Recovering Redemption, by Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer

Chandler and Michael Snetzer give us a good reminder of what Redemption is and what it means for us as Christians to understand redemption and to work hard at changing our sinful ways. The sub-title of the book, "A Gospel Saturated Perspective on How to Change," sums up the main thesis of what they are writing about. As a new creation in Christ we need to leave the old behind and press forward to the new!

What that means is that our sin nature has been put to death on the cross by Christ's sacrifice and we are washed in His blood, sanctified and renewed and have a new life ahead of us. When you read through the four Gospel's you find that Jesus went about healing and "absolving" people of their sin. Whenever he had an encounter with a sinful person he would talk, work a miracle of "redemption" and then tell the person to "go and sin no more!" That is easier said than done, but that is the perspective that we each should have.

As people who have been redeemed by the Blood of Christ we should make a 180 degree turn in our lives and strive to no longer be controlled by a mind of sinful intent but instead "take captive the mind" and start a new mindset that will set us on the path of walking with God through the rest of our lives.

It sounds simple but it is not! It is a difficult life. But as Chandler points out we have the power within us to make that change and to walk a life that is more pure and honoring to God.

One great quote from the text that I will share is this, "you'll never cure the disease you're suffering from by doing X'rays on other people." This goes along with Jesus words to us in Matthew that we should "take the log out of our own eye before trying to remove the speck from our friends eye."

If we could learn to look at ourselves and put into practice 2 Corinthians 10:5 and, "take captive our thoughts," and then further work out Romans 12:2, being "transformed by the renewal of our mind," then we would have a life that is changing and honoring to God.

The material in this book is not groundbreaking work, nor is it truth's that we have not heard before, but it is a good reminder of the lessons that we need to learn and take hold of to help renew and transform our minds the way that God wants us to.

Enjoy!