Over the past five years there has been a huge increase in the amount of books on all things “Gospel related”. Added into this mix on the current Gospel-centered movement is the Recovering the Gospel series by Paul Washer. His second book in this series, The Gospel Call and True Conversion is an tour de force on how Paul gave the gospel precedence in his preaching and endeavored with all his might to clearly proclaim the gospel going so far as to pronounce a curse upon all those who would pervert its truth. Yet how sad it is that many, even among those considering themselves evangelicals, have reduced the gospel to a few trite statements to be repeated with the subsequent view of conversion as a mere human decision. In this book, Washer challenges “easy-believism” as he examines the real meaning of things like faith, repentance, and receiving Christ. He also deals extensively with the effects of saving grace that God promises in the new covenant, namely the creation of new hearts and a new people.
As I was reading The Gospel Call and True Conversion, I was also reading a forthcoming book on Mormonism from a former tenured professor at BYU. I commented to several of my friends that reading Washer’s book combined with the book on Mormonism was quite a powerful combination as it helped me to see clearer than I ever have the comparisons between what biblical Christianity is and what it is not.
Washer sets his sights on forcefully correcting false ideas doing so in a very pastorally sensitive way without compromising any arguments from the Word of God. At times I thought he was forceful but not in a bad way as his direct style will help the reader understand the seriousness of the topic. Given the gravity of salvation and its importance in understanding biblical Christianity, Washer does an amazing job at highlighting how salvation is of the Lord. Having read both books in this series, what I’ve been impressed with is the combination of biblical theology, church history and contemporary evangelical theology as he writes to help us understand the true nature of the Gospel.
While I’ve read a number of works from the Gospel-centered movement, what I appreciate about Washer’s contribution is his serious commitment to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture as well as his commitment to point people to Jesus Christ. In an age consumed by materialism and “easy-believism”, The Gospel Call and True Conversion will takes its place alongside Finally Alive by John Piper as the only two books in recent years to seriously tackle on a lay level the issue of regeneration and related issues. Whether you are a Sunday school teacher, regular church attendee, Pastor or Christian scholar, I encourage you to pick up this book and be reminded there is nothing anyone needs more than the gospel and there is nothing more important and relevant than getting the gospel right, making it clear, and trusting the gospel to do its work of calling, saving, and securing a people for God. This great book will challenge you in all the right ways pointing you to the sufficiency of Christ alone to save. Its pastoral tone will also encourage the reader to understand salvation from the Word of God so that you may apply its truth to all areas of your life.
Title: The Gospel Call and True Conversion
Author: Paul Washer
Publisher: Reformed Heritage (2013)
I received this for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” –
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
