Copyright©MonergismBooks

SOLUSCHRISTUS:

TheGospelForSinners

EditedbyJohnHendryx

TableofContents

Preface(keygospelquotes)

Introduction:Our OngoingNeed of Redemption as Christians by JohnHendryx

PartI:INTROTOTHECHRISTIANFAITH

WhatistheGospel?byJohnHendryx

GODGodtheCreatorbyJ.GreshamMachenTheTriuneGodbyJ.GreshamMachenTheKnowledgeofGodbyHermanBavinckTheGreatnessofGodbyHermanBavinckTheHolinessofGodbyA.W.Pink

THEBIBLETheAuthorityandInspirationoftheScripturesbyB.B.WarfieldTheInspirationoftheScripturesbyJohnMacleodRevelationbyJ.I.Packer

HUMANITY&SINTheGreatnessandMiseryofManbyHermanBavinckThePresentStateoftheWorldbyHermanBavinckWeAllStandCondemnedbytheLawbyJohnCalvin

God'sTestimonyConcerningManbyHoratiusBonarMan'sOwnCharacterNoGroundforPeacebyHoratiusBonarTheFallofManbyJ.GreshamMachenSin'sWagesandGod'sGiftbyJ.GreshamMachenWhatisSin?byJ.GreshamMachenIsMankindLostinSin?byJ.GreshamMachenTheConsequencesoftheFallofManbyJ.GreshamMachenKnowingOurselvesbyNathanPitchfordManinHisOriginalStatebyLouisBerkhofManintheStateofSinbyLouisBerkhofKeyExcerptfromBondageoftheWillbyMartinLuther

THEPERSONANDWORKOFJESUSCHRISTThePersonofChristbyBenjaminBreckinridgeWarfieldTheAtonementbyJ.GreshamMachenForgivenessbyJ.C.RyleTheWayofSalvationbyJ.C.RyleBlessedAretheyWhoseIniquityisForgivenbyJohnCalvin

SALVATIONBYGRACETHROUGHFAITHGod'sPurposeofGracebyHoratiusBonarFaithBornofNeedbyJ.GreshamMachenFaithinGodbyJ.GreshamMachenSinnersWelcometoCometoJesusChristbyArchibaldAlexanderSavedbyGracebyJohnBunyan

THEDAYOFJUDGEMENTTheDayofJudgementbyArchibaldAlexanderSinnersintheHandsofanAngryGodbyJonathanEdwards

PARTII:BOOKLETSTRACTSANDESSAYSONTHEGOSPEL

God'sWayofPeacebyHoratiusBonar(fulllengthbook)TheEverlastingRighteousnessbyHoratiusBonar(fulllengthbook)AllofGracebyC.H.Spurgeon(fulllengthbook)WhatisYourOnlyComfortinLifeandDeath?Thefirst21Questionsof

theHeidelbergCatechismFather, Son, andHoly Spirit –EachHaveA Part In Saving Sinners byJamesBuchananAlarmtoUnconvertedbyJosephAlleine,1671(fulllengthbook)WhatistheGospelofJesusChrist?FromtheSecondHeadofDoctrineattheSynodofDort,1619WhatistheGospel?byJohnFonvilleOntheCovenantofWorks&GracebyJohnCalvinFaithandRegenerationbyC.H.SpurgeonWhatIstheGospel?FiveObservations-quotebyAndreasKöstenbergerWhentheGoodNewsBecomesBadbyR.ScottClark

How Christ is Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace andSalvationforUsbyJohnCalvin(1509-1564)WhatistheGospel?byZachariasUrsinus(1534-1583)TheLawandtheGospelbyMartinLutherOnPervertingtheGospelofChristbyJohnCalvinPerversionsoftheGospelbyLouisBerkhofTheProperDistinctionBetweenLawandGospelbyC.F.W.WaltherFaithandtheGospelbyJ.GreshamMachenUsesoftheGospelandtheLawbyJohnColquhounTheEstablishmentoftheLawbytheGospelbyJohnColquhounWhatistheGospel?byLoraineBoettnerTheLawofWorks,TheLawofFaith and theLawofChrist byEdwardFisherwithFootnotesbyThomasBostonStudiesonSavingFaithbyA.W.Pink(fulllengthbook)TheAlmostChristianbyGeorgeWhitefieldThePropertiesofGracebyWilliamPlumer

Appendices

JesusChristFountofEveryBlessingbyJohnHendryxJesusChrist:TheInterpretiveKeytotheScripturebyJohnHendryxToCutofftheSinnerfromAllHopeinHimselfbyJohnHendryxRepentingofourGoodWorksandBadWorksbyJohnHendryxWhatGodRequiresofYoubyJohnHendryxAreOurChurchesPreachingtheGospel?byJohnHendryxGrowinginGraceandConsciousofSinbyJohnHendryx

Paul'sDefinitionofaChristianbyJohnHendryxIsThereMorethanOneWaytoGod?byJohnHendryxTheEmergentChurchandtheGospelbyJohnHendryxChristvs.MoralismbyJohnHendryx

Copyright

Preface(KeyQuotesontheGospel)

JohnCalvin

“There is nothing more notable or glorious in the church than theministryofthegospel."

"Menaretobetaught,indeed,thattheDivinebenignityisfreetoallwhoseekit,withoutanyexception;butsincenonebegintoseekit,butthosewho have been inspired by heavenly grace,... not even this diminutiveportionoughttobetakenfromhispraise.Thisistheprivilegeoftheelect,thatbeingregeneratedbytheSpiritofGod,theyareledandgovernedbyhisdirection.WhereforeAugustineasjustlyridiculesthosewhoarrogateto themselvesanypartofagoodvolition,ashereprehendsothers,whosuppose that to be given promiscuously to all, which is the specialevidenceofgratuitouselection."Nature,"sayshe,"iscommontoallmen,butnot grace."He calls it "a transparent subtlety,which shinesmerelywithvanity,whenthatisextendedgenerallytoall,whichGodconfersonwhomhechooses."

R.B.Kuiper

"Ifitwerelefttosinners,totallydepravedastheyare,torespondoftheirownvolitiontothegospelinfaith,noonewouldrespond."

MartinLuther

"TheLawisfortheproudandtheGospelforthebrokenhearted."

D.MartynLloyd-Jones

Wemusthavethefullmessage...'deliverthewholecounselofGod'... .ItstartswiththeLaw.TheLawofGod...thedemandsofarighteousGod,thewrathofGod.Thatisthewaytobringmenandwomentoconviction;notbymodifyingtheTruth....Wemustconfrontthemwiththefactthattheyaremenandthattheyarefalliblemen,thattheyaredyingmen,thattheyaresinfulmen,andthattheywillallhavetostandbeforeGodattheBarofEternalJudgement....Andthenwemustpresenttothemthefull-orbeddoctrineoftheGraceofGodinSalvationinJesusChrist.Wemustshowthatnomanissaved'bythedeedsoftheLaw',byhisowngoodnessor righteousness, or church membership or anything else, but solely,utterly,entirelyby the freegiftofGod inJesusChristHisSon. . . .Wemustpreachthefull-orbeddoctrineleavingnothingout-convictionofsin,therealityofJudgementandHell,freegrace,justification,sanctification,glorification.WemustalsoshowthatthereisaworldviewintheBible...thatherealoneyoucanunderstandhistory-pasthistory,presenthistory,future history. Let us show this great world view, and God's Eternalpurpose....Letusatthesametimebeverycarefulthatwearegivingittothewholeman...thegospelisnotonlyforaman'sheart,thatyoustartwith his head and present Truth to it ... Let us show that it is a greatmessagegivenbyGodwhichweinturnpassontothemind,totheheart,tothewill.Thereiseverthisdangerofleavingoutsomepartorotherofman'spersonality...Letusbecertainthatweaddressthewholeman-hismind,hisemotionsandhiswill.

WilliamTyndale

"Evangelion(thatwecallthegospel)isaGreekwordandsignifiethgood,merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man's heart glad andmakethhimsing,dance,and leap for joy…[Thisgospel is]allofChristthe rightDavid, how that he hath foughtwith sin,with death, and thedevil,andovercomethem:wherebyallmenthatwereinbondagetosin,woundedwithdeath,overcomeofthedevilarewithouttheirownmeritsor deservings loosed, justified, restored to life and saved, brought toliberty and reconciled unto the favor of God and set at one with himagain:whichtidingsasmanyasbelievelaud,praiseandthankGod,areglad,singanddanceforjoy."

