Reading good books can change your approach to Christianity and life

It is hard to estimate the power of the printed page. It may be the power of the electronic page also today, but the "power of the pen" or key board cannot always be measured or over-estimated. God has revealed himself to humanity through his Creation, the rainbow in the sky, the many languages of men which testify of God's miracle at the Tower of Babel and of course ... the Holy Scriptures. In many ways, outside of the coming of Jesus Christ, who is God's only begotten Son, the ways of God are preserved for us through the living word of God which abides for ever (1 Peter 1:23).

However, we are not left to figure things out for ourselves with approximately 750,000 words, which are found in the English Bible. We must recognise that we have 2000 years of church history and teaching, to draw on rich historical and theological resources. Reading the right books can send us on a rich doctrinal trajectory, one which can be life-changing. Perhaps one of the biggest heresies is when you think that you have got it all or that there is little spiritual knowledge that you have not been exposed to.

Let put a spiritual challenge before you. I am going to recommend five Christian books for you to read. I challenge you to read at least two on the list and I would be very surpassed if you remain in the same spiritual condition. Here are five books to begin with.

1. The Sovereignty of God by Arthur Pink
2. The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
3. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
4. Romans Chapter 9 Martyn Lloyd-Jones
5. A Hole in our Holiness by Kevin deYoung

I wanted to also commend John Owen on "The Holy Spirit" because so many people misunderstand altogether the work of the Holy Spirit and confuse things with their own sensual emotions. However, these five books are enough. I hope they can be a blessing to your soul in order to help you to better understand the treasures of God's word, ones that are to be found in Holy Scripture.

Can you remember some of the phrases of the Lord Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world?

Mark 12:24 "Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?".
Luke 24:27 "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself".
Luke 24:45 "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures".