Proclaimer Blog
Discover – Rediscovering Joy [Tim Chester]
This short book provides a clear and engaging exposition of Galatians by drawing parallels with The Reformers who stood against the falsehood of legalistic religion and for the return to the gospel of God; Righteousness by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
The title of the book reflects the goal of the writer – Rediscovering Joy. This thread is shown to run through Galatians and The Reformation; True freedom and joy found in the true gospel and not in the law or the flesh. Tim Chester helpfully shows that the joyless Christian is someone who has shifted away from the one true gospel. He does this by taking the reader on a walk of rediscovering joy in: God’s word, God’s approval, God’s people, God’s love and God’s will.
By expounding Galatians, and illustrating links with the Reformation, Chester specifically applies these ‘joy truths’ to Christians today. The structure of the book is methodical, clear and comprehensive. Each section-end includes Reflection questions which moves the application from ‘others’ to ‘self’ and specifically addresses the heart.
For someone who is neither a historian nor an academic, Chester makes deep theological truths and Reformation history amazingly accessible and relevant. There are a lot of threads to tie together, so I had to read all the way to the end before I fully appreciated all the links with joy. However, read alongside Galatians, the timeless and joyful message of the gospel is shown to be truly reforming – not only in the past but also in the present. A recommended read for any Christian but particularly those who have lost sight of joy or are burdened by the struggle of the Christian life.