows how starting with allegiance to King Jesus lays a stronger foundation for faith.

[Hallelujah Brews Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Why the Gospel?’ by Matthew W. Bates.

5🌟/5🌟

If this book was described in three words it would be kingship, glory, and allegiance. Matthew discusses the importance of the kingship of Jesus and how viewing the gospel through the lens of kingship changes our understanding of the good news. Matthew goes on to explore how the gospel message is about glory, or making God famous and our role in making God famous to others. He also discusses his view that salvation is by allegiance to King Jesus alone and submitting to his authority by becoming a disciple of Jesus (p. 146).

Make no mistake, Matthew does affirm that Jesus is the source of regeneration, righteousness, atonement, and forgiveness. But those things are only possible because Jesus is Messiah, King, and Christ. Matthew writes, “by calling him Jesus Christ, our New Testament authors were claiming that God honored him with the ultimate kingship. God has exalted Jesus to his right hand where he reigns as the Messiah” (p. 10).

Matthew goes on to write, “God’s ultimate salvation comes not simply through Jesus, but through Jesus in his specific capacity as the one enthroned at God’s right hand. From that position he is governing God’s new creation work. Jesus’s saving benefits are available only because he is first and foremost the King” (p. 16).

Matthew then examines the gospel with a focus on glory, writing that the gospel is God’s rescue mission for “glory’s recovery.”  Finally, Matthew discusses allegiance to King Jesus and writes “accept his kingship, because through it Jesus is offering you saving rescue, including the forgiveness of your sins” (p. 161).

I enjoyed this book. It challenged my thinking about concepts like eternal security, discipleship, allegiance, and faith. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels the church needs to re-examine the gospel message, desires to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and wants to practice living in Jesus’ kingdom now.

Although I did have early access to this book electronically from Eerdmans to read and review, I also purchased this book on my own.

[Thomas Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Matthew Bates’ writing for over a decade now and have always been challenged and inspired by his perspective. So, I looked forward to his newest publication, Why the Gospel? Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose. However, my excitement was mingled with concern as well: with three prior books on the gospel (Salvation by Allegiance Alone [2017], Gospel Allegiance [2019], and The Gospel Precisely [2021]), could Bates find something new to say or would Why the Gospel? be a retread of his earlier works?
It delights me to say, not only did Bates challenge and inspire me again, but he flipped my original concern on its head. Why the Gospel? challenges Christians to reevaluate the scope and depth of the gospel. There is always more to it and something worthwhile to be said and Bates has found the exact message needed for today.
Why the Gospel? takes an immediate left turn from most books on the subject—including Bates’ prior works—and focuses the attention not so much on the content of the gospel message but its purpose. By asking the deeper question, he draws his audience into the heart of God. Bates’ answer to the ‘why the gospel’ question goes deeper than heaven, redemption, or forgiveness. All of these are means to an end, an end that is too often missed by preacher and layperson alike. I won’t spoil his conclusions here, but suffice it to say, Bates does an excellent job connecting the meta-narrative of the Bible into his perspective, ultimately to show that this bigger and deeper answer to the gospel’s purpose is right in line with the Scriptures holistically.
I highly commend this work to anyone interested in broadening their perspective on the message most central to Christianity. Bates has added a timely, relevant, and approachable work for anyone—pastor, academic, or layperson—to enjoy.

