The Rest of the Gospel: When the Partial Gospel Has Worn You Out

The message of Stone's book is written in an accessible, "folksie" style but it is profound: that a Christian believer's spiritual death, rebirth, and indwelling by Christ are far more than metaphorical statements about a spiritual reality that is outside our grasp to understand. Rather, a believer's death, rebirth and union with the Spirit of Christ is a metaphysical reality by which that believer's essential self, from the moment of receiving Christ, enters into the exact eternal life Christians have traditionally believed was only available after the death of their bodies. After reading and receiving revelation from the Holy Spirit regarding the Scriptural teachings explained in this book, pursuits such as "imitating Christ," "spiritual formation," "seeking God's presence," etc. will cease to be a focus of a reader's walk with God. Instead their walk will consist of getting their self-conceived interpretation of "what Jesus would do" out of the way. Moving away from a view of being separate from God and thus having to seek after His will, readers will discover the real potential for living fulfilling lives rests in moment by-moment faith and trust in God's willingness and ability to live out His activities in Perfect Union with their own unique spirits in the guise of their unique and God-ordained humanity with all its "bumps and warts." Whether a mature believer or a new believer, this deeply encouraging book will tranform and define your walk, offering true "hope for glory." (P.S. Don't skip the intro to the book.)

Of all the great books on becoming more like Christ - such as those by Steven McVey - Dan Stone has really got it all together. After spending the greater part of his Christian life fumbling around trying to do the "right" stuff, he asked himself, "Is this all there is to the Christian life?" That question led him on a spiritual journey that can be emulated by any serious follower of Jesus Christ. If this book isn't in your library, your walk with Christ is most likely more difficult than it has to be.

Wow. At age 41, I didn't think I could really ever read any new book that would blow my mind when it came to the gospel. I thought I pretty much "had it down." It was so very interesting to note, through reading this book, how "Westernized" and self-reliant my pious life was -- and how perfectly freeing it is to live from the perspective of "Christ in me, the hope of glory." I've purchased (thus far) 25 copies of this book and have given each away. Stone uses vivid imagery (e.g., "the line," "the swing," and others) to remind us (and teach us anew) of the original, beautiful gospel that we've sadly muddied with our collective sets of rules, regulations and "how to" books. How fabulous it is to toss them away. I no longer approach God on the basis of my flesh's track record. Woo hoo!

One amazing word: union. At times, believers may think they are living life on their own and gaining "help" from God when the going gets rough. Life doesn't have to be like that!!!! When someone is in union with something else, your life is not separate. It is together, it is "one." If you are a child of God, you are "one" with God. I needed to hear that and this book was used instrumentally in revealing that truth. I trust God will lead you to read this as well.

The book deals with a subject that is virtually untouched by pastors and preachers. I believe the reason is that one cannot teach on a subject where they have never been. Through many years of Christian life, the author knew something in his Christian life was missing and as it was revealed to him, he did a superb job in short, concise chapters of conveying his experiences to others. In the American culture, too often we take our identity from the "things of the world". Then, when we become Christians we are confounded to learn the world in which we live is not reality in the eyes of God. Stone explains the necessity of taking upon a new identity and living a life of faith out of that identity. He gives us an eternal, biblical perspective from which to learn the thought processes which leads to true life, the abundant life. The book is for true believers who are tired of the pablum dispensed from pulpits. I have gone through the book personally, been in a small group where each chapter was discussed on a weekly basis and I am currently leading a small discussion group with enormous success. It is a subject matter that can be engaged with knowing you will gain better insight in how God sees you and, as a result, experience the life of faith as it is intended to be. It is definitely a "gotta have" book.