An Identity to Die For

In this excellent and engaging book, Paul leads his reader through Ephesians to explore important issues of identity, and to offer a beautiful and moving presentation of the gospel, as the truth that both saves us and shapes our lives as believers.
The mixture of stories from family life, ministry and university days, along with the way that he carefully unpacks Scripture, and concludes each chapter with a set of questions for consideration and reflection, makes for a really interesting, encouraging and practical read that is sure to be exceptionally helpful in a culture so concerned and confused with questions of identity and meaning.

Paul Mallard’s rich and timely book addresses our deepest questions of identity. With theological depth and a pastor’s heart, Paul paints a vivid picture of the God who loves us as his children in Christ, and who is restoring us to the glory for which we were made. The book brims with hope and confidence, and fills the reader with a sense of the immeasurable worth of being in Christ. It deserves to be read by Christians of all ages.
Richard Cunningham

Everything that Paul Mallard writes is lucid, interesting and relevant to the reader. He has the rare gift of speaking with authority in a fascinating way, and so 'the common people hear him gladly.' They can also read him gladly too. In this book he answers the question as to who we are. What is man? Is there a purpose in life? Huge questions, and they are answered with Paul Mallard's characteristic clarity. We need to read these wise words.

An invaluable and accessible resource which will take young believers a long way to being anchored in the kind of Christian faith which can withstand the turmoil and chaos of life.
Maturity in our Christian life is directly proportional to the rootedness and depth of our grasp of our identity in Christ. So many pastoral problems and difficulties originate in a lack of understanding of something that Jesus has already given us - a new identity. So much stability and growth occurs when this objective reality is grasped, applied, treasured and remembered.

Church leaders and all involved in ministry with teenagers and students will benefit enormously from reading this book, along with its extremely helpful discussion questions. The author has provided us with gospel realism which will bring stability and understanding to many Christians currently at sea - and only because of a lack of a true understanding of what the Lord Jesus has done for us and given to us.

Being human - our identity - is arguably one of the theological issues of our era. We are being called like never before to understand biblically who we are: created, fallen, redeemed and one day restored. The answer has vast implications, from debates around the beginning and end of life to understanding human sexuality, from self-esteem and mental health through to how we raise our children.
So Paul Mallard’s book comes as an essential but highly accessible and readable contribution to a growing recovery of our doctrine of man. Mallard as a pastor understands that we need to be biblically relevant in our thinking, and so guides us through Ephesians with the lens of human identity in a way that is truth-filled, devotional and grounded both in scripture and in life.

Paul’s is a pleasant theology book. He writes with the gentleness of one who has known suffering. He includes quotes from others that bring you into a community. He lets Scripture invite us and shape us. I thought I was walking through the English countryside with a wise friend.