Thomas Sims
Author of Unpuzzling Hebrews
UnpuzzlingHebrews.com

[Craig Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Bates captured my attention a few years ago with his excellent _Salvation by Allegiance Alone_. I was excited when I found out that he was continuing his writing on faith as allegiance, Jesus as King, and the gospel as bigger than (but including) forgiveness of sins. He extended his work in _Gospel Allegiance_ and _The Gospel Precisely_ , in which he focused on the content of the gospel. Now Bates takes next steps with his forthcoming _Why the Gospel?_, turning his attention to the reason the gospel takes the shape it does. In addressing the "why" of the gospel, he briefly describes six versions of the gospel that include some truth but "fail to identify the true content and purpose of the gospel accurately." According to Bates (stated briefly and overly simply), the "why" of the gospel is (1) because we need a king and (2) in order to recover God's glory AND humanity's glory. [I'll leave it to Bates to flesh that out.] Though this is not how I've heard the "why" of the gospel stated most of my life as a follower of the Christ, it pulls together threads of ideas that have continued to surface as I've read and studied the Bible (much the way the author did in _Salvation by Allegiance Alone_). In all this stream of writing from Bates, one thing stands front and center: he isn't writing merely to to pad his list of publications, or to esoterically ponder new ideas, or to communicate ideas; he's writing to challenge and benefit the church (and beyond, actually) and to honor the King and bring glory to God. There is SO much more to _Why the Gospel?_ than I've revealed here. I'd rather you 'hear' it from Matt Bates himself. Get the book. Read it. Share it. [There is a 25% pre-order discount and free shipping with the code PREORDER25 at Barnes and Noble.]

[Scott Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is uniquely helpful and I encourage others to seriously consider reading it and invite others to do so as well.

In recent books, Bates urged readers to consider just how strong, broad, and far-reaching the Bibles view of faith is, calling them to realize that the Greek pistis is very often better translated as faithfulness or fidelity or fealty, or in particular, allegiance. The implications for following Jesus are numerous and important.

Bates has also called readers to soberly understand what Scripture (as opposed to authors or teachers or systematic theology) considers the gospel to be. The gospel according to the New Testament has essential content and striking consequences.

Now Bates asks, “Why the Gospel?”. This question is an excellent vehicle for looking from God’s perspective at the purposes of his plans for the world and for humanity. I found this broad focus refreshing and challenging after having read Bates as he drilled down on specific theses in his recent books.

I found the first and final chapters (of seven total) the most important and compelling. I am still thinking about his treatment of the subject of God’s desire for human glory, an important topic that was rather new to me. His reflections on applying the foundations of the gospel to discipleship and evangelism are worthy of thoughtful consideration.

Back to my favorite chapters:

I consider the first chapter an urgent call to make essential truths truly essential to our understanding, following, and communicating King Jesus and his gospel to others.

And the last chapter gives me excitement about how the foundations of Christian faith can be better articulated and communicated, both within and outside communities of Jesus followers.

If any of the above topics and issues concern you, don’t miss this book!

[Carter Hemphill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-1/2 stars.

Christianity Today's 2024 Book Award Winner -- Theology (Popular)
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/...

I thought I understood the gospel well, so this book initially seemed rather provocative. The author asserts quite early that most explanations of the gospel are incomplete. His approach is to dive into the meaning of the Kingdom of God and the role of "King Jesus." Salvation is more than a mental acknowledgment but an "allegiance" to the royal Jesus, which requires a full heart, mind, and body commitment. He also points out how the shallow approach to the gospel negatively impacts the American church by discouraging discipleship, creating deceptive evangelistic practices, and helping perpetuate why today's "nones" shun the church post-COVID (hypocrisy, politicization).

Some of the chapters were rather tedious and require a careful reread. He also questions shallow interpretations of grace, could have provided more depth about the role of the Holy Spirit in the sanctification process, and veers quite close to the idea of "salvation + works" (in this case, allegiance to King Jesus) as essential for salvation.

Nevertheless, after finishing it earlier last week, I still think about "King Jesus" and how Jesus' royalty seems missing from many of the sermons I've listened to in the church. It's a good introduction and a correction to some underemphasized theology, and I hope to explore this further in the recommended resources at the end of the book. I finished this dense but short book with a greater appreciation of the rich depth of the gospel message.

