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Book Review - "One Continuous and Unified Story"
The following review was written by Seth Engelsma on the book Born for Our Salvation by Martyn McGeown (Jenison, MI: Reformed Free Publishing, 2019). The review was originally published in the Grandville Gleaner. The version below has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
"Born For Our Salvation" is a detailed look at the birth and early years of Jesus Christ and what it means to us as Christians. Rev. McGeown explores the emotions and reactions of key figures such as Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. He shows how each responded to the unique challenges God placed in their lives. He even gives insight as to why King Herod acted as he did. Rev. McGeown debunks many of the "nativity" scenes and offers more biblically accurate descriptions drawn from the gospel accounts in Luke and Matthew and organizing the events in a clear chronological order. Throughout the book Rev. McGeown emphasizes the central message of Christ's birth: He came into the world to save His people from their sins, and His suffering began from the moment of his birth and continued all the way to the cross.
What is really enjoyable about this book is that it starts from the very beginning and guides us step by step through God's plan to bring the Messiah into the world. We see how He was born in humble circumstances, took on human nature, and was ultimately crucified for the salvation of His people. The book highlights the role of angels, from announcing the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, breaking 400 years of silence in Israel, to Gabriel's visit to Mary, telling her that she would be the mother of the Messiah, and later to Joseph, easing his doubts in a dream. The shepherds immediately leave their flock to find the Messiah so that they can worship Him and the wisemen from the east following His star, wanting nothing more than to find the King of the Jews so that they may worship him. Through these accounts the author reminds us that these were real people, each responding in their own way to God's extraordinary plan entering their ordinary lives.
A part of the book that stood out strongly to me was the humility of Christ. Jesus entered the world in the lowest of circumstances, from being born in a stable to being hunted by Herod, to living in poverty throughout his whole life, yet never once disobeyed His earthly parents or His Heavenly Father even unto the death on the cross. Christ became man knowing the suffering He would endure, and He still went willingly for our sake.
What made the book most meaningful for me was not a single event, but the way the entire narrative consistently returned to its central purpose. Christ was born for our salvation. It is easy to separate the baby in a manger from the man on the cross, but we are reminded that these are not two separate stories. They form one continuous and unified story beginning with His birth, fulfilled with His death and completed when He returns on the clouds of glory.
Click the image or this link to order the book reviewed in this post (eBook on sale for December 2025)!
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The content of the article above is the sole responsibility of the article author. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Reformed Free Publishing staff or Association, and the article author does not speak for the RFPA.
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