Modern Reformation Good News: The Gospel for Christians

(May/June2003)

"WhenGodgivesordersandtellsuswhatwillhappenifwefail toobeythose orders perfectly, that is in the category of what the reformers,following the biblical text, called law. When God promises freely,providingforusbecauseofChrist'srighteousnessthestatushedemandsofus,thisisinthecategoryofgospel.Itisgoodnewsfromstarttofinish.The Bible includes both, and the reformers were agreed that theScriptures taught clearly that the law, whether Old or New Testamentcommands, was not eliminated for the believer (those from aDispensationalbackgroundmaynotice adifferencehere).Nevertheless,they insisted that nothing in this category of law could be a means ofjustification or acceptance before a holy God ... The law comes, not toreformthesinnernortoshowhimorherthe"narrowway"tolife,buttocrushthesinner'shopesofescapingGod'swraththroughpersonaleffortorevencooperation.Allofourrighteousnessmustcomefromsomeoneelse-someone who has fulfilled the law's demands. Only after we havebeen stripped of our "filthy rags" of righteousness (Isa. 64:6)- our figleavesthroughwhichwetryinvaintohideourguiltandshame-canwebe clothedwithChrist's righteousness. First comes the law to proclaimjudgment and death, then the gospel to proclaim justification and life.OneoftheclearestpresentationsofthismotifisfoundinPaul'sEpistletotheGalatians. In the sixteenth century, the issue of law and grace wasmoreclearlydealtwiththanatalmostanyothertimesincetheapostles."

- Zacharius Ursinus, Commentary on the HeidelbergCatechism,1534-83

Thegospelis…thedoctrinewhichtheSonofGod,ourMediator,revealedfromheaveninParadise,immediatelyafterthefall,andwhichhebroughtfromthebosomoftheEternalFather;whichpromises,andannounces,inview of the free grace and mercy of God, to all those that repent andbelieve, deliverance from sin, death, condemnation, and the wrath ofGod;whichisthesamethingastosaythatitpromisesandproclaimstheremissionofsin,salvation,andeternallife,byandforthesakeoftheSonofGod, the Mediator; and is that through which the Holy Spirit workseffectually in the hearts of the faithful, kindling and exciting in them,

faith, repentance, and the beginning of eternal life. Or, we may, inaccordancewith the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth questions oftheCatechism,define thegospel tobe thedoctrinewhichGod revealedfirst in Paradise, and afterwards published by the Patriarchs andProphets,whichhewaspleasedtorepresentbytheshadowsofsacrifices,andtheotherceremonies of the law, and which he has accomplished by his onlybegotten Son; teaching that the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, ismade unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption;whichistosaythatheisaperfectMediator,satisfyingforthesinsofthehumanrace,restoringrighteousnessandeternallifetoallthosewhobyatruefaithareingraftedintohim,andembracehisbenefits.

William Perkins (Art of Prophesying VII, [Abingdon, 1970],341-342).

“TheGospel,asitteachethwhatistobedone,soithathalsotheefficacyof the Holy Ghost adjoined to it, by whom being regenerated we havestrengthbothtobelievetheGospelandtoperformthosethingswhichitcommandeth”

SinclairFerguson

The ultimate tragedy of man's self-understanding is that he believeshimselftobefree,hasallthefeelingsofafreeagent,butdoesnotrealizethatheisaslavetosinandservesthewillofSatan."

MichaelHorton

"Arrested, arraigned, and indicted, in repentance we turn away fromourselves - our untruths, our sins, and our fraudulent claim torighteousness - and in faith we look to Christ for salvation and everyspiritualgift."

RichardSibbes,TheBruisedReed

"What is the gospel itself but amercifulmoderation, in which Christ'sobedience is esteemed ours, and our sins laid upon him,whereinGod,

from being a judge, becomes our Father, pardoning our sins andaccepting our obedience, though feeble and blemished? We are nowbrought to heaven under the covenant of grace by a way of love andmercy."

ThomasWatson

[Somepeoplebeingverymoralhave]“nothingtodowiththebusinessofrepentance. They are so good, that they scorn God’s offer of mercy.Indeedtheseareoftenintheworstcondition:thesearetheywhoth...inktheyneednorepentance(Luke15:7).Theirmoralityundoesthem.Theymakea“savior”ofit,andsoonthisrocktheysuffershipwreck.Moralityshootsshortofheaven.Itisonlynaturerefined.AmoralmanisbutoldAdam dressed in fine clothes. The king’s image counterfeited andstampeduponbrasswillnotgocurrent.Themoralpersonseemstohavethe imageofGod—buthe isonlybrassmetal,whichwillneverpass forcurrent. Morality is insufficient for salvation. Though the life ismoralized, the lustmay be unmortified. The heartmay be full of prideandatheism.Underthefairleavesofatree,theremaybeaworm.Iamnot saying, repent that you aremoral—but that you are nomore thanmoral. Satan entered into the house that had just been swept andgarnished(Luke11:26).Thisistheemblemofamoralman,whoissweptbycivilityandgarnishedwithcommongifts—but isnotwashedby truerepentance. The unclean spirit enters into such a one. Ifmoralityweresufficient to salvation,Christneednothavedied.Themoralmanhasafairlamp—butitlackstheoilofgrace.”

JosephAlleine

[Some people end up] “Trusting in their own righteousness. This is asoul-ruiningmischief.Whenmen trust in their own righteousness theydo indeed reject Christ’s. Beloved, you had need be watchful on everyhand, fornotonly your sins—butyourdutiesmayundoyou. Itmaybeyouneverthoughtofthis;butsoitis,thatamanmayascertainlyperishbyhisseemingrighteousnessandsupposedgraces—asbygrosssins;andthat is,whenamantrusts to theseashis righteousnessbeforeGod, for

satisfying His justice, appeasing His wrath, procuring His favor, andobtaining His pardon. This is to put Christ out of office, and make aSavior of our own duties and graces. Beware of this, O professingChristians; you are much in duties—but this one fly will spoil all theointment. When you have done most and best, be sure to go out ofyourselves—toChrist;reckonyourownrighteousnessasfilthyrags(Phil3:9;Isa64:6).”

TimKeller

The 'gospel' is the good news that through Christ the power of God'skingdomhasenteredhistorytorenewthewholeworld.WhenwebelieveandrelyonJesus'workandrecord(ratherthanours)forour"

"Thereare twoways toreadtheBible.TheonewaytoreadtheBible isthatit’sbasicallyaboutyou:whatyouhavetodoinordertoberightwithGod, in which case you’ll never have a sure and certain hope, becauseyou’llalwaysknowyou’renotquitelivingup.You’llneverbesureaboutthatfuture.OryoucanreaditasallaboutJesus.Everysinglethingisnotaboutwhat youmust do in order tomake yourself rightwithGod, butwhat he has done to make you absolutely right with God. And JesusChrist is saying, “Unless you can read the Bible right, unless you canunderstandsalvationbygrace,you’llneverhaveasureandcertainhope.But once you understand it’s all aboutme, Jesus Christ, then you canknow that you have peace. You can know that you have this futureguaranteed,andyoucanfaceanything...”

...the gospel is news about what God has already been done for you,ratherthaninstructionandadviceaboutwhatyouaretodoforGod.Theprimacyofhiswork,notourwork,ispartoftheessenceoffaith.Inotherreligions, God reveals to us how we can find or achieve salvation. InChristianity, God achieves salvation for us. The gospel brings newsprimarily, rather than instruction. " ...the gospel is all about historicevents,andthusithasapubliccharacter."ItidentifiesChristianfaithasnewsthathassignificanceforallpeople,indeedforthewholeworld,notmerelyasesotericunderstandingorinsight."[Brownson,p.46]...ifJesusis not risen from the dead, Christianity does not "work". The gospel is

thatJesusdiedand rose forus. If thehistoric eventsofhis lifedidnothappen,thenChristianitydoesnot"work"forthegoodnewsisthatGodhas entered the human "now" (history) with the life of the world tocome....thegospelisnewsaboutwhatGodhasdoneinhistorytosaveus,rather than advice aboutwhatwemust do to reachGod. The gospel isnewsthatJesus'life,death,andresurrectioninhistoryhasachievedoursalvation...Jesusdoesnotjustbringgoodnews;heisthegoodnews.

...TheGospelactuallymeans“goodnews.”Yousee it spelledouta littlebit when it says “he has caused us to be born again to a living hopethroughtheresurrectionofJesusChrist”.Whydowesaythatthegospelisgoodnews?Someyearsago,IheardatapeseriesIamsurewasneverputintoprintbyDr.MartinLloyd-Jones.Itwasaneveningsermonserieson 1 Corinthians 15.He clarified how theGospel is based on historicaleventsinhowthereligiongotitsstart.Hesaidtherewasabigdifferencebetweenadviceandnews.TheGospel, hewould say, is goodnews, butnotgoodadvice.Here’swhathesaidaboutthat:“Adviceiscounselaboutsomethingthathasn’thappenedyet,butyoucandosomethingaboutit.Newsisareportaboutsomethingthathashappenedwhichyoucan’tdoanythingaboutbecauseithasbeendoneforyouandallyoucandoistorespondtoit.

...Sohesaysthinkthisout:here’saking,andhegoesintoabattleagainstan invading army to defend his land. If the king defeats the invadingarmy,he sendsback to the capital citymessengers, envoys, veryhappyenvoys.Hesendsbackgoodnewsers.Andwhattheycomebackwithisareport.Theycomebackandtheysay:It’sbeendefeatedandit’sbeenalldone. Therefore respond with joy and now go about your lives in thispeace which has been achieved for you. But if he doesn’t defeat theinvading army, and the invading army breaks through, the king sendsback military advisers and says . . . “Marksmen over here and thehorsemanoverthere,andwewillhavetofightforourlives.”Dr.MartinLloyd-Jones says that every other religion sends military advisers topeople.Everyotherreligionsaysthatifyouwanttoachievesalvation,youwill have to fight for your life. Every other religion is sending advicesaying“herearetherites,herearetherituals,here’sthetransformationof the consciousness and here are the laws and the regulations.

