The Gospel You’ve Never Heard: What a Protestant Bible written by Jews says about God’s work through Christ (A book for those in the church and those offended by it), by David I. Rudel

who really goes to hell book reviewWell, it finally happened. I signed up with Viral Ooze to receive books to review, the deal being I have to post a review (good, bad, or indifferent), but I get the book for free. Which is very cool, except when I have to write a bad review. I hate writing unfavorable reviews. And I can’t

This book, Who Really Goes to Hell? – The Gospel You’ve Never Heard: What a Protestant Bible written by Jews says about God’s work through Christ (A book for those in the church and those offended by it), is brilliantly bad. Ruder, a mathematician who publishes books on chess, is obviously very bright. And he is quite good at pointing out problems in much of evangelical theology. He’s not nearly so good at solving those problem — or realizing that he’s not the first to have walked these paths.

And he’s just not a very good writer. He’s not a terrible writer, but he struggles to clearly explain his solutions. He lays out his criticisms well enough, but the reader doesn’t easily follow him to his conclusion — if he ever gets to a conclusion. In fact, I was so frustrated, I skipped to the end, figuring that if I knew what his ultimate point is, I could better understand why he argues as he does.

Here’s his summary (p. 167) —

In Christ, God replays the Exodus story.

Before the Exodus, God shows power by the plagues visited on Egypt. In Jesus’ time God shows power by the resurrection of Christ. In the Exodus story, after the Israelites wandered for 50 days, God inaugerates a covenant with them, gives them requirements, and directs them to buid a tabernacle so the Almighty can dwell within their midst. In the apostles’ time, after the same 50 days, God gives the Holy Spirit, the sign of the new covenant, which itself instructs us in God’s requirements. Jesus’ blood acts to purify and strengthen our spirits so that the Holy Spirit can dwell in us, the temples of the new covenant, just as the Spirit dwelt in the tabernacle (the portable version of the temple) the Jews carried around in the desert.

Yes. He’s spot on. And he’s to be commended for his repeated emphasis on the role of the Spirit in the lives of Christians and for seeking to better ground evangelical Christianity in the Law and the Prophets. Excellent.

He ends, however, by saying,

Jesus’ merit saved the world from destruction, and the same merit allows Him to pray as High Priest for stumbling believers. His sacrificial death cleansed the temple of the new covenant and also cleansed the whole world so that any may enter that temple and receive this Holy Spirit, the seal of the new covenant.

This paradigm I suggest makes sense of passages that refer to the reconciling of the whole world, including all things in earth and in heaven. It also explains verses like 1st Timothy  4:10 more adequately than the modern gospel.

(both italics and bold in original). He makes several excellent points, only to leap to the conclusion that unbelievers are saved. Indeed, on page 175, he says,

The Bible proclaims the entire world and all people have been saved through Christ. If salvation is derived from forgiveness of individuals’ sins, such would imply that all have been forgiven of their sins, not just those who believe in Christ.

And on page 186 he says,

Judgment is seen as an evaluation of disposition with the totality of one’s actions, words, and thoughts considered. Believers are not dealt with any differently than non-believers.

So he’s either a universalist or a believer in works salvation. Or maybe he’s teaching the “available light” theory — but he doesn’t says anything about the available light point of view (God saves and damns based on the extent to which you’ve been taught his will), and so appears to be a universalist.

Many of the questions dealt with by Rudel are raised and much better dealt with by N. T. Wright in his series of books: The New Testament and the People of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God); Jesus and the Victory of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Volume 2); and The Resurrection of the Son of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God, Vol. 3).

Wright deals the importance of tying Christianity to its Jewish roots, with the alleged inconsistencies between the Gospels and Paul, and the emphasis so often found on judgment according to works — all issues raised by Rudel. Moreover, Wright agrees with Rudel that evangelical Christianity often ignores major themes of the New Testament, except Wright shows how they all fit together and build on each other. Rudel prefers to pull them apart and show contradictions that he concludes are resolved through his universalism.

But universalism has been taught, challenged, and defended by many people over the years — and Rudel never invites those who’ve gone before him into the conversation. Rather, he writes as though he’s the first person to ever venture down this path and so sees no need to confront the many arguments against that point of view.

In short, Rudel has studied, but not nearly enough to launch such a serious assault against orthodox Christianity. Don’t buy this book. Spend your money on Wright or James D. G. Dunn instead.

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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6 Responses to The Gospel You’ve Never Heard: What a Protestant Bible written by Jews says about God’s work through Christ (A book for those in the church and those offended by it), by David I. Rudel

  1. laymond says:

    " Don’t buy this book. Spend your money on Wright or James D. G. Dunn instead."

    Heck yeah, isolate your thoughts, then you have no problem, believing what you believe.

  2. Tim Archer says:

    I got an electronic version of the book for free. I thought maybe I was the only one who couldn't figure out this guy's organizational style. It was pretty easy to come up with things he doesn't believe, but I really had a hard time figuring out what he does believe.

    I've only gotten about halfway through, but I thought Rudel was teaching works-based salvation. I haven't picked up on the universalism yet. I'll admit to skimming through a bit, trying to find what he WAS saying, so I might have missed something. (one of the downsides of reading on an airplane)

    I would have a hard time recommending the book, not because of the ideas expressed but because of the awful organization.

    Grace and peace,
    Tim Archer

  3. Royce Ogle says:

    The idea that believers in Jesus and non-believers will share a common judgment is not uncommon in our fellowship.

    Those who appear at the great white throne judgment are different than those who appear at the judgment seat of Christ.

    Of course there is a very strong contengent of people in our coc churches who teach we are saved by works. Evidently, in their view, Christ's cross work, perfect life, and trumphant resurrection only affords those who are baptized in water a new opportunity to live good enough to finally be saved.

    In my view, those who teach that a Christian can be saved then lost because of some sins must also believe that in some way they are saved because they do not commit those sins. The reality is that when measured up to God's standard of righteousness and holiness not one human, Christian or not, measures up. All of us miss the mark, even after we have been immersed and have expressed faith in Jesus. God does not save "good" people, he saves "wicked" sinners.

    Royce

  4. jerry pinciati says:

    "Rudel prefers to pull them apart and show contradictions that he concludes are resolved through his universalism."

    Makes more since to me than the supposedly orthodox mumbojumbo.

  5. nick gill says:

    I've had this idea in the back of my head that the debt for all the sins of the world was indeed paid at Calvary. It hasn't led me to universalism, though, because I know that forgiveness doesn't ensure reconciliation. Maybe God has forgiven people's rebellion, but that doesn't magically force them to become friends. Love doesn't insist on its own way, and God's love will not force anyone into his camp.

  6. Jay Guin says:

    Laymond,

    If someone wants to buy a book on universalism, there are far better books to read. This one is so poorly written you can hardly tell what his point is. I'd suggest Perspectives on Election.

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