God without Religion: Can It Really Be This Simple?

Do you remember when you first believed? Everything was great, because you knew all your sins were wiped out. You had a new life ahead of you knowing that you were completely forgiven. Then some time passed, you made some mistakes, and now it seems like God's patience with you is running out. After all, he did so much for you, and you're failing to repay him. Wait just a minute here! Who told you that? Might I propose that it's the law of Moses- "religion"- telling you that? The law isn't just a set of rules, it's a whole mentality. If you believe in Jesus, you're not just released from the rules of the law, but you should also be released from the mentality that the law brought. You should now be serving God in the new WAY of the Spirit and not in the old WAY of the written code (Romans 7:6). The law isn't just something that screws up your chances of getting into heaven, it's the "ministry of condemnation" (2 Corinthians 3:9). Are you feeling condemnation? You may very well still be under its ministry. Do you think there's no way you can be under its ministry because you believe in Jesus? Let me ask you, what do you believe in Jesus FOR? If you only believe in Jesus for salvation, then all your faith does is get you to heaven. But if you believe in Jesus, and him alone, for retaining your connection with God, for removing your unhealthy fear of God and those nagging condemning feelings, and for displaying the very personality of God to the world- all of which he was sent to do- then maybe he'll start doing them! And the way you can let him is to read this book, because it will remove one of the biggest obstacles to you letting him, which is a law-based, "religious" mentality of, "I can't be pleasing to God until I do something first." It's time to give Jesus the trust he deserves, and you can't trust him fully while you're at the same time trusting in your performance (or lack of it). God intended us to live out of the security of knowing who we are in Christ, and in this book, Andrew Farley talks about some of the most critical Bible passages and issues dividing the body of Christ today which cause us to not rest in that security while at the same time making us focus on our individual denominations instead of on the body of Christ as a whole. Let's be honest, a lot of our anxiety might be coming from the Bible itself. The Bible itself, however, was never meant to bring you that anxiety, and so if the truth sets you free (John 8:32), and you're not being set free, maybe the interpretation of the Bible you have isn't the true one. Andrew skillfully treats such issues as baptism, the confession of sin, tithing, and predestination, and shows that if we're making bigger deals out of them than God intended them to be, prioritizing them over living a life of love towards others and being joyful always (1 Thessalonians 5:16), maybe our understanding of them isn't the one God wants us to have. Furthermore, if these things are dividing us, knowing that Jesus as our head intends that the body of Christ be held together and not divided (Ephesians 4:16), it probably means that the law of Moses is still dividing between "Jews" and "gentiles" among the body of Christ today. Obviously we won't all have the same opinions on theological issues, but the law as a mentality can still lead to exclusion rather than peaceably disagreeing. Andrew not only backs up his points with the Bible, he frames them with stories in his life which make its truth come alive. His stories help you to remember theological concepts by attaching pictures to them instead of just Bible verses. While the Bible is Andrew's primary source of information- always a good thing- his stories illustrate it. Andrew Farley is actually "Doctor Andrew Farley." He clearly knows his stuff theologically. But at the same time, when you're reading this book, you never feel like this is some lofty theological mind that you can't connect with. You feel like this is someone just like you, writing not to a dissertation board but to you. He uses humor and his writing style is very easy to follow. You won't get lost reading this book. Make sure you read to the end because the final chapter really brings it home. Being dead to the law isn't the end in itself. We're dead to the law so that we can belong to another- Jesus himself (Romans 7:4). God's entire plan of history wasn't just to make us follow rules, it was to bring us into union with Jesus and himself. Giving us a great example to live by, which Jesus certainly was, wasn't enough to God. God didn't create you to perform better, he created you to be one with him. He doesn't want your performance, he wants you. In Christ, God united us with himself in an intimate union and our lives are now supposed to be lived out of that union. If you're not experiencing that union, or if the outside world isn't seeing that union being displayed in your life, do yourself and the world a favor and read this book. Now I'm not saying this book is a Magic Bullet that will change your life immediately once you finish reading it. What I am saying though is that hopefully it will change your mind regarding the thought in your mind that God is displeased with you or that you have to keep trying hard to stay on good terms with God. Remember that those feelings were supposed to be produced by the law, but only in order to lead us to Jesus. When you rightly see Jesus as the end, which this book should help you to do, everything else starts falling into place. You might start being less concerned with what you're doing wrong and start putting your eyes more on Jesus. And when you keep your eyes on Jesus, your view of yourself, others, and God will all change for the better.

Excellent, easy to read and understand. Dr. Farley has a lively and vivid way of bringing God's unconditional love and acceptance front and center to the message of the Gospel, the good news of the Bible. A great book for new believers or those wanting to experience God's love for them. Read it now and be set free.

