Top 6 Books on the Person and Glory of Jesus Christ

There are, of course, a number of useful treatments of the subject that do so technically.   I have been helped, for example, Mark Jones' Knowing Christ and B.B. Warfield's The Emotional Life of our Lord.   But there are other books that offer something more.   

My aim for each section is to limit myself to just 6 books.  So here are not necessarily the six most comprehensive or most technical books on the subject, but the six which have shown me most of Christ.   Here, then, are 6 recommendations on the very best of themes:

1. Looking Unto Jesus by Isaac Ambrose - When I visited Mr. Sprinkle's warehouse a few years ago I asked him for a recommendation.  I asked, "if I could buy just one book of all the books you have published which would say it should be?"  Mr.  Sprinkle immediately pulled this one off the shelf.  [His second choice was the Christian's Daily Walk by Henry Scudder which is one of my favourites on the subject of sanctification]  Ambrose has done a masterful job of taking the reader through the life of Christ and dealing with who He is and then how we should respond.  Few books are so experimental, practical and worshipful.   Few books are so thorough.  I love this book and plan to return to it often.  It is one that can be read again and again.

2. The Fountain of Life Opened by John Flavel (found in volume 1 of his works).  I cannot say enough about this book. It was such a joy to read.  Few books have had the impact on my life that this one has.  It is simply wonderful.

3. The Glory of Christ by John Owen (found in volume 1 of his works).  This was one of 2 books that sat always on M'Cheyne's bed stand.  The other was Rutherford's Letters (see below).  It isn't included in my desert island top 5 simply because there were so many others to choose from.  Nevertheless, it is a beautiful (even thrilling) treatment of our Saviour that deserves to be read by every Christian.  

4. Christ on the Cross by John Stevenson.  This rare book is unusually precious.  If you can find a copy grab it quickly.

5. The Heart of Christ in Heaven Towards Sinners on Earth by Thomas Goodwin.  

6. Rock of our Salvation by William Plumer.  This one is the easiest to read.  It is simple but edifying.

One further recommendation: Though it isn't a book that properly belongs in this category, The Letters of Samuel Rutherford (unabridged) is a book that is full of Jesus.  Charles Spurgeon said it was the closest thing to inspired writing after Scripture.  I am inclined to agree.  

Other book lists:

  • For books to read on the Lord's Day go here.
  • For books on revival go here.     
  • For books for discouraged believers go here. 
  • For books on holiness go here.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Church of God & Ray Tinsman

  I have been asked repeatedly about our connection with the Church of God (COG) in Aylmer.  When the questions first started to come I had never spoken to Henry Hildebrandt and knew very little about his church.  In the weeks and months that followed I spoke with Henry on separate occasions and in person. At that initial meeting with Henry I asked him a series of pointed questions.  I was concerned.  I was glad his church was open, but I had heard rumors of heresy and cultish behaviour and wanted to hear it from him.  Ordinarily I might have dismissed a group like his outright. But the COG Aylmer was one of the very few churches in Ontario that remained open through the lockdowns, and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. So, I asked him about his view of Scripture, his view of salvation, his understanding of the person and work of Christ and so on.  And I came away mostly satisfied.  There were clear differences between us, but on th...
Read more

A retraction

Over the course of the last year, I have had plenty of time to privately reflect on what transpired through 2020 and 2021, and I have concluded that on some points I was in the wrong.  I have decided to address those things here.  Some may disagree with what I have concluded, but I write here first and last for Him. First, I believe I was sometimes overly harsh and severe in my writing.  I have since removed several blog posts, which I now believe lacked grace and char ity.  I still believe the churches should have remained open through the lockdowns, but I wish I had written with a better understanding of my own heart and a more charitable view of my brothers in Christ.  I was appalled by what I saw in those days, but in my zeal to speak the truth I sometimes lacked compassion and grace.  Second, when I was wronged by colleagues in the ministry I had a choice.  I could have covered what I believed to be sin, but I chose instead to expose it to the pub...
Read more

On Baptism

Image
[Edited May 2024] For 12 years I enthusiastically subscribed to the Westminster standards.  I signed my copy of the Solemn League and Covenant , I taught my children the catechisms, and I prayed earnestly that they would grow up to subscribe in full to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF).  For much of that time I was convinced that given enough time I could persuade any Baptist of the error of his ways.  I even went so far as to tell some Baptists brothers that withholding baptism from their children was sinful.  I grieved when Presbyterians became Baptist; and if you had told me of a man who had gone from being a Baptist to a Presbyterian only to become Baptist again I would have felt embarrassment for him.  Sounds more like a ship “tossed to and fro” (Ephesians 4:14) than a man.  But here I am writing to say that I am that man.  Even four months ago I was certain I would always be Presbyterian.  But after a period of prayer and intense s...
Read more