Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ
Written by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson

This entire book, in a nutshell, is about the Gospel. It’s a close look at the beautiful nature of the Cross, how we have forgotten that beauty and how taking our eyes off the Gospel  has led to a multitude of works based attempts to gain the love, peace and joy we desire.

            Forgetting Christ’s redemptive work on the cross and the Father’s love that placed him there, our sins that made it necessary for the action, and our lack of ability to repay that sin debt, leads to a self-centered, action based, feel good religion that doesn’t reflect Christ’s love, grace or forgiveness. Despite our best human efforts of changing ourselves we have no hope of accomplishing true heart change without knowing and seeing God’s glory.  

God's amazing, awesome, unlimited love continually forgives our lifetime of sins, not for anything we have done, but because he delights in his love for us. Christ's work on the cross finishes and demonstrates this unfailing love.

              In the call to love and counsel others we can see the need to present the gospel through all of God's word, not just the first time someone comes to the understanding of salvation, but determining to see the gospel over and over in all of God's word. This brings us back, time and again, to see our sins for what they are, to the saving knowledge of the Gospel and leads to heart change that is not about burdensome work to slave through, but lovingly responding to Christ's cross. Therefore obedience to God is a joyful overflow of gratitude.

             Did I enjoy this read? Oh yes!  What did I get out of this book? So much...I'm not sure where to begin. The joy of knowing my lifetime of sins are taken from me onto the cross because of God's love for me (not because I'm all that, but just because that is God's nature) is awesome. It's like the amazement of knowing a friend loves you despite your flaws, only a million times more, for what is human love when you can know GOD's love? Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. If I had a million dollars, I'd send it to everyone I know (but maybe I'll say that about all the books I've been assigned to read *wink*)!