Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel By Michael P. V. Barrett

Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel 

By Michael P. V. Barrett

Amazon's Overview:

Nothing is more basic to spiritual life and growth than understanding and enjoying the fundamental truths of the gospel of saving grace that center directly and uniquely in Jesus Christ. This book is a back-to-basics approach to Christian living. For Christians, everything—both their eternal destiny and their earthly journey—depends on what they think of Christ. The Bible defines from different perspectives what it means to be saved so that we can put it all together to see how great salvation we really have. Complete in Him examines essential and inseparable elements of the gospel in order to show that all of salvation relates to and flows from the Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ is everything. Salvation in Christ is complete, and we are complete in Him.

A review by Christ Anderson is available here.

Comments by Andy Naselli are also available here.

For those wanting it electronically, is also available as part of the www.logos.com Michael Barrett collection. 

The first edition was a hardback published in 2000. The new version (2017) pictured above is a paperback version and includes chapter by chapter study questions. I would suggest these study questions are an excellent edition especially when working through the book with family or a local church class. I regularly try to read through this text once each year. It is also on all my kids required reading list. I personally have the book as both hardback and paperback. You can preview sample pages on Amazon.com. I am listing the table of contents below:

1. Condemnation: The Need of the Gospel

2. Christ: The Essence of the Gospel

3. Conversion: The Response of the Gospel

4. Regeneration: New Life in the Gospel

5. Union with Christ: The Security of the Gospel

6. Justification: The Legality of the Gospel

7. Reconciliation: The Peace of the Gospel

8. Adoption: The Privileges of the Gospel

9. Sanctification: The Effect of the Gospel

10. Glorification: The End of the Gospel

11. Assurance: The Enjoyment of the Gospel 

My favorite quote from the book, "right thinking about the gospel produces right living in the gospel."

Read. Enjoy. 

Can an overemphasis on Social Justice Issues Rob us Of Gospel-Centered Preaching?

Can an overemphasis on Social Justice Issues Rob us Of 

Gospel-Centered Biblical Preaching?

(Or is it possible that this is just another either/or fallacy).

I would suggest in the bigger picture of Christianity, local churches, denominations, and mission boards have both formed and divided over these issues.  I simple look at church history proves this point.  To deny denominations have split of slavery or the ordination of women would a denial of American history.  For evidence, compare the Southern Baptist Convention to the Northern Baptist Convention.  Or compare the Southern Baptist Convention to the Cooperative Baptist Convention.  All Baptists, have dramatically different views in regard to social justice issues (and I would suggest even in the content of the gospel).  This latter part is of greater (and eternal) concern.  

It would be rather naive to claim there is a simple answer to this dilemma.  It would be equally improper to claim we have a more robust and mature Christianity simply because our own particular church(s) claim(s) to be "balanced" on this issue.  No doubt, the balanced position finds a way to paint everyone else as an extreme.  Anyway on to our Biblical text.

For this idea (and certainly not the only location), I'll turn to Luke 10:38-42.  I came across this text yet again in my M'Cheyne Bible reading plan (which hits this verse twice each calendar year and which I highly recommend):

"38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

This may be a huge "misapplication" but many study notes say otherwise.  Is it possible to get so caught up in serving and focusing on social justice issues that the gospel gets second place?  Is it possible to think you are doing all sorts of things with the motive of "love" that gospel preaching and evangelism never actually happens?  Do we get so caught up in "doing" that we start redefining key doctrinal terms such as: mercy, grace, or justification?

Is it possible to make this error in a food pantry?  A soup kitchen? Homeless shelter?  These ideas may be good in an of themselves but if the gospel is never preached, then what?  Well fed, well rested unbelievers.  Is there more that local churches could do to reach out to a dying world around them?  Yes, of course (its not the governments job).  

What then is evangelism?  What is an actual gospel presentation?  Is it possible that the above mentioned social justice issues can be defended more with Biblical pragmatism when mixed with the gospel?  Foreign mission?  Build me a well and I listen to your story.  Give me food and I'll believe in your God.  I don't say these as straw men.  This is real-world modern day mission board philosophy.  Put simply: if it works, then it must be okay if allows for a gospel presentation.  As to when in church history this means of evangelism has become acceptable is another question you must answer. 

The study notes go straight to the point, "Martha's problem was not that she was serving: it was that she was distracted by 'much serving' (v. 40).  It is not only bad things that keep us from true communion with Christ; it is often an excessive preoccupation, anxiety, and distraction with good things" (The Reformation Heritage Study Bible, p. 1476).

On the other hand, is possible that Martha was not focused on worship but too fixated on the details, "Martha was evidently fussing about with details that were unnecessarily elaborate" (The MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1502).


Ryrie as well seems to catch this misplaced emphasis, "One simple dish for the meal is all that is necessary, rather than the elaborate preparations Martha had made" (Ryrie Study Bible, p. 1644).


We could add plenty more but as you can see we can get so preoccupied with service (perhaps even in the name of being self-less or hospitable), that we can completely miss the bigger picture.  Here I would suggest we can miss correct worship practices or even worse completely skew a right presentation of the gospel message.  So is this an either/or fallacy?  They certainly are not diametrically opposed to each other.  But it seems clear we can get caught up in service (or doing things in the name of "ministry") that the gospel message never actually happens.


Thoughts of course.  Comments encouraged (as always).

Set Apart: The Nature and Importance of Biblical Separation

This is the second and updated edition of the original titled "The Dividing Line: Understanding and Applying Biblical Separation."  The original was of great use to me and I'm sure this new updated edition will be valuable for God's people in years to come.  This new edition has new chapters and overviews of new movements in our modern evangelical landscape.

