One of the greatest crimes of this generation of Christians is its neglect of the gospel, and it is from this neglect that all our other maladies spring forth. Absent from too many pulpits are the essential themes which make up the very core of the gospel—the justice of God, the radical depravity of man, the blood atonement. In The Gospel’s Power and Message, Paul Washer addresses these essential elements of Christ’s good news and provides a guide to help us rediscover the gospel in all its beauty, scandal, and saving power. May such a rediscovery transform your life, strengthen your proclamation, and bring the greatest glory to God.
Author Paul Washer ministered as a missionary in Peru for 10 years, during which time he founded the HeartCry Missionary Society to support Peruvian church planters. Paul now serves as one of the laborers with the HeartCry Missionary Society (www.heartcrymissionary.com). He and his wife Charo have three children: Ian, Evan, and Rowan.
Endorsement “In these days of insipid, man-centered, ear-tickling preaching, we need Sons of Thunder who fear God and faithfully preach His word without fear of consequences. My friend, Paul Washer, is one such man. May God use this book to reach the lost and to glorify His name.†— Ray Comfort, author of Hell’s Best Kept Secret and The Way of the Master
“Style-conscious evangelicals have done a lot of tinkering in recent decades to try to make the gospel seem more appealing or more palatable. All the sharp corners have been carefully sanded off and the message made as small as possible. It has then been wrapped in thick layers of foam so that no one can ever be hurt or offended by it. “In The Gospel’s Power and Message, Paul Washer unwraps the gospel and displays its various facets in all their vivid glory. This book is a thoughtful, poignant reminder that the message Christ commissioned us to proclaim is neither spongy nor trivial. Nor can it be improved by human revision. The gospel may be a stumbling block to some and seem like foolishness to others—but to those who are called, it is the power and the wisdom of God.†— Phil Johnson, executive director of Grace to You
“I am profoundly thankful for the courageous clarity of The Gospel’s Power and Message by Paul Washer. Christians today seem to have the false impression that the gospel is all about us—a wonderful plan for our lives; a means of finding peace, joy, or personal fulfillment; the way to get to heaven. Those blessings (and many more) are aspects of every true gospel-believer’s birthright, of course. But they are not the point or the main objective of the message. The gospel is about God and His eternal glory. That is where it starts, and that is where it takes us in the end. Preached rightly, the gospel convicts and humbles every human heart. It underscores the exceeding sinfulness of our sin. It rebukes even our most laudable works of righteousness. The gospel is simple enough for a child to grasp, but its truths are inexhaustible. “In short, the gospel is the best of all good news and the most important message anyone has ever proclaimed. Paul Washer strikes all the right notes in this powerful, biblical study.†— John MacArthur, pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and author of The Gospel According to Jesus