2016 by Jared C. Wilson
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Endorsements
Unparalleled will deepen your understanding and appreciation for the Christian faithso unique and distinctive.
Kyle Idleman , author of Not a Fan ; teaching pastor of Southeast Christian Church
Read this book to shore up your own convictions, but dont stop there. Share it with someone who needs some light cast on who Christians are and what we believe.
Russell Moore , president, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
Jared skillfully reminds us that, through Jesus, the Christian faith is sustained by grace and meets our needs at every level.
Caleb Kaltenbach , author of Messy Grace ; lead pastor of Discovery Church
Like handling a diamond, Jared turns to the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith, shining light on the edges that come together to make Christianity unique.
Trevin Wax, managing editor of The Gospel Project; author of Gospel- Centered Teaching , Clear Winter Nights , and Counterfeit Gospels
Unparalleled is a reliable guide of clear and artfully illustrated truths about Christianity.
Gloria Furman , cross-cultural worker; author of The Pastor s Wife and Missional Motherhood
Jared reveals through truth and grace that Christs way is like no other.
Vince Antonucci , author of God for the Rest of Us ; lead pastor of VERVE
With characteristic wit and style, Jared weaves in and out of perplexing doctrines such as the exclusivity of the gospel, the baffling nature of the Trinity, and the uniqueness of Christ.
Jonathan K. Dodson, lead pastor of City Life Church; author of The Unbelievable Gospel and Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection
Unapologetically, the gospel of Jesus is counter: counter-intuitive, counter-culture, counter-self, and even counter-religion. And yet, it is its counter-ness that causes the gospel to stand out as not only plausible but wonderfully compelling. Jared Wilson does a magnificent job showing us why.
Scott Sauls , senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee; author of Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides
Unparalleled demonstrates why Christianity is the true faith that has no real rivals and is the only hope for lost humans and our broken world.
Nathan A. Finn , dean of the School of Theology and Missions, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
Jared Wilsons Unparalleled is a stirring reminder of just how different Christianity is from any other faith. Readers will come away emboldened to witness for Christ and encouraged in the grace we have in him.
Thomas S. Kidd , Distinguished Professor of History, Baylor University
Jared Wilson successfully does what many apologetics and evangelistic books fail to accomplish: he speaks to the deeper existential crises and heart desires of the lost. He offers a guide to the Christian faith marked by courageous clarity and poignant storytelling.
Daniel Montgomery , lead pastor of Sojourn Community Church, Louisville, Kentucky; founder of the Sojourn Network; author of Faithmapping , PROOF , and Leadership Mosaic
Jared Wilson has written a compelling, attractive, and lively account of what makes Christianity so distinctive.
Sam Allberry , associate minister of St. Marys Church, Maidenhead, England; author of Is God Anti- Gay?
This book beautifully presents the distinctions of Christianity and implores followers of Jesus to stop making him look so normal. This is a book you should put in the hands of every Christian.
Daniel Darling , author of The Original Jesus ; vice president of communications, ERLC
Unparalleled is a gospel-drenched adventure into the uniqueness of God. Confessional and winsome, Jareds writing guides us from the foothills of faith to the Himalayas of holiness.
Christian George , assistant professor of historical theology and curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Seminary; author of Godology and Sex, Sushi, and Salvation
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Macy and Grace.
May you treasure the truths of Gods Word and experience his grace always. I have written this book praying for you most of all, that you would see the wonder and the beauty of your faith.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The Great Big Personal God
How the Christian God Is Not Like the Others
2. When 1 + 1 + 1 = 1
How the Reality of the Trinity Answers Deep Human Longing
3. Sacred Mirrors
How the Christian View of Humanity Is the Most Optimistic
4. Broken Mirrors
How the Christian View of Humanity Is the Most Realistic
5. Not Just a Good Teacher
How Jesus Claimed to Be God
How Jesus Triumphed over Evil and Injustice
7. You Cant Keep a God-Man Down
How Jesus Defeated Death
8. The Most Incredible Idea in the History of the Universe
How the Christian View of Salvation Is Unique and Incomparable
9. Have News, Will Travel
How Christian Mission Is Compelling and Contagious
10. Its the End of the World As We Know It, and We Feel Fine
How the Christian View of the End Is Just the Beginning
Conclusion
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
Acknowledgments
Insights and inspiration from many people have served the writing of this book, but I am compelled to mention at least a few. Chapter 1, the trickiest chapter to write in many ways, would not have developed without many wonderful conversations with my friend Christian George, the curator of Midwestern Seminarys Spurgeon Library. Thank you for your wisdom and encouragement, friend.
This work also leans heavily on the thoughts of great men like Ray Ortlund, Tim Keller, Martin Luther, and C. S. Lewis. Pastor Erik Raymond unlocked a beautiful truth about Romans 3:26 that helped me immensely. I am also very grateful for the field of my former ministry, Middletown Springs Community Church in Vermontand the beautiful people of New England in generalfor providing the space and opportunity to see what the message of Jesus might do in places where it seems so foreign and strange to so many.
My agent, Don Gates, was a valuable coach throughout the composition of the book. The kind folks at Baker Books, including my editor Brian Thomasson, have been enthusiastic cheerleaders of this project from start to finish. But mostly I must thank Becky, who is my best friend and a greater partner in the adventure of grace than I could have dreamed.