Marksmenoverhereandhorsemenoverthereandwearegoingtofightfor our lives.” We send heralds; we send messengers and not militaryadvisers. Isn’t that clarifying? It’s just incredibly clarifying.And it’s notlikethere’snothingtodoaboutit,mygoodness.Boththemessengerandthemilitaryadvisergetanenormousresponse.Oneisaresponseof joyandtheotheroneisaresponseoffear.Allotherreligionsgiveadviceandtheydriveeverythingyoudowithfear...asyouknow,whenyouhearthegospel,whenyouhear themessage that it’sallbeendone foryou, it’sahistorical event that has happened, your salvation is accomplished foryou,whatdoyouwant todo?Youwantobey theTenCommandments,youwanttopray,andyouwanttopleasetheonethatdidthisforyou.If,ontheotherhand,militaryadviserssayyouhavetoliveareallygoodlifeifyouwanttogetintoheaven,whatdoyoudo?YouwanttoprayandyouwanttoobeytheTenCommandments.Itlooksthesame,doesn'tit?Butfortworadicallydifferentreasons:Oneisjoyandtheotheroneisfear.Intheshortrun,theylookalike.Butinthelongrun,overherewehaveburnoutandself-righteousnessandguiltandallsortsofproblems.Andthat'sfascinating."

"Whatmustwedo,then,tobesaved?TofindGodwemustrepentofthethingswehavedonewrong,butifthatisallyoudo,youmayremainjustanelderbrother.TotrulybecomeaChristianwemustalsorepentofthereasonswe ever did anything right. Pharisees only repent of their sins,butChristians repent for the very roots of their righteousness, too.Wemustlearnhowtorepentofthesinunderallourothersinsandunderallourrighteousness–thesinofseekingtobeourownSaviorandLord.Wemustadmitthatwe'veputourultimatehopeinbothourwrongdoingandrightdoingwehavebeenseekingtogetaroundGodorgetcontrolofGodinordertogetholdofthosethings.

ItisonlywhenyouseethedesiretobeyourownSaviorandLord—lyingbeneath both your sins and yourmoral goodness—that you are on thevergeofbecomingaChristianindeed.Whenyourealizethattheantidotetobeingbad isnot justbeinggood, youareon thebrink. If you followthrough, it will change everything—how you relate toGod, self, others,the world, your work, you sins, your virtue. It's called the new birthbecauseitssoradical"

D.A. Carson, from "What is the Gospel?" – Gospel CoalitionAddress

The gospel is integrally tied to the Bible's story-line. Indeed, it isincomprehensible without understanding that story-line. God is thesovereign, transcendent and personal Godwho hasmade the universe,including us, his imagebearers. Our misery lies in our rebellion, ouralienationfromGod,which,despitehisforbearance,attractshisimplacablewrath.

ButGod, precisely because love is of the very essence of his character,takestheinitiativeandpreparedforthecomingofhisownSonbyraisingupapeoplewho,bycovenantalstipulations,templeworship,systemsofsacrifice and of priesthood, by kings and by prophets, are taughtsomethingofwhatGodisplanningandwhatheexpects.InthefullnessoftimehisSoncomesandtakesonhumannature.Hecomesnot,inthefirstinstance,tojudgebuttosave:hediesthedeathofhispeople,risesfromthe grave and, in returning to his heavenly Father, bequeaths theHolySpirit as the down payment and guarantee of the ultimate gift he hassecuredforthem—aneternityofblissinthepresenceofGodhimself,inanew heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. The onlyalternativeistobeshutoutfromthepresenceofthisGodforever,inthetormentsofhell.Whatmenandwomenmustdo,beforeit istoolate, isrepentandtrustChrist;thealternativeistodisobeythegospel.

1.ThegospelisChristological.2.Thegospelistheological.3.Thegospelisbiblical.4.Thegospelisapostolic.5.Thegospelishistorical.6.Thegospelispersonal.7.Thegospelisuniversal.8.Thegospeliseschatological.

MarkDever,fromTheGospelandPersonalEvangelism

"HereiswhatIunderstandthegoodnewstobe:thegoodnewsisthattheoneandonlyGod,whoisholy,madeusinhisimagetoknowhim.Butwe

sinnedandcutourselvesoff fromhim. Inhisgreat love,GodbecameamaninJesus,livedaperfectlife,anddiedonthecross,thusfulfillingthelawhimselfandtakingonhimselfthepunishmentforthesinsofallthosewho would ever turn and trust in him. He rose again from the dead,showingthatGodacceptedChrist'ssacrificeandthatGod'swrathagainstushadbeenexhausted.He now calls us to repent of our sins and to trust in Christaloneforourforgiveness.IfwerepentofoursinsandtrustinChrist,wearebornagainintoanewlife,aneternallifewithGod.Nowthatisgoodnews."

A.W.Pink

HowmayIknowIhaveunderstoodthegospelandthatIamelect?First,bytheWordofGodhavingcomeindivinepowertothesoulsothatmyself-complacency is shattered and my self-righteousness is renounced.Second, by theHoly Spirit convictingmeofmywoeful, guilty, and lostcondition. Third, by having had revealed to me the suitability andsufficiencyofChrist tomeetmydesperate case andby adivinely givenfaith causing me to lay hold of and rest upon Him as my only hope.Fourth,by themarksof thenewnaturewithinme - a love forGod; anappetite for spiritual things; a longing for holiness; a seeking afterconformitytoChrist.Fifth,bytheresistancewhichthenewnaturemakesto the old, causing me to hate sin and loathe myself for it. Sixth, byavoidingeverythingwhichiscondemnedbyGod'sWordandbysincerelyrepentingof andhumbly confessing every transgression.Failure at thispointwillsurelybringadarkcloudoverourassurancecausingtheSpirittowithholdHiswitness.Seventh,bygivingalldiligencetocultivatetheChristiangracesandusingalldiligencetothisend.Thustheknowledgeofelectioniscumulative.

"Whenthebelieversinshedoesnotforfeiteternallife,andwhy?Becauseitisagift-afreegiftfromGod.Hecoulddonothingtomeritthisgift(ifhecould,itwouldceasetobeagift:insuchacaseitwouldbeareward),consequently,hecandonothingtodemeritit."

JohnColquhoun

ThesecondAdam’sperfectholinessofhumannature,andobedienceoflifetothepreceptofthelawasacovenant,areasnecessarytothejustificationofsinnersasisHissufferingofitspenalty.Thedoctrineofjustificationbyfaithestablishesthelaw,thewholelaw,thehonorofthepreceptaswellasthatofthepenalsanction.ButthisitcouldnotdoifitdidnotrepresenttherighteousnessofJesusChristasconsistinginHisactiveobedienceaswellasinHispassive.Activeobedience,strictlyspeaking,cannotbesaidtosatisfyvindictivejusticeforsin.And,ontheotherhand,sufferingforpunishmentgivesrightandtitleuntonothing,itonlysatisfiesforsomething;nordoesitdeserveanyreward,asJohnOwenmentionsinhisworkonjustification.Christ’ssatisfactionforsincouldnotrenderHisperfectobediencetothepreceptunnecessary;norcouldHisperfectobediencemakeHissatisfactionforsinbysufferingthepenaltyunnecessary,becauseitwasnotofthesamekind.Theoneisthatwhichanswersthelaw’sdemandofperfectobedienceasthegroundoftitletoeternallife;theotheristhatwhichanswersitsdemandofcompletesatisfactiontodivinejusticeforsin.ThemeritoriousobedienceofChristtothepreceptcouldnotsatisfythepenalsanction;andthesufferingsanddeathofChrist,couldnotsatisfythepreceptofthelaw.Thecommandmentofthelawasacovenantrequiresdoingforlife;thecurseofthatlawdemandsdyingasthepunishmentofsin.These,thoughtheyarenevertobeseparatedasgroundsofjustification,yetarecarefullytobedistinguished.TheperfectobedienceofChristisasnecessarytoentitlebelieverstoeternallifeasHissufferingofdeathistosecurethemfrometernaldeath.Hissatisfactionforsin,appliedbyfaith,renderstheminnocentorguiltlessofdeath;andHisobediencemakesthemrighteousorworthyoflife(Romans5:19).Asthelatter,then,isasnecessarytocompletetheirjustification,accordingtothegospel,astheformer,soitisasrequisiteastheformertoestablishthehonorofthelaw.