[Blake Widmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a number of years our community has been searching for and utilizing Biblical theology frameworks for knowing who we are as humans, what God wants of us and to what purpose it all points. Bates' previous work has been helpful material sewn into our community's tapestry of understanding and now with his latest work, "Why the Gospel?" another thread has been woven in that brings additional clarity and telos. You know when you're making up the bed sheets (ok, I'm not the best husband so I admit I do this rarely) or folding the sheets, its always super helpful for the top sheet to find the little embroidered end that says "hey, put me at the head of the bed". It helps you orient the sheet so you aren't putting it on the bed with the head at the foot, or upside down, etc. "Why the Gospel" helps us orient everything. We might still have a few wrinkles to work out as his and others' scholarship trickles through the academy and the pews, but I truly believe this "why" angle on the Gospel will have lasting positive orientation for the church. It was a new way of asking gospel questions, and a helpful guide to get us around typical snags. Some of Bates' earlier books might be seen as more contentious and piercing of long-held paradigms, which in my opinion was necessary and good. This book however has a different feel to it and might just be more comfortable for a wider audience to snuggle up with, read, re-think and appreciate. My analogy is breaking down, it might be time for a nap. I couldn't put this book down until I'd finished it!

[Hashim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Why the Gospel" lays out not just the why of the gospel, but the "what" and the *what now?".

I've been thinking about the mind bending "why" since I read the first few pages. We need the gospel, the royal announcement of Jesus Christ because humans and all of creation needs a king.

This kingship of Jesus is what makes benefits of faith in Jesus possible - atonement, sharing in his glory, personal and community transformation, and more. Bates explains all of this "what" with clarity and it's changed the way I see the entire biblical story.

Where the book wobbles is with the "what now?". Bates spends time in the later sections of the book not just explaining what discipleship looks like but how to live it out. His main advice here is to curb media consumption. Bates also has advice for sharing the gospel, particularly with the so called "nones" who have some belief in Jesus but are not oart of a faith community. One of his points here is that the loyal lifestyle that the gospel inspires erases the concern about Christian hypocrisy that many nones have.

None of these overly simplistic cures hurts the main message of the book though. I just wish "Why the Gospel" was 50 pages shorter and that Professor Bates had left the life application up to pastors and church leaders.

I highly recommend "Why the Gospel?". It's a book I can see myself rereading and referencing for many years.

[Jake James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Matthew Bates last book, "Salvation by Allegiance Alone," I was poised for another gripping and challenging read to awaken us from our traditional filtered lenses on the Gospel. He did not disappoint. With even more accessible prose for the lay reader and theological insights for the learned, he will capture readers all across the spectrum.

He argues for Jesus as the central message of the Gospel, Jesus becoming King, the installation of his reign as central and the means by which he makes sense not just of the text itself but our relevant contexts. I especially enjoyed his treatment of Glory, as he equates it with Gods fame projected in and through Jesus, that which was originally lost. The why of the Gospel then aims at this. The response to the problem is that we are given what we need most. A King. When we frame our Gospel with the kingship of Jesus we get a much more jubilant and scripturally truthful Gospel.

Why can God forgive? Because he has been enthroned, and now having rule over all, that's what he chooses to do. He is a forgiving King.

Well done Dr Bates on such a great read that will be the ideal gift for both teachers, students and friends alike. Just be prepared to drop the baggage and embrace the beauty of the Christ!

[Aaron Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why the Gospel, by Matthew Bates, is a must read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the gospel of King Jesus. In the author’s previous work he has explored the role of Jesus as a part of the godhead, the part of allegiance in the role of salvation, as well as exploring the forgotten importance of the kingship of Jesus as a part of the gospel; in this book the reader digs in to why ‘the gospel’ was set into motion. From an exploration of the misunderstood role of glory in the life of the Christian, to a call to a deeper faith/allegiance to the King each Christian has committed their life to, Bates leads the reader on a journey which pulls action from conviction and seeks to engage with those who have been disaffected by the heartless faith they’ve experienced in the past.