With so many competing organizations maintaining their own sector of the theological landscape any tool to help in this area is of great value.  Consider your own responses to the following organizations:

T4G, The Gospel Coalition, Acts 29, New Calvinism, ETS, Sovereign Grace, Emerging/Emergent Church(es), etc....

What Biblical directives and/or principles do you actually think and apply when addressing this groups?  It matters. 

The following is a commercial for the text,

Set Apart: The Nature and Importance of Biblical Separation lays out with clarity and brevity what separation is, how it is rooted in the Scripture, and why it is so important to a balanced Christian life. This doctrine has long been taught and practiced by many but is also widely ignored and frequently misunderstood by Christians.

True biblical separation is manifested in love—a love for God that rejects worldly values, a love for the church that protects its sheep from false teachers, and a love for fellow Christians that is willing to endure hardness in order to allow others to recognize truth.

I've know the author for years.  I can speak directly to his godliness and fervency for the Lord.  

Read, Enjoy.  Comments encouraged.

The Historical Adam: If Adam is not Real then Neither are the Gospel nor Scriptural Authority even Necessary



The Historical Adam:  If He's not Real then Neither are the Gospel nor Scriptural Authority even Necessary

This is an inescapable reality which New  evangelicalism must avoid at all costs.  They will tell you its okay to believe in evolution just believe the gospel.  Its okay for Genesis to be a myth just believe the gospel.  Adam and Eve never existed but just believe the gospel.  Noticing a trend yet?  Plenary verbal inspiration is not needed just believe the gospel.  Liberals on the other hand will simply deny both.  No need for a literal Adam, creation, or even the gospel.  It would probably shock you if I listed by name the new evangelical authors, seminaries, (and even preachers) who don't believe in a literal historical man named Adam.

Next question, who then decides what these non-issues are?  Second, once you compile the long list of ecclesiastical-determined secondary issues, it makes it that much easier to say only the gospel matters.  See how the logic flows.  This has been played out through history.  Let's be clear that to deny certain doctrines is not necessarily a salvation issue however, it present a very inconsistent position.  Not only this but it presents a stumbling block to those who are trying to teach the truth concerning a literal Adam and a six-day creation.

There are groups, very large groups to be fair, which want to fellowship (or for that matter extend fellowship) to anyone who will believe the limited gospel content alone.  This makes for the perfect formula to say the other issues don't matter or are of secondary importance.  Again does church history agree with this scenario?  What happens then when actual fundamental doctrines are rejected but they still believe this gospel content?  Seem far fetched?  Trinity? Incarnation? Vicarious Atonement? Plenary Verbal inspiration?  Young-earth Creationism?  It's very easy and convenient to make something secondary if the gospel become the only allowable priority.  Back to the discussion of a literal and historical person named Adam.    

Let's consider a sampling of Biblical texts connecting the salvation found in the gospel of Christ's death, burial, and bodily resurrection (as revealed in the scriptures) in close context with a literal person named Adam.  We'll consider Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15, and 1 Timothy 2.  All three of these texts refer to the Historical person named Adam.

Romans 5:14-19, "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."
(v. 17) "For if by one man's offence"
(v. 18) "Therefore as by the offence of one"
(v. 19) "For as by one man's disobedience"

Paul's very argument in relation to salvation is based upon the reality of two federal heads (not saying everyone would agree with this understanding).  The introduction of sin into the world is through a literal historical person named Adam.  It is through his headship that all humanity sinned.  Note the parallel with Christ as head over another group of individuals.  If the parallel is lost than the Christian gospel is affected. We can't just throw this aside because some in liberal and new evangelical circles don't want to believe the scriptures.  Worse case when "conservative" evangelicals won't even acknowledge there is a problem here.  

First Corinthians 15:45-47, "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven."

Please note that Jesus Christ (the God-man, 2nd person of the Trinity), is identified as the "last Adam."  Obviously Paul had to base this title and reference based on an original person.  He also identifies the man Adam as "the first man Adam" and later as "the first man."  So whatever parallel or association Paul is making between Jesus and Adam, it is lost if there was no historical person called Adam.

1 Timothy 2: 12-13, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."

Again by the the same author a third time.  It should be clear that Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit believed in an original historical person Adam.  This reference I'm sure is every egalitarians favor memory verse.  Apart from how it is used and abused by liberals and feminists, the fact remains Paul's argument is based on the original creation order.  A literal Adam (male gender) was born (created) before a literal Eve (gender female).  He bases his argument on the literal and historical existence of these two individuals.  It is not based on a local Ephesian, Corinthian, or Roman context but straight back to a literal creation with a historical man named Adam.

In conclusion, this issue is simple.  Evolutionary ideas have caused liberal and new evangelical scholars to deny the historical reliability and authority of scripture.  They deny a literal creation and they deny a first literal and historical man named Adam.  This not an issue of secondary importance.  You believe scripture or you don't or you try to make it more academically, socially or culturally acceptable.  Another danger emerges when Bible-believing folks read the books and articles by these men and are influenced and drawn into their pragmatic views.

This won't solve all the problems.  But at least I can help provide a banner of warning to those concerned about these matters.  Comments again encouraged. 



Book Review: Antinomianism: Reformed Theology's Unwelcome Guest? (Incomplete)

Antinomianism: Reformed Theology's Unwelcome Guest?
By. Mark Jones (P&R, 2013)

Table of Contents

Ch. 1 Lessons from History
Ch. 2 The imitation of Christ
Ch. 3 The Law
Ch. 4 The Law and the Gospel
Ch. 5 Good Works and Rewards
Ch. 6 Amor, Amor
Ch. 7 Assurance
Ch. 8 Rhetoric
Ch. 9 Toward a Definition and a Solution

(Review is incomplete--forthcoming)