JohnPiper

InActs26:17-18JesustoldPaultodosomethingthatonlyJesuscando.But that didn’t stop Paul from obeying and being used as a means toaccomplishJesus’end."Don’tstopbecauseyoucan’t.Ofcourseyoucan’t.Butthefactthatyoucan’tmakeelectricityorcreatelightneverstopsyoufromflippinglightswitches.Thefactthatyoucan’tcreatefireincylinders

neverstopsyou fromturning thecarkey.The fact thatyoucan’tcreatecell tissuenever stopsyou fromeatingyourmeals.Sodon’t let the factthatyoucan’tcausethenewbirthstopyoufromtellingthegospel.Thatishow people are born again—through the living and abiding word, thegoodnewsofJesusChrist."

C.S.Lewis

Wemustnot suppose that ifwe succeeded inmakingeveryoneniceweshould have saved their souls. Aworld of nice people, content in theirownniceness,lookingnofurther,turnedawayfromGod,wouldbejustasdesperatelyinneedofsalvationasamiserableworld.

GraemeGoldsworthy,Gospel-CenteredHermeneutics

"The gospel is the event (or the proclamation of that event) of JesusChrist that begins with his incarnation and earthly life, and concludeswithhisdeath,resurrectionandascensiontotherighthandoftheFather.ThishistoricaleventisinterpretedbyGodashispreordainedprogrammefor the salvation of the world…It cannot be stressed too much that toconfuse the gospel with certain important things that go hand in handwith it is to invite theological, hermeneutical and spiritual confusion.Such ingredients of preaching and teaching thatwemightwant to linkwiththegospelwouldincludetheneedforthegospel(sinandjudgment),themeansofreceivingthebenefitsofthegospel(faithandrepentance),theresultsorfruitofthegospel(regeneration,conversion,sanctification,glorification)andtheresultsofrejectingit(wrath,judgment,hell).These,howeverwedefineandproclaimthem,arenotinthemselvesthegospel.IfsomethingisnotwhatGoddidinandthroughthehistoricalJesustwothousandyearsago,it isnotthegospel.ThusChristianscannot 'livethegospel,' as they are often exhorted to do. They can only believe it,proclaim it and seek to live consistently with it. Only Jesus lived (anddied)thegospel.Itisaonce-for-allfinishedandperfecteventdoneforusbyanother."

JeremiahBurroughs

ThegospelofChristingeneralisthis:ItisthegoodtidingsthatGodhas

revealed concerning Christ.More largely it is this: As allmankindwaslostinAdamandbecamethechildrenofwrath,putunderthesentenceofdeath,God,thoughHeleftHisfallenangelsandhasreservedtheminthechainsofeternaldarkness,yetHehasthoughtuponthechildrenofmenand has provided a way of atonement to reconcile them to Himselfagain...Namely,thesecondpersonoftheTrinitytakesman'snatureuponHimself,andbecomestheHeadofasecondcovenant,standingchargedwith sin.Heanswers for it by sufferingwhat the lawanddivine justicerequired,andbymakingsatisfactionbykeepingthelawperfectly,whichsatisfaction and righteousness He tenders up to the Father as a sweetsavorofrestforthesoulsthataregiventoHim...AndnowthismediationofChristis,bytheappointmentoftheFather,preachedtothechildrenofmen, of whatever nation or rank, freely offering this atonement untosinners for atonement, requiring them to believe in Him and, uponbelieving,promisingnotonlyadischargeofalltheirformersins,butthatthey shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins orunworthinessshalleverhinderthepeaceofGodwiththem,butthattheyshall throughHimbereceived into thenumberof thosewhoshallhavetheimageofGodagaintobereneweduntothem,andtheytheyshallbekeptbythepowerofGodthroughfaithuntosalvation.

JohnCalvin

Grant, AlmightyGod, that as thou hastmade known thy law, and hastalso added thy gospel, inwhich thou callest us to thy service, and alsoinvitestuswithallkindnesstopartakeofthygrace;Ogrant,thatwemaynotbedeaf,eithertothycommandortothepromisesofthymercy,butrenderourselves submissive to theeeverywhere, and so learn todevoteallourfacultiestothee,thatwemayintruthavowthattheruleofaholyandreligious life,hasbeendelivered tous in thy law,and thatwemayfirmlyadheretothypromises,lestthroughanyoftheallurementsoftheworld, or through the flatteries and delusions of Satan, thou shouldstsufferourmindstobedrawnawayfromthatlovewhichthouhastoncefor allmanifested to us in thine only begotten Son, and inwhich thoudailyconfirmestusbytheteachingofthegospel,untilweatlengthshallcometothefullenjoymentofthisloveinthatcelestialinheritance,whichhasbeenpurchasedforusbythebloodofthineonlySon.Amen.

NotesonOurOngoingNeedofRedemptionasChristians

byJohnHendryx

"Fear,lest,byforgettingwhatyouarebynature,youalsoforgettheneedthatyouhaveofcontinualpardon,support,andsuppliesfromtheSpiritofgrace,andsogrowproudofyourownabilities,orofwhatyouhavereceivedfromGod,andfallintocondemnation...Fear,andthatwillmakeyoulittleinyourowneyes,keepyou

humble,putyouuponcryingtoGodforprotection,anduponlyingathisfootstoolformercy;thatwillalsomakeyouhavelowthoughtsof

yourownparts,yourowndoingsandcauseyoutopreferyourbrotherbeforeyourself.AndsoyouwillwalkinhumiliationandbecontinuallyundertheteachingsofGod,andunderHisconductinyourway,Godwillteachthehumble."ThemeekwillHeguidein

judgment,andthemeekwillHeteachHisway."-Psalm25:9(JohnBunyan-TheFearofGod,page96)

WhentheLordopenedmyhearttothegospel inDecemberof1985,Heset me on a radical new course, having delivered me from a wild lifewhich was characterized by various anti-social behaviors, selfishness,drugs, crime, and the occult. Out of the most unlikely place, as I wasreadingtheScripture, theLordrevealed tomemy lostcondition: that IwaswithouthopesaveinthemercyofJesusChristalone.Inamoment,the Holy Spirit graciously unitedme to Christ, adoptedme into God’sfamily, turningme frommy idols to serve the Living and True God. IreflectbackwithaweasIconsiderthatduringthehoneymoonperiodofmynewlygrantedlifeinChrist,howtheLordactuallypouredoutonmeanextraordinarygracetoovercomesomeofmypreviousbadhabitsand

gavemearemarkableheart forprayer,especially forthe lost.Withzealandgreataffectionmygreatestdesirewas to followandobey theLord.HestirredmyhearttoprayforacouplehourseachmorningasIarose,knowing that Imust call down blessing fromGod if Iwas to have anypower to live effectively during this age. And the result was muchfruitfulnessandeffectivepersonalandcorporateministrytothegloryofGod.

WellonedayinHisgreatwisdom…andforHissovereigngoodpurposes,God decided to remove part of that extraordinary initial grace. I don’tknow if you have had a similar experience but the first years afterconversion I felt invincible, thatall sinswere there tobeovercome andsoulsweretheretobeharvested.TherewasazealthatfeltasifIwouldnever fall, yet one day, perhaps due tomy great personal andministrysuccess, and God wanting to showme what was really dormant inmyheart, allowed a subtle pride began to creep in. Even though I knewintellectually thatmyconversionandnewfounddevotionwere all a giftfrom God, there was self-righteousness which enteredmy heart in mydaily life.Ibegantobelievethe liewhichpresumedthat itwasmyownzeal, my own prayers and my own obedience which kept me in goodstanding with God. As a result, Christ’s finished work becameincreasinglyminimizedbymyownefforts andactivism.The resultwasfruitlessness and sin.Andwhen I fell into sin Iwouldhold in the guiltbecause I considered repentance as something more related to whatpeople do at the beginning of their Christian life. I feared to look atmyself inthemirrorofGod’swordandsohesitatedtoacknowledgemyweakness. Christians were not supposed to be like this, especially me.Pridekeptme fromrecognizinghow largelydependantI stillneeded tobeonChristeveryday.BeinginafarawaylandIwasnotabletoaccessgood teachingor shepherding, andmyunderstandingbecame distortedby my sin. A moralistic strain became somewhat more evident in myChristianwalk.Ihadbecometooreliantonmysuccessfulwalkinthepastandforgot, thatall Ihadwaswhollyof theLord,agift fromChristandnotsomethingself-generated.

Tomysurprise, this forgetfulness, thoughevilonmypart,was inGod’splanandHeused forgood.Overanextendedperiod,sinceIamaslow

learner,HeagaintookmebackshowedmethebasicsthatHewasGod,andIwasnot.AsthemajestyofGodgrewlargerinmyeyes,therewasanincreasinglyuneasysensethat,evenasaChristianIfellwoefullyshortofobeyingGod’sclearcommandstoloveHimwithallmyheart,mind,soul,andstrengthandmyneighborasmyself.InlightofGod’sholylawIsawmyselfas,notgettingbetter,butincreasinglyawareofmyownsinfulness.Butasitturnsout,whilethis“classroom”revealedmyowncorruptheartyetitwasformyownbenefitsotheLordcouldshinealightononcedarkrecessesofmybeingwhichwerenotpreviouslyexposed.I learnedfromthis that inwardly,aswegrowingrace, thegreatnessofGod(andwhatChristhasdoneforus)increasesinourhearts,whilewebecomeless.Infact it is normal that as we grow in the Lord our sense of our ownsinfulnessandill-deservinglivesmayoftenevenbecomemoreapparent.However, at the same time, this is in theLord's plan andHeuses it tomake us simultaneously more dependent on Christ. And thanks be toGod,thatinChrist,Goddoesnottreatusasoursinsjustlydeserve…andthatissomethingweneedtoremindourselves,andpraiseHimfor,daily.