This isn’t just an academic study into big concepts and themes (though, to be sure, it could be this if it weren’t so much more); Why the Gospel is a needed response to the impersonal Christianity which has been coopted by politicians and hucksters.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book. It will help transform not only your understanding of the gospel, but also the way you live out your allegiance to King Jesus.

[Tim Maybray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been following Matthew Bates' work since reading "Salvation by Allegiance Alone." I was captured by the concept of our faith being allegiance to the King. This just began to make sense as the centerpiece of the entire biblical faith narrative. In "Why the Gospel" MB develops the idea of the "glory cycle." I get everything he is saying from the glory of God to human glory to the glory of creation, to which I say, "YES!" But somehow terming it as a cycle along with the diagram did not excite me. What did excite was the way he drew out the awesome implications for how we understand and practice discipleship and evangelism (or "gospeling" in chapters 5-7. Here he moved completely out of the realm of the theoretical to the very practical and it was superb. If you have never read Matthew Bates I recommend starting with "The Gospel Precisely" the go back and read "Salvation by Allegiance Alone" and "Gospel Allegiance" and then put it into practice with "Why the Gospel." That may complete Gospel cycle! I would also recommend supplementing all this with reading Scot McKnight's "The King Jesus Gospel". Thank you Matthew Bates for your thinking and clear writing in this area. It is greatly needed.

[Ryan Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus is King, and he is restoring creation, the image of God in man, and renewing the glory (honor and fame) to creation, man, and God!

This is the message in Dr. Matthew W. Bates' Why the Gospel?, which asks and seeks to answer an important question. In my opinion, he successfully restores a more wholistic picture of the Good News about Jesus. Better still, Dr. Bates provides a framework for practically applying this more complete gospel message.

This book is a must read for all Christ followers.

If any talk of reframing or "changing" the gospel scares you, don't be dissuaded from picking up this volume. Dr. Bates grounds every argument solidly in scripture. This is the best, practical guide to the gospel I've encountered. While many other books have brought me to the same line of thinking about the gospel, I still wrestled with how to apply the ideas beyond my own, personal worship. Dr. Bates provides suggestions for applying the gospel of King Jesus in many contexts: Church community, evangelism (especially to the "nones"), and rehabilitating the image of Christians to the watching world.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read one book on the Gospel or evangelism, this should be the book.

Dr. Matthew Bates guides readers through a tour de force on how we should understand the Gospel in light of Jesus's kingship and how we should understand "faith" primarily as "allegiance" when relating to our King. He provides a much needed look at the Gospel that keeps the story of Scripture ever in full view, building on an excellent understanding of the biblical theology of the Image of God and glory.

If you're wondering how to witness to people - whether to those that have no real attraction to Christianity, or to those that have become desensitized or disillusioned with the Christianity that they were taught, this book is an excellent resource. Dr. Bates's approach is eminently Biblical, historical, and grounded in solid scholarship. His writing is clear, very readable, passionate, and enjoyable.

Go read this book and discover the Gospel of Jesus Christ with layers, colors, and richness that many in the era of "quick gospel formulas" have missed.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super easy-to-read distillation of many of Bates' ideas from previous books. The nuance here is that it is framed in a much broader, meta-purpose view of God's work in history. The heart of the book is Bates' "glory cycle," which is a wonderful and memorable tool for conceptualizing the purpose of God's work in creation and in the Gospel.

I also really appreciated his breakdown of various "malformed" gospels in our culture today, and found his diagnosis of them spot-on. However, I would have liked just a bit more content on correcting those "gospels" individually. In general, I actually would have probably preferred a slightly longer, more academic piece (more in line with his previous, "Salvation by Allegiance Alone") but obviously this one is tailored to a popular audience, and so some of that depth is sacrificed.

As it is, this is a great and accessible book suffused with deep theological and scriptural thinking that would be a fruitful took for small group discussions or studies.