Worthy by Sinclair B. Ferguson

Worthy: Living in Light of the Gospel
by Sinclair B. Ferguson

ISBN-13: 9781433583179
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Crossway
Released: May 3, 2023

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
While Jesus offers forgiveness for believers who sin, Scripture makes it clear that Christians are to pursue obedience and holiness. So what does it mean to walk in a manner that’s “worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27), and how should that look in the life of a Christ follower?

In this short, accessible guide, theologian Sinclair Ferguson explains the importance of living worthy of the gospel, why the principle is often forgotten, and how it’s cultivated. Clarifying the difference between biblical obedience and legalism, Ferguson exhorts believers to pursue Christlikeness, offering practical examples from Scripture.


My Review:
Worthy talked about how we live in response to the good news of the gospel. From page 3, "So the gospel teaches us we are unworthy. We are saved by grace, not by worth. Yet Paul prioritized our responsibility to live in a worthy manner" (page 3).

The author started by explaining why this doesn't mean legalism and that the original word translated "worthy" in Phil. 1:27 means "in keeping with." "Such a life takes on a character that reflects the character of the Lord Jesus Christ" (page 8). And "...knowing Christ as Savior and knowing him as Lord can never be separated; nor can justification and sanctification" (page 7). He talked about how people in the USA hear his Scottish accent and know he's not from around here. Likewise, "...their real citizenship was in the kingdom of God; they should live that out....and if they did, people...would find themselves asking: 'Where are you really from? There's something about you...'" (page 13).

He also looked at Greek grammar and showed how we often get the fact and the command backwards. In the Bible, we're given a fact and the command flows from that fact. Not 'do your best' (command) leading to 'then God will save you' (fact) but the fact that "'Christ died for our sins' (1 Cor. 15:3), leads to the command, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved' (Acts 16.31)" from page 25. Anyway, I found that part very interesting and not difficult to follow, though it's hard to summarize. Overall, I found it very easy to follow the points that the author was making, and it's in a conversational tone. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in pursuing Christlikeness.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.