Ichabod S. Spencer once said, "To cut off the sinner from all relianceupon himself, his merits and his powers; and throw him, naked andhelpless, intothehandsoftheHolySpirittoleadhimtoChristinfaith;shouldbetheonegreataimoftheministry.”SothewayGodworksinusthrough the gospel is that as the Holy Spirit broods over us prior toredeemingus,andworksrepentanceand faith inusbyconfrontingourself-righteousnessandspiritualblindnesssuchthatourheartrecognizesthat we have no hope unless we throw ourselves entirely on Christ’smercyalone.WithaheartrenewedbytheHolySpiritwethenrepentofknowneviland,justasimportant,oftrustinginanyandallgoodworks.When the Lord opens our heart to the gospel and unites us to Christthrough faith, the Spirit of God is said to seal us for the day orredemption, thus guaranteeing our inheritance (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13,4:30).TomanyChristians thegospelends thereasaone timeevent. It isoftenseenassomepastexperiencehavinghappenedat thetimeofconversionbeforewegraduateonto“higher”truths.But,mayIsuggest that thismost foundational understanding of the gospel is alsothe basis of our ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ? While ourultimateredemptionisascertainasChristisrisen,hestillremindsusas

ChristiansthatapartfromHimwecandonothing(John15:5).Iintendtoshowthistoscripturallybethecaseinthenextfewparagraphs.

Itslikethis:Justaswhenthegospelsavedus,asChristianstheWordofGod still comes to us in divine power so that our self-complacency isshattered and our self-righteousness renounced … the Holy Spirit stillremindsus of ourwoeful, guilty, and lost conditionwithoutChrist andwhen,asourFather,Helovinglyconfrontstheidolsinourheart,sotheSpiritagainrevealstousouronlyhopetobethesufficiencyofChristtomeetourdesperatecase…andadivinelygivenfaithstillcausesustolayholdofandrestuponChristasouronlyhopeforeverysituationweface.NoamountofmyowngoodworkswillmakememoreacceptedwithGod.ChristisstillallinallsoIdogoodworksnotinordertoberedeemedbutbecauseIamredeemedinChristandmustholdthateverbeforeme,byGod’sgrace.

Weall agree that theeventof conversiondidhaveabeginningat somepointinthepast,butIcannotemphasizethistoomuch:therecognitionofourspiritualhelplessnessandbankruptcydoesnotendatthetimeofourconversion.ThemeanswhichGodusedtobringustofaith ismuchthesamemeansheusestosanctifyusandstripusofourremainingidolsaswegrowintoChrist’slikeness.ThisgospelisneversomethingwhichaChristiangraduates frombecause thegospelcontinues tobethecentralmeansoftheChristians’growthandrelationshiptoGod.A.W.Pinkgotitrightwhenhesaid:“Justasthesinner'sdespairofanyhopefromhimselfisthefirstprerequisiteofasoundconversion,sothelossofallconfidenceinhimself is the firstessential in thebeliever'sgrowth ingrace.”As theSpirit now enables us to abide in Christ, God continues to remove thefunctional idols from the Christians’ heart. Since we continue to besusceptible to sin, the ongoing characteristic in every encounter andsituation in our Christian lives should be the gospel. The gospel forsalvationandthegospelforlooseningthegripwehaveontheidolswhichstillcaptivateourhearts.Onlyasweexhibitrealacknowledgementofourpersonalweaknesses dailywillwe begin to live redemptively on a dailybasis.Wethenallowtheworld tosee thatweareaboutChrist,andnotabout ourselves or our moral programs. Christianity is not for thoseunwillingtoconstantlyfacetheirweaknessesforinthemGod’spoweris

mostrevealedinus(1Cor1:25,15:43;2Cor11:30,12:5,9).Butthisisoneofthehardestlessonstolearn.

Butwhatdoesthismeaninaneverydaypracticalway?

ItmeansthatsincewehavecompleteforgivenessinChristwenolongerneed to fearapproachingChristwhenwe fail. In fact,heencourages it.Nomoreexcusesorblamingothers foroursinsinceweneedno longerdenywe areweak.Next is alsomeanswe recognize that our growth ingrace is frustratedeverytimewehavecounterfeithopes ...whenwearetrustinginsomethingotherthanJesusChrist,thatis,lettingsomeotheridolcaptureourhighestaffection.Thesehopesoridolscouldbeanything,includingmoney,sex,beingwell-thoughtof,Christianactivityandeventheologicalknowledge.YouseeGodisnotsimplyrepairingthehousewealreadyhave,hewantstodemolishit.ItisafalsegospelwhichsaysthatyouareokandGodjustwantstoimproveyou.No,Godwantstoremoveallthefalsefoundationsandbeamsyouhaveerectedinyourhouseandreplace them entirely with new ones. The gospel is not about moralimprovement but aboutmaking a newman.Our inability to grasp thismeansthatwehaveaseriousgapinourapprehensionofthegospel.OuridentityasChristians is subvertedwhen theholes inour livesare filledwith anything other than Christ. Our relationship to God and otherssufferasaresult.

Iwantyoutotakeacloselookwithmeatapassagein2Peter1:3-8.

“Hisdivinepowerhasgrantedtousallthingsthatpertaintolifeandgodliness,throughtheknowledgeofhimwhocalledustohisowngloryandexcellence,bywhichhehasgrantedtoushisprecious and very great promises, so that through them you maybecome partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from thecorruptionthatisintheworldbecauseofsinfuldesire.Forthisveryreason,makeeveryeffort tosupplementyourfaithwithvirtue,andvirtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, andgodlinesswithbrotherlyaffection,andbrotherlyaffectionwithlove.For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep youfrom being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord

JesusChrist.Forwhoeverlacksthesequalitiesissonearsightedthathe is blind,having forgotten thathewas cleansed fromhisformersins.”

Ifyouaregoing to takeawayanything fromthisarticle, take thisaway:The reason, Peter says, that your Christian life is ineffective andunfruitfulandstillladenwithsinisnotbecauseyouhavenottriedhardenough,butrather,thatyouhaveforgottenthegospel…forgottenwhatChristhasdoneforyou.Youhaveforgottentoapplythegospel toeverysituation.. The ramifications of this are profound.And take note, Peteralsosays that in thegospelHehasprovidedeverythingweneed for lifeandgodlinessNOW.ThisiswhyitissoessentialforChristianstogathertogether every week to encourage one another and hear the pastorreminduswhatChristhasdone, and is doing for us, through theHolySpirit who unites us to Him. The people Peter describes in the abovepassage are nearsighted and blind to how the gospel applies today forthemasChristians.Thatiswhytheydonotgrowingraceandexhibitthefruit of sanctification such as faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control,steadfastness, godliness, and brotherly love in increasing measure.Instead of simply attempting to obey the commands with our sheerwillpower, Peter says that it is our constant need to feed on Christ,forsakingourself-sufficiencythatistheonlymeansGodhasprovidedifwe are to live God-glorifying lives. So the gospel is not only for ourconversion but for our growth in grace as Christians. Do notunderestimateyourown tendency to sinandmisapprehend the currentbenefitsofthegospelavailableforyouinChrist.

Oneofthebiggestproblemsofpreachingtodayisthatitdoesnotusethegospel tomeet all the specific challengeswe face in today’sworld. Theprevalent moralistic “how-to” sermons all but forsake Christ except inname.As a result, our identities get taken up by personal achievementand not the gospel … but the gospel strips us of these self-justifyingillusionsandgivesallglorytoChrist.Weconstantlyaretemptedtochaseafter Christ-replacements finding some other way to justify ourselvesasidefromChrist.Butwemustlearntodistrustourownheartsbecauseour natural blind tendency as Christians is not to view ourselves asdesperatesinners,thusfailingtoseethatweneedanongoingSavior.We

mustneverseeJesusasLordandnot,atthesametime,asSavior,evenafter conversion. The converse is also true, as Lord and Savior areinseparablyintertwinedasapackage.SeeingJesusonlyasLordleadstojudgingourselvesbyourmorals,whereweinevitablycompareourselvesto others, andboastingor envy is usually the unintended consequence.Our personal virtue then functionally becomes a savior. But when wecometounderstandthegospeloffreegraceinChrist,asweshould,thenallpretencefallsawaybecauseIseemyselfasIreallyam...asinnerwhojustlydeservesthewrathofGodsaveforChrist'smercyalone.Onlythenwill we rightly have true sympathies and union with the poor, thedisenfranchised, the racist, the proud, and the criminal, because that'sme,iflefttomyself.ItisthegraceofGodALONEthatmakesustodiffer,andsowhatfreegracedoesisthatitmakesitsothatIcanonlypointtoJesus andwhatHe has done forme, for in the gospel there no longeranythingIcanpoint to inmyselfwhichmakesmesuperior toothers inlight of God's majesty and holiness. Therefore a robust Calvinisticunderstandingof thesovereigntyofGodandthe finishedworkofJesuson our behalf would go a long way in recovering the gospel which isessentiallylostinmostmodernevangelicalism.

