Christ in You by Eric Johnson

Johnson believes it is God's design that Christians be the boldest, most confident people on the planet. That means Christians must fully know who they are and whom they serve. He has written this book with the desire that readers would become more aware of the depth and width of what Christ in you can mean.

Johnson emphasizes what Christians can do when they know who they are. He writes about God's heart for humanity. He advocates all laws and guidelines arise from the core value of helping people realize they were created in God's image, with the capacity to do good. He envisions a prison system and an educational system designed to make individuals aware of who God created them to be. He writes of the goodness of man, showing the goodness of God, will lead men to repentance. “I firmly believe that when a person is confronted with the goodness of God, the natural response is to repent and ultimately change the direction of his or her life.”

Johnson encourages persistence. He helps us distinguish confidence from arrogance. He also helps us identify the fear of man and gives steps to overcome it.

I would have liked more on what “Christ in you” actually means to the believer, rather than such an emphasis on what the believer can accomplish living in that identity. Also, as a reformed believer, I felt Johnson overlooked the results of the Fall. He emphasizes man as created in God's image and man's capacity to do good. He does not write about man being radically tainted by sin. Nor does he write about the holiness of God, just about God being good.

This is a relatively short book emphasizing what believers can do when they understand that Christ is in them.

Eric Johnson serves on the Senior Leadership for Bethel Church in Redding, California. He co-authored the book Momentum: What God Starts Never Ends with his father, Bill Johnson. He and his wife have two daughters. You can find out more at http://bethelredding.com/.

Chosen Books, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.