Here’s what I envision the gates of heaven to be like, using my imagination entirely.
A seemingly endless bookshelf on the outside wall of the pearly gates with only 5 books on it, but millions upon millions of copies of each one. In front of those shelves are an equally endless amount of reading chairs and angels serving the best coffee in the universe while other angels are checking out copies of the books. Sitting in those great reading chairs and drinking the heavenly coffee are those who have not finished the heavenly reading list; those books that are so valuable that you can’t, or better, shouldn’t enter heaven without reading them. By the way, you’ll find me sitting there as well re-reading them all since they are so valuable for the Christian soul.
Obviously, this is not what is going to happen, but you still need to read the books listed below. They are immeasurably valuable to your soul. They will develop your theology in biblical ways and incite worship and obedience like nothing else other than the Bible. The good news is that all but John Murray are available online for free so there is no excuse not to read them! Here they are:
Redemption: Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
The Westminster Confession of the Faith
The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther
The Confessions by Augustine
What books would you add to the list? Leave a comment and join the discussion!
I love that confessions is on your list. Just the other day, I was looking through the books at the MCC and I saw a copy of confessions. I left it there not sure if I should buy it but I couldn’t stop thinking about it so I went back the next day and it was still there so I bought it then. I haven’t started it yet, but ill definitely start it soon!
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Enjoy! Take it in small doses at first. It is well worth the time it takes to read it.
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Great list! Although I own it, I’m yet to read Luther’s commentary on Galatians. Another must read is Luther’s monumental work, The Bondage of the Will. Two others are also high on the list: 1) Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. Unfortunately many believers brush this one aside mistaking it was a children’s book. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rich spiritual truths are buried throughout this unparalleled allegory. And 2), The Death of Death, by John Owen. This is Filet Mignon in a book. Another book that is pure gold is John H. Gerstner’s book, Primitive Theology. So good. Some men of God were giants when it comes to intellect and spiritual understanding. This list identifies a few of them.
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I agree with Bunyan and especially with Owen. If Death of Death has J.I. Packer’s introduction it is worth buying simply to read his introduction.
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