It is this forgetting of the gospel which creates the empty hole in ourheartswhichtemptsustoreplaceouridentitieswith,orjustifyourselveswith some God-replacement. Our identity then becomes rooted insomethingotherthanGod’sgrace.Thenatureofourheartsaresuchthatitwillseeksomethingtofill thathole if leftvoid.EvenasChristianswecanbecomeblindtoourspiritualconditionanddailyneedforChrist torescueus.NothinggivesyoustandingbeforeGod,saveJesusChristandHimalone:Notyourperformance;notyourknowledgeoftheBible;notyour activism in confronting evil in society or others and not youracceptancewithothers.All of these canpotentiallybecome idols forusandwilltrytoreplaceourdependenceandsweetcommunionwithChrist.

Thegreatestdangerinthechurchtodayisnotsomesocietalimmorality“out there”but inourmisapprehensionof thegospel.Because somanyhave not heard a clear gospel, the church itself is one of the greatestmission fields. I fear that a significant percentage of evangelicalism isnownotmuchbetteroff theologically than the semi-Pelagianism of the

RomanCatholicChurchat the timeof theReformation:Recovering thegospel for Christians and non-Christians, therefore, must be our toppriority.Thegospelteachesthatwearemuchworseoffthanmanyofusarewillingtohearsowearetemptedtosubtlychangethegospelthatwill,insomeway,appealtoourself-righteousness.

Consider that as Christians whenever we become angry, covetous, andproudorbreakanyofGod’scommandsitisbecause,atthatmoment,wefearandworshipsomethingelsemorethanwedoGod.Asanexample:awoman grows in bitterness toward her husband who is not spendingenough time with his young boy. She fears that her son will grow upreceivingbadinfluencesandgodownthewrongroad.ShefollowsChristbutsaystheonethingshewouldnotendureisifhersonwentdownabadpathin life.Ifsomething likethishappened,shemight loseherfaith inGod. While it is right to have good intentions for our children, thiswomanislettinghersonbecomeanidolthatreplacesthetrueGod.Thisperson cannot be helped with mere psychological counseling. Her realproblem is a "worship disorder". She must see that her justificationcomesfromChristandthatHealonecanfillthatgapshehasbeenfillingwithfalsegods.

TheworkofGodintheChristianistogrowthemingracebytheongoingprocessofeliminatingthesegospelreplacements.Hedoesthisbyshininghislightinthedarkcornersofourhearts,inplaceswehardlyknewweredensofiniquity.Painfulthoughitmaybeatthetime,hedoesthisforourgood and our eternal felicity. Sin arises in our hearts when we replacefearofGodwiththefearofsomecreatedthing.IntheirbookHowPeopleChange,TimothyLaneandPaulDavidTrippwrite,

“While external conditions can be very influential in our lives andshouldnotbeignored,theBiblesaysthattheyareonlytheoccasionfor sin, not the cause. Difficulties in life do not cause sin. Ourbackground, relationships, situation, and physical condition onlyprovide the opportunity for the thoughts, words, and actions torevealwhateverisalreadyinourhearts.Ourheartsaretheultimatecauseofourresponses,andwherethetruespiritualbattleisfought… [while] wemust neverminimize our suffering - ours or anyoneelse’s … we must make the important distinction between the

occasion for sin and the ultimate cause of sin. Thiswill determinewhatyouthinkthesolutionto theproblemwillbe…Thebiblesaysthatmyrealproblemisnotpsychological(lowself-esteemorunmetneeds), social (bad relationships and influences), historical (mypast),orphysiological(mybody).Theyaresignificantinfluences,butmy real problem is spiritual (my straying heart and my need forChrist). I have replaced Christ with something else, and as aconsequence, my hearts is hopeless and powerless. Its responsesreflect its bondage to whatever it is serving instead of Christ.Ultimatelymyrealproblemisaworshipdisorder.”

ItiswhenwesetourhopesonsomethingotherthanGodtoaddmeaning,hopeand justification toour life thatwe fall into sin.Soour growth inChrist is essentially the ongoing removal of deeply buried idols. Christhas redeemed us, is redeeming us and one day will consummate ourredemption. Idols often begin as good things in an of themselves likework,leisure,marriageandchildrenbutbecomesinwhenwemakethemthe highest good in our lives. According to Paul in the Epistle to theRomans it is whenwe take these good things of creation and let themtaketheplaceofGod(Rom1:23).Sinfulnessistheinevitableresult.Goodthings like respect, material goods and family become the object ofworshipandsoweconcludethatthetrueGodcannothelpandwemustbe in control.When our desires are notmetwewill use sinfulways tomeetthem…andunderstandingthisopensuptheopportunitytoapplythegospeltoeverysituation.Considerthis;bothhardshipandblessingsboth help us to see the idols of our heart, our God replacements. Ourresponses to hardship and blessing showwhatwemost value and giveweightto.Oursinrevelswhatwefear.ButunionandidentitywithChristwilloverridewhateverstruggleyoumaybegoingthroughatthemoment.WearenotmerelytofollowChrist’sexample,whichbyitselfwouldleadonlytodespair,butwemustdailycometoHimforthemercyandgraceifwearetobecomelikehim.

“Hewhocallsyouisfaithful;hewillsurelydoit.”(1Thessalonians5:24)

PartOne:IntrototheChristianFaith

WhatistheGospel?

byJohnHendryx

"...Teacher,what gooddeedmust I do to have eternal life?...Ifyouwouldenterlife,keepthecommandments."-Matthew19:15-17

"God bids us dowhat we cannot, that wemay knowwhat weoughttoseekfromhim."-Augustine

"Forbyworksofthelawnohumanbeingwillbejustifiedinhissight,sincethroughthelawcomesknowledgeofsin."-Rom3:20

Inshort,theGospelisthelife-alteringnewsthatJesusChrist,theeternalSon of God, became man, lived a sinless life under the Law, died forsinnersandroseagaintoreconcile themtohimself,eternallyvictoriousovereveryenemythatstoodbetweenGodandman.Now,becauseofthisredemptivework,thereisnothingthatseparatesthosewhobelievefromtheirCreatorandall thebenefits thatHepromises inhim.D.A. Carsonsays the gospel centers "upon Jesus Christ and what God has donethroughhim.TheessentialpointsofthegospelareJesusChrist'sstatusas the Son of God, his genuine humanity, his death for our sins, hisburial, resurrection, subsequent appearances, and future coming injudgment.ThatnooneisjustifiedbutinthegraciousworkofJesusChristin his death and resurrection. It is not merely a recital of theologicaltruthsandhistoricalevents; rather, it relates these truthsandeventstosituationsofeveryindividualbeliever."

But in order to fully understandwhat the Gospel is, it is important tounderstandwhytheGospelisneeded.

Itishelpfultoseethegospelinthecontextofhumanhistorystartingwith

God's creation of all things, man's rebellion against the Creator, hissubsequentfall intocorruptionandGod'sredemptionofthatwhichwaslost.Adam,thefirstman,hadthecapacitytodoeverygoodworkthelawrequired;whichmen,sincethefall,havenot.Havingfallenheadlongintosin, God cursed Adam with death (Gen 2:17, 3:19-22), and with theremoval of His Spirit (1 Cor 2:14), a penalty he passed on to all hisposterity. Man squandered his stewardship and put himself in theposition of a moral debt he cannot repay. Now mankind's spirituallybankrupt conditionand fallennature,which is beyond repair, render itnecessarythatifheistoberestored,thehelpwillhavetocomefromtheoutside.ThatredemptioncomesfromGodandcomesintheformofthegospel. This gospel is not somethingmanmade up or a well-informedopinion,butisgoodnewsdirectlyrevealedfromAlmightyGodregardingwhatHehasdoneinJesusChristtorescueallthosewhohavecalledonHisname.Yes,itisadivinerescue,acompletedeliverance...notadvice,not a moral improvement program, nor a philosophy of life, since weneedsovereignmercy,notassistance.Theproud,orthosewhofailtoseetheirmoralimpotencetosavethemselves,willrejectthisgospel.ButthisisGOODNEWStothepoorandbrokenhearted,(thespiritualbankruptwho have lost all confidence in their own efforts) ... So all you poor,broken sinners, abandon despair and banish your laments because ofwhatGodhasdone inHisSon,JesusChrist theMessiah todeliverHispeoplefromtheirsins.

