Book Review: Life in Christ by Jeremy Walker

What does it mean to be a Christian? In his new book Life in Christ, Jeremy Walker walks us through what

the Bibles tells us about the most important of all subjects; salvation and union with Christ. Jeremy puts on display many areas of Christian life and experience, drawing out the realities of the new birth, implications of saving faith, blessings of union with Christ, and changes God works in the believer as a new creature in Christ.

Starting with the gospel and saving faith, we are guided through what it means to have been saved, to be saved, and to look ahead to the glories that await those who are in Christ. He begins by explaining the gospel- that Jesus is the object of our faith, to whom we look. Then, as a born again child of God, the life we have, our identity, our hope, our righteousness is in Christ. Jeremy points out that when we begin to think of what it entails to be “in Christ” we see that this is not a superficial decision one makes, but Christ is the unsearchable, fathomless, and glorious treasure whose depths we will spend an eternity exploring. Salvation is bringing a dead sinner to life, implanting a heart of flesh, and giving the person a new nature to love what he once hated, and hate what he once loved. In Christ, we are not merely pardoned slaves, but made to be sons of God. Our identity in Christ has changed both our position and our nature and because the perfect work of Christ, we can be assurance that He will accomplish what He set out to do, and we can know that we know Him. Since life in Christ is real, then life in Christ has a real effect as we continue to be conformed to His image, until we have run the race and finished the course and He brings us home.

This book is theologically sound, and wonderfully written. It is a rare occurrence to have both a theologically sound work that is also just a pleasure to read. Life in Christ is steeped in Biblical passages and Biblical language and gets straight to the point, which I appreciated.

No book, no volume of books could ever begin to plumb the depth of what union with Christ fully means, however this book is a wonderful way for a new believer to learn more of what he has in Christ, and for the mature Christian to adore and worship the Beloved. I could see this book being a wonderful guide for the babe in Christ, a devotional book, or a great book for a Bible saw group. I highly recommend picking up a copy.

You may also enjoy listening to the THIS interview Jeremy gave on the Janet Mefferd Show talking about the book. Jeremy also blogs at Reformation21.org

P.S.

Also, to whoever is ultimately responsible for the footnotes instead of the endnotes; I give you a hearty well done, well done. There is nothing that quite dampens the Newell spirit as to see a book with endnotes, but alas, dear reader; rejoice. You will not be burdened by flipping back and forth in the needless scavenger hunt. “Will this be a reference to another book? Is this more vital information that I need to know? Will this the endnote merely be yet another ibid?” There will be no interrupting of the reading by flipping back and forth, for you will conveniently find that information at the bottom of the very page to which it is referenced. My heart, upon seeing the footnotes, as it were, slowly stood from its reading chair with an approving ‘slow clap’ and a nod of the head.