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HE IS NOT ASHAMED: The Staggering Love of Christ for His People
Erik Raymond
Why a Holy God Delights to Claim Broken People as His Family
Christians belong to God’s own family. This promise is difficult for some people to believe, and even for some believers to remember in their day-to-day struggles with shame or regret. But it’s repeated throughout the Bible, reflected in Christ’s genealogy, and true of the church today; God’s family is filled with broken people whose stories are a testament to his staggering love.
In He Is Not Ashamed, Erik Raymond takes a close look at the “family portrait” of God—filled with imperfect people throughout Scripture—and shows that God is not repelled by anyone’s shameful past, but delights to redeem and receive those who believe in him. Studying Hebrews 2:11 and other passages in both the Old and New Testaments, Raymond shows that Jesus’s heart is bent toward those who have an embarrassing history, feel far from God, or struggle with sin. By studying God’s abounding love for undeserving people, Christians learn to accept his grace and confidently embrace their place in God’s family portrait.
*Explores Redemptive History: Walks through stories from the Bible, including Jacob the deceiver, Rahab the prostitute, and the “sinful woman” in the book of Luke to reveal patterns of God’s grace
*Faith-Building Resource: Helps Christians reject shame and have a greater sense of Christ’s mercy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: He Is Not Ashamed of Those with Embarrassing Stories
Chapter 2: He Is Not Ashamed of Those Who Opposed Him
Chapter 3: He Is Not Ashamed of Those Who Are Overlooked
Chapter 4: He Is Not Ashamed of Those Who Were Far from God
Chapter 5: He Is Not Ashamed of Those Who Have Nothing
Chapter 6: He Is Not Ashamed of Those Who Are Weak
Chapter 7: He Is Not Ashamed of Those Who Still Sin
Chapter 8: Whom Jesus Is Ashamed of?
General Index
Scripture Index
ENDORSEMENTS
“The sweetness of the gospel is that Jesus gives himself to people who do not deserve him. He loves the unlovable. He welcomes those no one else wants. He is not embarrassed by embarrassing people. This is good news, especially for messed-up people like you and me. He Is Not Ashamed welcomes you to come face-to-face with the Jesus who doesn’t shame sinners but summons them to be part of his forever family. Whether you’re just coming to know Jesus or have walked with him for decades, I commend this wonderful work to you.” -J. Garrett Kell, Lead Pastor, Del Ray Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia; author, Pure in Heart
“Our past, present, and potential future can often cause us to believe we aren’t worthy of God’s love. And the truth is, we aren’t. This is what makes God’s love through Christ genuinely amazing—it’s freely extended to the unworthy, outcast, and overlooked. He Is Not Ashamed is a thoroughly biblical and experiential portrait of the love, tenderness, and grace Christ extends to all his beloved people, regardless of how we sometimes feel about ourselves. Erik Raymond turns our gaze from our constant introspection to the magnificent wonder of divine love. Wherever you are or whatever you’ve done, these words will undoubtedly be fresh water for your parched soul.” -Dustin Benge, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Historical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, The Loveliest Place
“Erik Raymond has given us a masterful treatment of the most staggering reality in human existence. He Is Not Ashamed is like a tall, full glass of cool water for anyone that is dry and thirsty for grace.” -Jared C. Wilson, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, Love Me Anyway
“He Is Not Ashamed might just convince you that the good news about Jesus is even better than you dared to believe. Erik Raymond demonstrates from the Scriptures that Jesus loves his people more than they could imagine, despite our sin, weakness, and shame. It moved my heart with gratitude and joy, and it brought more than a few tears to my eyes. I cannot wait to pass it on to friends.” -Michael McKinley, Senior Pastor, Sterling Park Baptist Church, Sterling, Virginia
“Do you believe that God loves you as he loves Christ? As a pastor of a local congregation, I have found that many Christians, including me, struggle to believe that God truly loves them in the way he says he does (John 17:23). It’s only when we come to grasp God’s staggering love for us that we will experience the deep humility, genuine freedom, and abundant life that we have in Christ. Understanding this naturally leads to a life of loving and grateful obedience to our Savior as we rest in his perfect righteousness, all by the power of the Holy Spirit. I am so grateful for pastor Erik Raymond and for this insightful book that helps us to ground ourselves in God’s unchanging love for us rather than in the constantly changing emotions of our hearts.” -Burk Parsons, Senior Pastor, Saint Andrew’s Chapel, Sanford, Florida; Editor, Tabletalk
Erik Raymond is the senior pastor at Redeemer Fellowship Church in Watertown, Massachusetts. He is the author of Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age and a frequent contributor to many websites and periodicals. He blogs regularly at Ordinary Pastor, hosted by the Gospel Coalition.
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