Ionceheard it said that thereare tworeligions in theworld: 1)humanattainment and 2) Divine accomplishment. Lets consider the first one;humanattainment,whichisthenaturalinclinationofusall.InHisLaw,Godcallsus toperfect obedience toHisholy commands, yet anhonestassessment of ourselves will force us to acknowledge that we all fallwoefully short of doing so, leaving no hope in ourselves. But in theGospel, Jesus mercifully obeys the commands for us. Christ’s fullobedience to all the prescriptions of the divine law…and His willingobedience in bearing all the sanctions imposed for our disobedience tothat law isboth thegroundofGod’s justificationof sinners likeus andmakes available a perfect righteousness that is imputed or reckoned tothosewhoputtheirtrustinhim.Inotherwords,ThegospelisnotaboutanymeritIhave,but isbaseduponJesus'Personandmeritalone.It is

notwhatwehavedoneforJesus,butwhatJesushasdoneforus(Rom5:19,2Cor5:21,Phil2:8).WhereAdamfailed,Jesusprevailed.ItisGod'spromise to us, not our ability to keep our promise to Him. In thecovenant rainbow sign with Noah, God says He "remembers" never tofloodtheworldagain,solikewiseinthecovenantinChrist'sblood,God"remembers"nottotreatusaswejustlydeserveforoursins.ThemysteryofGodhasbeenmademanifestinthePersonandworkoftheSon,who,in his wrath absorbing sacrifice, frees the prisoners, gives sight to theblind,breaksloosethechainsandchangesheartsofstoneintoheartsofflesh.WewereoncetakencaptivetodoSatan'swillandcouldnotescapeusingourownresources,butChristhassetus free.Christ, inHis crosswork,doesforuswhatwecouldnotdoforourselves.Helivedtheperfectlifethatweshouldhavelivedanddiedthedeathweshouldhavedied,inorder to freeus so thatwemight thenproclaimHis excellencies,makeknownhisgospelandspreadjusticeandmercytothepoor.

Dr. Tim Keller once said "...the gospel is news about what God hasalreadydoneforyou,ratherthaninstructionandadviceaboutwhatyouaretodoforGod.Theprimacyofhiswork,notourwork, ispartof theessenceoffaith.Inotherreligions,Godrevealstoushowwecanfindorachieve salvation. In Christianity, God achieves salvation for us. Thegospelbringsnewsprimarily,ratherthaninstruction."...thegospelisallabout historic events, and thus it has a public character. "It identifiesChristianfaithasnewsthathassignificanceforallpeople,indeedforthewhole world, not merely as esoteric understanding or insight."[Brownson,p.46]...ifJesusisnotrisenfromthedead,Christianitydoesnot"work".Thegospel is thatJesusdiedandroseforus.If thehistoriceventsofhislifedidnothappen,thenChristianitydoesnot"work"forthegoodnews is thatGodhas entered thehuman"now" (history)with thelifeoftheworldtocome....thegospelisnewsaboutwhatGodhasdoneinhistory to save us, rather than advice about what wemust do to reachGod.ThegospelisnewsthatJesus'life,death,andresurrectioninhistoryhasachievedoursalvation...Jesusdoesnotjustbringgoodnews;heisthegoodnews."

ThereisnosalvationoutsideoftheLordJesusChrist.SotrustinChristandnotinyourownrighteousness.ButsomerefusethefreegiftofGod

becausetheytrustintheirowngoodness.AsthePuritanThomasWatsononcesaid:

[Somepeoplethink]...theyaresogood,thattheyscornGod'sofferofmercy.Indeedtheseareoftenintheworstcondition:thesearetheywho think they need no repentance (Luke 15:7). Their moralityundoesthem.Theymakea"savior"ofit,andsoonthisrocktheysuffershipwreck.Morality shoots shortofheaven. It is onlynaturerefined.Amoralman is but oldAdamdressed in fine clothes. Theking's image counterfeited and stamped upon brass will not gocurrent.ThemoralpersonseemstohavetheimageofGod—butheisonly brass metal, which will never pass for current. Morality isinsufficient forsalvation.Thoughthe life ismoralized, the lustmaybeunmortified.Theheartmaybe full ofprideandatheism.Underthefairleavesofatree,theremaybeaworm.Iamnotsaying,repentthat you are moral—but that you are no more than moral. Satanenteredintothehousethathadjustbeensweptandgarnished(Luke11:26).This is theemblemofamoralman,who is sweptbycivilityand garnished with common gifts—but is not washed by truerepentance. The unclean spirit enters into such a one. If moralitywere sufficient to salvation, Christ need not have died. Themoralmanhasafairlamp—butitlackstheoilofgrace."

JesusisLordandcreator-theonlyrightfulkingofallcreation...kingofallthingsbothseenandunseen.Tothosewhoworshipthefalse idolsoftheir hearts (any God-replacement) take heed ... Jesus will soon beinvadingwithHisarmiesandwilloverthrowhisenemiesandallinjusticewiththebreathofHismouth.ButHeisofferingpardoninadvanceofHisinvasion to all thosewho receiveHim (John 1:12, 13). Thosewho havejoinedthemselvestoHimnowbeforeHeinvadeswillbeconsideredHisally andHe will raise them up to be co-heirs with Christ as sons. Thealternative is to be under the wrath of the king. We herald thisannouncement:thattheTrueKingisonthethroneandhe'llbeinvading.Thegospelisnotmerelyaninvitationitisacommandtoallthosegoingtheirownways.Willyouheedthecommand?Jesus isLord,repentandbelieve."(BillWilder)Butbecauseof theblindness sinhas cast overus,Jesussays,noonecanbelieveinHimunlesstheFathergrantsitthrough

theregeneratingworkoftheHolySpirit(John6:63-65).Sothosewho,bythegraceofGod,trustinJesusandHisworkcanbeassured,onthesuretestimonyofScripture,thattheirsinsareforgivenandhavethepromiseofGod:eternallife.

ToSummarize:ManwascreatedtoglorifyGod&EnjoyHimforever"Worthyareyou,ourLordandourGodtoreceivegloryandhonorandpower,forYoucreatedallthings."(Rev4:11)"DoalltothegloryofGod"(1Cor10:31)

ManhasfailedtoglorifyGod&isunderHisjustcondemnation"Forallhavesinned..."(Rom3:23)Thewagesofsinisdeath(Rom6:23)"Thesewillpaythepenaltyofeternaldestruction"(2Thes1:9)

Jesus fully bore the wrath and suffered the punishmentsinnersdeserveNotwishingthatsinnersperishforever,GoddeterminedtosaveapeopleforHimself in theEternalSonwhobecameamanand lived the lifeweshouldhavelivedanddiedthedeathwejustlydeserve.GodlovessinnersandsentHisSontobethewrathabsorbingsacrificefortheirsin(1John4:10;John6:37)he"...gaveHislifeasaransomformany"(Mk10:45)&"roseagain"fromthedead(2Cor5:15)ontheirbehalf.

Allwho,bythegraceofGod,turntoJesusinsubmissivefaithareforgivenIfyouconfessyouareasinner inneedofChristthenGodhasbeguntowork in you a life-changing, eternally satisfying relationship withHimself! "Repent and believe the gospel (Mk 1:5) "In Your presence isfullnessofJoy(Ps16:11).Soleaveyourself-righteousness,andyoursins.FlyuntotheLordJesusChrist,andreceivehisrighteousnesstobeyourcovering, and his blood to be your atonement. If your trust is in Jesusalone for your salvation (that is, if you have no hope save for Christ'smercyalone)thenyoucanbeassuredthatyoursinsareforgivenandHehasgrantedyoueternallife.

GOD

GodtheCreator

J.GreshamMachen

Machen(1881-1937)wasProfessorofNewTestament,firstatPrincetonTheological Seminary, and afterwards at Westminster TheologicalSeminary, Philadelphia. Excerpts from The Christian Faith in theModernWorld(1936).

TheBibleisdoctrinalthroughandthrough.Itgivesnottheslightestbitofcomforttotheskepticalnotion,somuchinvoguetoday,thatdoctrineismerely the necessarily changing form in which Christian experienceexpresses itself. TheBible, unlike this skepticism, grounds life squarelyon truth. Christianity, according to the Bible, is a life founded upon adoctrine.

That doctrine upon which the Bible grounds life is not one isolateddoctrine, and it is not amere series of doctrines, but it is a system ofdoctrine. If theBiblecontainedanumberofdivergentsystems, itcouldnot possibly be theWord ofGod, because it couldnot possibly be truethroughout.TheordinationpledgeisquiterightinspeakingofthesystemofdoctrinetaughtintheHolyScriptures.

Ithinkgreatstressoughttobelaiduponthatfact.Agreatdealofharmisdonewhen people take one part of the teaching of the Bible out of itsconnectionwiththerest,orwhentheyleavegapsintheirpresentationofwhattheBibleteaches.ItisveryimportanttoseethattheBibledoesfarmore than present isolated truths. It is not a system which man hasdevised,butasystemwhichGodhasrevealed-revealedgraciouslyinHisholyWord.

WhereshallwebegininourstudyofthatgreatsystemofrevealedtruththattheBiblecontains?IthinkweoughttobeginwheretheBiblebegins.

IthinkweoughttobeginwithaconsiderationofwhattheBibleteachesaboutGodastheCreatorandRuleroftheworld.

