Book review: The Grace of God

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Second Corinthians 9:15

The apostle Paul calls grace "indescribable," but Andy Stanley comes awfully close! Stanley's book, The Grace of God, is a wonderful examination of many of the Bible's stories through the lens of God's grace.

Grace, Stanley defines, is unearned, undeserved favor. Throughout the book, we follow figures such as Jonah, Joseph, and David and how God lavished grace upon them despite themselves. We see how God's creation is an act of grace. That His law was meant as an extension of His grace. And that the kingdom of heaven is unfair. Grace, Stanley explains, is better than fair.

I loved this book. I want everyone I know to read it. I want everyone I don't know to read it. This book so clearly, so simply illustrates God's purpose of grace. Why He extended the hand of relationship to us in the first place, why He wants the best for us, and why our freedom is important to Him. I especially loved his clear explanation of how God's saving grace is better and fairer than systems we've devised to earn our way into heaven. It's better, Stanley says, because:

• everybody is invited.
• everybody gets in the same way.
• everybody can meet the requirement.

Everyone needs to know that.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available October 2010 at your favourite bookseller.