Excellent read. The title says it all. Knowing God is not about rules and performance. Knowing Him is about His grace and love.

You may be "trying hard" to do everything you can do just to please God, and you ask "When is my faithfulness enough?" This book's "Part 1: Mennonite Motorboat" is especially for you. Discover the beauty of God's faithfulness and love demonstrated in Christ in the New Covenant. You may be feeling guilty for not being able to observe tithing faithfully and worrying that God has been putting you, your family, your career or your business under a curse because of it. This book's "Part 2: Divine Slot Machine?" is especially for you. You may be a sincere student of the words of Christ. And you wonder why at one point, He says we're forgiven, while in another passage, He wants us to remove body parts which causes us to sin. This book's "Part 3: The Two Ministries of Christ" is especially for you. You may be trying to "make sense" of some Bible passages like those tackling "predestination" which leave you worrying, "Did God predestine my parents to go to hell?" This book's "Part 4: God's Big Fat Greek Wedding" is for you. You may have been told, "God is your father, you're a new creation, you're a saint," and you're trying to believe it but you're wondering why you still sin. This book's "Part 5: Frank Lloyd Wrong" is especially for you. You may be feeling like God's face is away from you because of the sins you frequently commit. You know God is a forgiving God, but you ask, "What does it take before God would forgive me?" This book's "Part 6: Government Bailout" is especially for you. You may be trying to "make sense" of the bad things that happen to your life. Where is God? Why did they happen? Is God punishing me? This book's "Part 7: Theater of Life" is especially for you. You may be sincerely desiring to "follow Jesus" and hoping to do things that He desires. You may have been spending your whole life now tyring to "seek Him." This book's "Part 8: The Spirit of Gretzky" is especially for you. Of course, this book presents a lot more than what I presented above. Just in case you're curious about what this book contains, above's a little gist. But, whether you're a pastor looking for a resource for your ministry, or a "new Christian" trying to grasp the Gospel and its message; whether you're someone who's been "doing well" in the ministry, or someone who's nearing a burnout, or someone who's been labeled a "backslider," this book's message is surely for you.

It isn't possible to write in a simple review what this book has done for me (I've started this review over and over again), but I needed to say something because it's important. This book has provided clarity for me. It strips away many of the "teachings" I was spoon fed by the mainstream church as a child and only a couple years ago was courageous enough to start questioning. It brings into focus God's grace, what true Christianity is, the ramifications of believing whole-heartedly in Christ. You've heard the phrase, "the truth shall set you free"...using God's very Word (the Bible), Andrew Farley reveals the truth...as you've probably never heard from your church. Note: This book doesn't talk you out of church...that isn't what I'm implying...what it does is show you what believing means in a way that most churches should teach, but don't. This book, this message, is important, it has reignited my relationship with God in a way that no other book has, with teaching that is free from "doctrine"...and fully grounded in scripture. If you are honestly seeking (and feel a bit lost), this might be the book for you. This book has provided clarity for me.

Why do people always look for difficult solutions. Why work hard at punishing oneself and subduing to weird rituals to get God's approval, when He offers it free, served on a plate, just for the thankful acceptance. This book again shows how we mankind have made a mess of the most beautiful gift God gave us. Read the book and get FREE

If you’d like to expand your understanding from TNG this book is a great companion. Again, there’s not new concepts but filled out ideas/questions. Loved it!!

As a christian of nearly 40 years, I have become fed up and repulsed at what is being taught in the modern church. I have been looking for a real relationship with my heavenly Dad but had become so indoctrinated with 'getting right with God' or 'getting my life in line with the Bible' that I have come to the conclusion that I hate what the institutional church has become and the rubbish it is teaching. This book and 'the naked gospel' also by Andrew Farley has really helped me to clarify my thinking on the true gospel and helped set me free from negative mindsets and misconceptions of the character of God. This book clearly outlines what it really means to 'be in-Christ'. Two great points made in the book is the focus on the finished work of Christ and the fact that the New Testament should begin at the death of Jesus rather than the birth. This in itself clarifies a lot of misunderstanding around some of the teachings of Jesus, purely because his ministry operated during the old covenant. I would advise anyone who looking for a real relationship with God or just fed up with a religious mindset to read this book. One word of caution, be prepared to have your preconceptions of christianity shaken as this book teaches things that some churches would class heretical but, isn't this what the Pharisees' said about Jesus. Sometimes, the truth hurts! This is a great book and I highly recommend it. Read and be prepared to be set free by the truth of the gospel! Do I want God without religion? Most certainly!

Every Christian must read this to establish themselves in the gospel of grace.

Carefully thought out and accessible through analogies, Andrew addresses some of the largest misconceptions at large in the mainstream church today. Read this book if you want a clear understanding of the beauty and life-changing significance of the Cross and the gospel of grace.