The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 1

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 43:5 ESV).

Today we begin a new series. It will be rooted in the Gospel; however, my focus will not be academic, but practical. It is essential to our peace and joy that we understand the great truths of Scripture. In doing this we find the foundation for our encouragement. Of course, the principle declaration as Christians is our love God. He is our great Treasure, and nothing can compare with him. The Westminster Shorter Catechism, “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” There is no doubt that all believers can agree and hold to this truth. God is the One we love. We love the whole panorama of his perfections. To know him, and be loved by him, and become like him is the end of our soul’s quest. Because He is infinite that answers our longing for completeness. Because He is eternal that answers our longing for permanence. Because He is unchangeable that answers our longing for stability and security. There is none like God. Nothing can compare with him. The more you know him, the more you want to know him. That’s the way Jesus prays for us to his Father: “That the love with which you have loved me may be in them” (John 17:26). That is what we long for: the very love the Father has for the Son filling us, enabling us to love the Son with the magnitude and purity of the love of the Father. Then the frustrations of inadequate love will be over. The great old catechism asks, “What is the chief end of man?” and answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” Enjoying God is the way to glorify God, because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. But to enjoy him we must know him. So, it becomes clear that a knowledge of God from the Bible is the fuel that sustains our affection for God. And probably the most crucial kind of knowledge is the knowledge of what God is like in salvation. We call that “the Gospel.” To know that we must understand the power and sovereignty of God in general and his power and sovereignty in the way he saves people. Through our series we will examine what are called the doctrines of grace. To experience God fully, we need to know not just how he acts in general, but specifically how he saves us. It will appear at first glance that this series deals with the defense of Calvinism. I will not defend a system. There is no power for a transformed life in a system. However, over the years I have deepened in my conviction that the teachings on the five points basic points of Calvinism are biblical and therefore true, and therefore a precious pathway into deeper experiences of God’s grace. That’s where we must end! The gospel is the story of the grace of God; and, that sustains us! Today, merely “hope in God!” (Psalm 43:5).