It’s short and sweet. It is an easy read. It is also one of the best books you will read this year. William Farley’s Hidden in the Gospel: Truths You Forget to Tell Yourself Every Day is a treasure trove filled with timeless principles that will enrich your Christian life.
Farley builds upon the dictum popularized by Jerry Bridges: “Preach the gospel to yourself.” The author takes readers on a journey they should never forget.
The gospel of course is spelled out in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Paul says,
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures …”
William Farley presents the gospel in a series of eight movements which include:
- Election
- Incarnation
- Active Obedience
- Penal Substitutionary Atonement
- Resurrection
- Ascension
- Return and Final Judgment
- New Creation and Consummation
Each of these eight ingredients which make up the gospel are presented with biblical support and appropriate illustrations. Farley is a master teacher who not only understands the redemptive plot line; he communicates the gospel with precision and skill.
After Pastor Farley unpacks each doctrinal reality, he helps readers preach the given gospel truth to themselves. He presents the notion of preaching the gospel to oneself as an essential aspect of the Christian life:
“It is key to robust spiritual experience. We can either listen to ourselves – our fears, doubts, insecurities, hurts, and failures – or we can preach to ourselves.”
Hidden in the Gospel is another home run by William Farley. This author fails to disappoint. He is locked and loaded onto the gospel message. As a reader, you will no doubt walk away from reading his book a transformed person.
5 stars
Veritas et Lux 