Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life

Really big ideas, but very accessible

Basics for Believers: The Core of the Christian Faith and Life (A Study of Philippians) was first published in 1996 (this is a re-print, I love the simplicity of the cover). This short book is four messages D.A. Carson delivered during Holy Week 1994 at the “Word Alive” conference. D.A. Carson has become one of my favorites since I read/listened to Resurrection Life in a World of Suffering: 1 Peter (the book was a manuscript of The Gospel Coalition’s Women’s Conference a few years ago, you can find it on YouTube).This book is less than 200 pages long and only five chapters: Put the Gospel First (Philippians 1:1-26), Focus on the Cross (Philippians 1:27-2:18), Adopt Jesus’s Death as a Test of Your Outlook (Philippians 1:27-2:18), Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders (Philippians 2:19-3:21), and Never Give Up the Christian Walk (Philippians 4:1-23).The chapters go over thing such as: Putting the priorities of the gospel at the center of your relationships with believers and prayer life, putting the converts of the gospel at the center of your principled self-denial, imitate worthy Christian leaders who make much of the cross and whose spiritual life is growing and constantly focused on Jesus, and resolving to grow in the grace of Christian gratitude and courtesy.The beginning of each chapter quotes the Bible verses that will be discussed. Carson explains things in a way that makes sense for new believers, but his lessons always have a ton of depth for older believers. This book is excellent for an individual and group study (there aren’t discussion questions at the end of each chapter, or at the end of the book).I took some notes while reading so things would stick. Here are some things I wrote down. I hope it intrigues you enough to pick up this book!- Paul prays that the love of the Philippians “may abound more and more.” Growing love for God must be reflected in the love for other believers (1 John 5:1). He wrote “that your love may abound more and more *in knowledge of depth of insight*”. Paul wants them to enjoy insights into God’s word and ways to know how to live light of them, and prays that they will be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. By asking for gospel fruit in their lives, the ultimate purpose of these petitions is to bring glory to God who redeemed them.- We are called not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him. The call to suffer for the gospel is a gracious gift from God (Mark 8:34), we need to take up our crosses daily (Luke 9:23)… Die to self-interest for the sake of others.- Emulate worthy Christian leaders… Those who are interested in the well-being of others, not their own. Those who follow Jesus learn to cast self-interest, self-comfort, and self-focus aside.- Emulate those who have proved themselves in hardship… Epaphroditus was committed to helping Paul advance the gospel, and it almost cost him his life.- Emulate those who are continuing to grow spiritually, not those who are stagnating… Paul doesn’t want power to be powerful, but so he can be conformed to the will of God.I’m very much looking forward to reading Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation With the World: A Study of Matthew 5-10 next!*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When D.A. Carson had the opportunity to interview two well-known and highly influential American theologians, he went straight to the core of their long ministries with this question: “You have not succumbed to eccentricity in doctrine, nor to individualistic empire-building. In God’s good grace, what has been instrumental in preserving you in these areas?”Their reply came with passion: “How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing beside the cross?”When Jesus chose the humiliating path to the cross, He beat a clear trail for His followers. D.A. Carson issues a call to return to the cross as the main thing in our communication of the gospel. In our relationships, our prayer life, our career goals, and our personal choices, we demonstrate the depth of our commitment to the cross in a way that mere words cannot equal.Truth from Paul’s letter to the Philippians is an anchor to The Main Thing. Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life is Carson’s exposition of a well-loved epistle. Although Paul’s words have become the source for many a swoon-worthy Instagram post, they are a gritty call to fellowship in the gospel, where the focus is obedience, self-denial and a muscular commitment to the well-being of others.The Gospel is the Main ThingI am often convicted that my conversations and my hospitality look and sound pretty much the same as anyone else’s. While we gather around my dining room table for “fellowship,” we are most likely to be sharing stories about common interests and family news, and I wonder: Why does the topic of God’s glorious rescue plan rarely make it to the conversational flow? Why are we not inquiring of one another about the “good work” God is determined to accomplish in us?Carson states the goal:“The fellowship of the gospel, the partnership of the gospel, must be put at the center of our relationships with other believers.” (21)The Main Thing About the Gospel is the CrossBecause Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross,” the cross becomes not only a symbol of our following life. It becomes “the supreme standard of our behavior.” (51) Self-denial is not second nature, and it is one thing to say, “I’m willing to be a servant for Christ’s sake,” but quite another thing when someone actually treats us like a servant. Carson employs the word “slave” to describe this and clarifies the self-emptying behavior as Jesus “making himself a nobody” (56)–our greatest fear in this selfie culture!New believers will benefit from this primer for persistent progress in the faith, but seasoned followers of Christ will find their comfort zone invaded and their notions about Christian leadership and the faithful walk challenged and expanded. Paul’s message is unapologetic and his thinking about contentment, prayer, anxiety, rejoicing, and unity among believers ratchets up the “normal Christian life” to a standard that takes me back to the gospel as the only means by which this following life can be lived. Carson puts his finger on the soure of my dilemma: If I were living faithfully by the standard set forth in Philippians, the Gospel would quickly become the main thing for me as it was for Paul.Many thanks to BakerBooks for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.

An excellent commentary on Philippians. Very clear, concise and provides the information you need to understand the text well.