Update: Paul’s New Book

For the past year and a half I have been writing a book on the gospel of Jesus. I’m happy to announce – it is finished!

Great! What’s the new book called?

Letters from Jesus: Finding Good News in Christ’s Letters to the Churches.

Who picked the name?

You did. Probably. A few weeks ago I ran a poll on Facebook and the majority of voters chose this title over The Gospel in Seven Letters. Why? Because Letters from Jesus “sounds more personal and intimate,” and this is exactly the vibe I’m trying to convey. You’ve got mail. From Jesus!

What’s the book about?

It’s about the astonishing good news of grace found in Christ’s letters…

Wait, what? Jesus wrote letters?!

Yes. They’re at the back of your Bible in the Book of Revelation.

Oh those letters. They’re strange. I don’t understand them.

The letters from Jesus to the seven churches may be the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible. Many people dismiss them as too hard, too strange, or too scary. “Did Jesus really say that?” Which is a shame, because they are letters from Jesus and they are the only letters we have.

Why did you write a book about these letters?

Because nearly every book I have read and every sermon I have heard on these letters preaches condemnation and mixture. They say things like, “Jesus loves you, but sometimes he doesn’t ,” “If he punishes us, it’s for our own good,” and “If he threatens you, it’s because he cares.” It’s nauseating stuff.

I have a different take on the letters from Jesus. Contrary to what you may have heard, I believe they are good news from start to finish. They are seven unqualified revelations of the extreme goodness and radical favor of God.

Who do you think you are to write such a book? Are you an archeologist or historian?

No, but I know the One who wrote the letters, and I know Jesus wouldn’t say half the stuff that has been attributed to him.

If you know that Jesus loves you but you’re scared of his letters, something doesn’t add up. Could it be that you’re reading his letters wrong? Could it be that the sweet words of our Savior have been tarnished by tradition and ruined by religion?

What makes you the person to write this book?

Escape to Reality came to life because of an article I wrote in 2010 about Christ’s letter to the lukewarm Laodiceans. That article was the spark that lit the fire.

Think about that for a moment: If you came to grace because of this website or one of my books, your journey can be traced back to that Laodicean letter. For me, that letter is a huge milestone in my walk.

So the book is a collection of old articles?

No. It’s 100% original. It covers every statement and every verse in each of the seven letters, including the tricky ones.

For the past ten years or so, I have been captivated by a question: how do we read the Revelation letters through the lens of grace? This book, Letters from Jesus, is my answer to that question.

Why should I read this book?

Because they are letters. From Jesus! I know, right? How often do you get mail from the Son of God?

These are ancient letters. Do they have any relevance for me today?

Christ’s words are for all of us. As we unpack his letters we find answers to age-old questions: What does God expect from me? Is he angry at my fears and failings? How do I hear what the Spirit is saying? How do I overcome life’s trials? What makes me worthy to walk with the Lord? Am I lukewarm? Does God punish me when I sin? If I stumble, will Jesus erase my name from his book? And many more.

In this book I tackle more than 200 questions about life, the letters, and everything.

Sounds great! Can I see an extract?

You sure can. I’ll include an extract in next week’s post. (If you are a Patron, you would have seen extracts from the book for the past year or so. Hint, hint. Just sayin’.)

When can I get the book?

Letters from Jesus will come out in an ebook format in a few weeks. The paperback will come out Easter next year.

Watch this space for announcements.

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Can’t wait to see the book? Check out all the excerpts and draft chapters available now on E2R’s Patreon page.