Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Great Central Truths of the Gospel

We are often overly consumed with trying to figure out all those supernatural events in the Scripture. From the parting of the Red Sea, to the manna from heaven, and how the earth even stood still in a battle. The truth is, it's supernatural and a God thing and something, that I can assure you, was an easy thing for God to do.

Instead of our focus being too often taken to trying to explain the unexplainable, I would ask you to look deep into the great central truths of the gospel. Let's focus in on the holiness of God, the ugliness of sin, the helplessness of man, the death and resurrection of Christ, justification by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, the glory of Christ's return, and the final judgment.

Now there above is a list and one to check twice. Behind all of it is Yahweh himself. It's God's design and way. His aim is simple - that all nations would worship His Son Jesus (Matthew 24:14), to whom all authority was given (Matthew 28:18).

Oh that we might know Him and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10)! Let us look again at the gospel. Let us look again into the face of Jesus - "and the word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

John Stott wrote in commenting on the tremendous truths of Romans 1–11 which provoked Paul’s outburst of praise. "The worship of God is evoked, informed and inspired by the vision of God. Worship without theology is bound to degenerate into idolatry. Hence the indispensable place of Scripture in both public worship and private devotion. It is the Word of God which calls forth the worship of God."