The Redeemed Man, edited by Joel Beeke, Richard Phillips and Paul Smalley. Reformation Heritage Books. 301 pages. 2025
*****

This book features chapters by a number of respected authors, including Sinclair Ferguson, Joel Beeke, David Strain, Richard Phillips, Daniel Doriani, Kevin DeYoung, Ian Hamilton, and Derek Thomas. The twenty-two chapters are divided into four major parts:

Part 1: A Godly Man’s Relationship with God
Part 2: A Godly Man’s Relationships with People
Part 3: A Godly Man’s Work
Part 4: A Godly Man’s Finishing Well

Richard Phillips tells us that the book was written because of the conviction that the godliness, faith, and influence of Christian men are essential to the work of God in our world today. The editors produced the book because they perceived a need for a comprehensive and up to date guide for Christian men that is distinctly biblical in its approach. The aim of the book is to summon Christian men to embrace their calling in service to our Lord.

The chapters in the book set forth a clear and compelling case for the biblical vision of redeemed manhood. The intent is to address the whole of a man’s life, starting with the priority that must be given to his relationship with God.

The chapters were intentionally kept concise. I read all of the chapters, and in the case of a book like this some chapters were more interesting to me than others. I was particularly interested in the sections on work and finishing well.

This is an outstanding book that should be recommended reading for Christian men. Here are 20 quotes that I found helpful from the book:

• Whereas the man of the world sees work as a necessary evil by which he seeks to earn a living and, at the most, make himself rich, the redeemed man sees work as worship. Conrad Mbewe
• The godly man exerts himself with all the strength and giftings that God has given him to fill his time with fruitful labor. Conrad Mbewe
• The Christian man realizes that this life is temporal and must soon come to an end. This thought does not fill him with fear and despondency. Rather, it fills him with joy because he looks forward to meeting with his God, the God with whom he has walked since the day of his conversion. Conrad Mbewe
• The gospel is a story of grace from beginning to end. Sinclair Ferguson
• Only when our roots are sunk deeply into the soil of the divine indicatives will we be able to grow in the joy of obedience to the rigorous and vigorous divine imperatives that follow. Sinclair Ferguson
• It has never been more urgent that Christian men face honestly the scriptural imperative to bear witness for Christ and learn to open their mouths to speak—humbly, lovingly, and courageously—for their Savior. David Strain
• You can pray for your unconverted friends’ salvation only because you trust the God who has the power to save. He alone calls sinners from death to life. Salvation is in His alone to give. David Strain
• It is not our task to save people, change their minds, or manipulate a decision for Jesus from them. It is our task, simply, faithfully, clearly, and lovingly to tell them the gospel. David Strain
• The clearest way that we can assess if our vocation is God-honoring is to ensure that it does not involve violating the Ten Commandments. Richard Phillips
• Christians should seek to make their living through work that benefits people. Richard Phillips
• Our work is meaningful and challenging because God planned it that way. Daniel Doriani
• Through honest labor, anyone can become God’s hands, meeting the needs of family, friends, and neighbors near and far. Daniel Doriani
• When godly ambition matches with talent, a godly man may have found a place where he can well serve God and his neighbor. Daniel Doriani
• An unchurched Christian is a contradiction in terms. Kevin DeYoung
• The church needs Christian men who run the race all the way through the tape. Kevin DeYoung
• Christians do not retire from work; they retire from one kind of work to take up another. Derek Thomas
• Work—all work—is to be viewed as a service to God. Derek Thomas
• This fact, that death awaits everyone born of woman, is one that God Himself encourages us to face, but to face with faith, hope and calm assurance. Ian Hamilton
• The man in Christ, has a glorious and living hope. Death will not, indeed cannot, extinguish that glorious and living hope. Ian Hamilton
• The redeemed man must till his last breath be committed to the fellowship of the people of God. Solitary Christianity is a contradiction. Ian Hamilton