The World-Tilting Gospel: Embracing a Biblical Worldview and Hanging on Tight

Written by Dan Phillips Reviewed By Thomas R. Schreiner

Countless popular books have been written on the Christian life. Unfortunately, many of them are unhelpful, for they are often flawed both exegetically and theologically. Dan Phillips has written a very accessible and clear primer in which he explains the gospel and the nature of the Christian life. The vivid and clear style with which the book is written makes it ideal to give to young Christians. And many older Christians who are confused about the gospel and the Christian life will find it helpful as well.

The book consists of four main sections. In section one Phillips lays out the problem with human beings. God is the center of the story as the creator, but Adam and Eve wanted to be the center of the story; hence, they sinned. Phillips unpacks the devastating consequences of sin for human beings and its drastic nature. Human beings are not just spiritually sick but dead in trespasses and sins. In the second section, Phillips turns his attention to God's plan to save human beings. God is both the sovereign creator and the redeemer. The God-centered message of the scriptures comes to the forefront, especially when we consider God's holiness, love, and wisdom. Human beings are saved through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and Phillips unpacks the crucial and foundational importance of Jesus's substitutionary death. Nor is the resurrection ignored, for the author recognizes that salvation comes through both the cross and resurrection. In the cross and resurrection of Jesus, the holiness, love, and wisdom of God are manifested.

The third section examines how we become part of the people of God. Both God's work and the response of human beings are included here. Human beings are summoned to repent and believe. Phillips rightly emphasizes that both faith and repentance grip the whole person. Faith and repentance are not confined to the intellect and hence must not be confused with the error of “cheap grace.” At the same time, the author reminds us that our new life as Christians is a miracle. We are born from above, and hence salvation is a sovereign work of God.

In the final section of the book, Phillips considers the Christian life. Here he criticizes the “free grace” view, which denies the need for any significant change in the life of believers. He also takes on what is often called victorious Christian living or Keswick spirituality where one “lets go and lets God.” The Christian life is a daily battle, and believers yield themselves to the Holy Spirit as they live their lives.

My review does not communicate the freshness and vitality that characterizes the book, which makes it a helpful work to give to others. Many in our culture do not read, and we need books like this that communicate clearly and simply.

One of the book's strengths is that it begins with the narrative of Scripture. Still, while no book can do everything, it would have been helpful to relate the biblical story more specifically to the theme of the kingdom in Jesus' ministry. Many are asking how the kingdom relates to the story, and Phillips does not pursue this theme. Furthermore, a section on the church would be a helpful addition. Many believers in our culture have an individualistic and privatistic view of the Christian life. Nevertheless, we can be thankful for what Phillips has accomplished in this work. He has written a book that is accessible, theological, and practical. That is no mean feat, and for that we should be grateful.


Thomas R. Schreiner

Tom Schreiner is James Buchanan Harrison professor of New Testament interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

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