2023 Book 1: A More Christlike God

Book 1 for 2023 ✅

I read A More Christlike God by Bradley Jersak back in 2015 when it came out. Since then, Jersak has become one of the most influential theologians in my life, helping me make sense of the atonement, understand Scripture, as well pushing me over to edge to finally admit that I was a Christian universalist.

A More Christlike God is a book that seriously grapples with the fact that God is like Jesus, God has always been like Jesus, we didn't always know that, and know we do. Knowing that, should dramatically affect how we read the Hebrew Bible, how we understand what happened on the cross, and how to embrace non-violence.

If I were reviewing this critically, I would say the book needed some more organization and a clearer structure. But honestly, this book holds a special place in my heart.

Key Quotes:

"Jesus does not come to announce the condemnation of the Father, nor even to save us from the condemnation of the Father, but rather to reveal the love of the Father for those already perishing and suffering condemnation."

"God didn't evolve; our conception of him did."

"Jesus is not just a filter through which God is seen—Jesus is that God. God is, was and always will be exactly like Jesus."

"Jesus' humility, meekness and servant heart were never a departure from God's glory and power, but actually define it and demonstrate it."