Therearemanytodaywhoinsistthatweoughttobeginatanotherplace.Therearemanywhotellusthatweoughttobeginwithaconsiderationofthe human life of Jesus. In fact these people often tell us that that iswhereweoughtnotonlytobeginbutalsotoend.Theyaretellingusthatthatisallwereallyneedtoknow.

AllthatweneedtoknowaboutGod,theytellus,isthatGodislikeJesus.Wedonotneedtoknowhowtheuniversecameintobeing,theytellus,orwhetherthereisaGodwhogovernsitinitscourse.Wearenotinterested,theysay,inthequestionwhetherGodispowerful,butareonlyinterestedinconceivingofHimasgood.

Such is theviewof thosewhousethephrase"theChristlikeGod."Thatphrase,asitiscommonlyused,gratesuponChristianears.Itgratesuponthe ears of thosewhobelievenot thatGod is like Jesus, but thatJesusHimselfisGod.

But what is wrong with that view? Aside from the terminology that isusedtosetitforth,whatiswrongwiththeviewitself?Whatiswrongwiththis notion that all that we know about God is that He possesses themoralexcellenciesthatarefoundinthemanJesus?

Two things at least are wrong with it. In the first place, it is terriblydegrading to Jesus. Thatmay seem strange at first sight. It may seemstrange that a viewwhichholds that allweneed to knowaboutGodisthatGodislikeJesusshouldbederogatorytoJesus,butalittlereflectionwillshowthatitisderogatorytoJesusintheextreme.

ItisderogatorytoJesusbecauseitdoesdespitetothedeepestthings inJesus'teachingandexample.AttheveryheartofthelifeofJesuswasjustthatviewofGodwhichisbeingsocontemptuouslyrejectedbythosewhosaythatthemorallifeofthemanJesustellsusallthatweneedtoknowaboutGod.

JesuscertainlybelievedthatGodistheCreatorandRuleroftheuniverse,

andthatbeliefbelongedtothefoundationofeverythingthatHebelieved.Notasparrow,HesaidtoHisdisciples,shall"fallonthegroundwithoutyourFather." It isGod,according toJesus,whoclothes the liliesof thefield,andit isGodwhomakesthesuntoriseonjustandunjust.TherecanbenodoubtwhateverbutthatJesusheldjustthatviewofGodwhichthe persons ofwhomwehave been speaking reject.He put at the veryfoundationofHisteachingandHislifethatdivinelyrevealedmetaphysicwhichisfoundinthefirstverseofGenesis.EverythingthatHedid,witheverything that He said, was based upon the great truth: "In thebeginning God created the heaven and the earth." God, according toJesus,istheCreatorandtheabsoluteRuleroftheuniverse,bringingallthingstopassinaccordancewiththecounselofHiswill.YoumaynotlikethatviewofGod,butifyouareahistorianwhoseesthingsastheyareyouwillbeobligedtorecognizethefactthatitwascertainlytheviewheldbyJesusofNazareth.

Moreover, Jesus certainly held thatmen had a true knowledge of Godbefore He appeared upon the earth. He held that they had that trueknowledge of God from the Old Testament. Jesus regarded the OldTestamentastheveryWordofGodandHeputthatconvictionabouttheOldTestamentattheveryheartbothofHisteachingandofHislife.How,then, if you reject that conviction, can you possibly think that you aredoinghonortoJesus?IfyouholdthattherevelationofGodcontainedintheOldTestament isvaluelessand thatall thatweneed toknowaboutGodisfoundinthemoralcharacterofthemanJesusofNazareth,whatwill youdowith the fact that the Jesus towhomyouappeal put at theverybasisof thatmoral characterwhichyou somuchadmireaviewoftheOldTestamentandaviewofGodwhichyoucontemptuouslyreject?

Jesusdid,indeed,presentHimselfasrevealingGodandasbeinginHisverypersontherevelationofGod."Hethathathseenme,"Hesaid,"hathseentheFather;andhowsayestthouthen,ShewustheFather?"Butthatcertainly does notmean that the disciples who were with our Lord onearth were told by our Lord suddenly to regard as of no value theknowledge of God which they already had. The key to what our LordmeantwhenHesaid,"HethathathseenMehathseentheFather,"istobefound,Iaminclinedtothink,inthewordsinJohn1:18:"Nomanhath

seenGodat any time;Godonlybegotten,which is in thebosomof theFather,hehathdeclaredHim."DevoutreadersoftheOldTestamenthadknownGod,buttheyhadnotseenHim,sinceGodis invisible.ButnowtheonewhoisbothGodandonlybegotten,theeternalSon,hasbecomeflesh,andbecauseHehasbecomefleshcanactuallybeseenwithmen'seyes.Amanwho seesHim sees theFather, sinceHe isHimself one insubstancewiththeFather.Thus,inChrist,thelongingofmenactuallytoseeGodissatisfied.

Atanyrate,whatisperfectlyclearisthateverywhereJesuspresupposedtheknowledgeofGodwhichHisdiscipleshad fromtheOldTestament.He just assumes that His disciples have that knowledge, and then,buildinguponthatknowledge,He leadsthemon intoa fullerandmoregloriousknowledge.

Tohold, then, that all thatweneed toknowaboutGod is found in themoral character of the man Jesus of Nazareth, and that we can beindifferent to the questionwhetherGod is theMaker andRuler of theworld, is to treat JesusHimself with contempt, since itmeans thatwerejectwhatHeHimselfputattheveryfoundationofHislifeandofHisteaching.

ButthatviewisnotonlyderogatorytoJesus.ItisalsoderogatorytoGod.WhatalowviewofGoditis,tobesure,whenmensaythattheyarenotinterested in the question whether He is powerful, whether He is theCreator or Ruler of the world, but are only interested in the questionwhetherHeisgood!

IsthatviewofGodreallyright?HasallourtrustintheinfinitepowerofourGodbeenwrongwheninthemidstofstormsandtrialsandahostofenemieswehavequoted thewordsofScripture: "IfGodbe forus,whocan be against us?"Was Isaiah wrong when he turned his eyes to thestarryheavensandsaid:"Liftupyoureyesonhigh,andbeholdwhohathcreated these things, thatbringethout theirhostbynumber:he calleththemallbynamesbythegreatnessofhismight,forthatheisstronginpower; not one faileth"?Was JesuswrongwhenHe badeHis disciplestrust inHimwhoclothes the liliesof the fieldandwhenHesaid:"Fearnot, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the

Kingdom"?

WhatthenistheviewofGodwhichtheBiblepresentstous?

Ifyouwill letmeanswer thatquestion inoneword,and ifyouwillnotforbidmetomakethatonewordaconvenientwordwhichphilosophersuse, Iwill just say that the viewofGodwhich theBiblepresents is theviewwhichphilosopherscall"theism"-thatis,itistheviewwhichholdsthatthereisapersonalGodwhoisCreatorandRuleroftheworld.ThatistheviewwhichJesuspresentswithparticular clearness, and that is theviewwhichtheBiblepresentsasawhole.

Tounderstand justwhat that viewofGod is,we cannot dobetter thancontrast itwiththeviewthat isstiflingthe lifeofsuchlargeportions oftheChurchtoday.Thatistheancienterrorcalled"pantheism."Itisheldin very many different forms, and with many degrees of consistency.Accordingtothestrictmeaningoftheterm,itistheviewthat"allisGod,"theviewthatsimplyidentifiesGodwiththetotalityofexistingthings.

Isupposethefirstimpulseoftheordinaryman,untrainedinphilosophy,istoregardthatviewasabsurd.ItwasinthatwaythatIregardeditwhenI first heard of it when I was young. It seemed to me almost morepreposterousthantheidolatryoftheheathenwhobowsdowntoidolsofwoodandstone.

Buthereisthestrangething-agreatmanypeoplewhoregardpantheismaswrongifthemeaningofthetermisexplainedtothemarepracticallypantheists themselves. They are not aware of the fact, but they arepantheistsallthesame.

We find ourselves in the midst of the mighty process of nature. Itmanifests itself in the wonders of the starry heavens and the equalwonders that the interior of the atom now reveals. It is seen in therevolving seasons and also in the achievements of the humanmind. Inthepresence of thatmightyprocess of nature,we stand in awe;we areimpressed with our own littleness; we understand that we are butinfinitesimalpartsofamightywhole.Andtothatmightywhole, tothatstupendous world-process, whose vastness we moderns have come to

understandasneverbefore,thepantheistappliesthedreadnameofGod.Godisthusnolongerthoughtofasanartificerapartfromhismachine;He is thought of rather as the universe itself, conceived of not in itsindividualmanifestationsbutasamightywhole.

Suchispantheisminthestrictsenseoftheword.Wecanwellunderstandtheappealwhichsuchaviewhasformanyminds.Ithasstimulatedsomeofthemostbrilliantthinkingandinspiredsomeofthegrandestpoetryoftherace.

Butitcontainsnocomfortwhateverforoppressedandburdenedsouls.IfGodbemerelyanothernameforthetotalityofthings,thenifwepossessHimwehavenothingthatwedidnothavebefore.Thereisforusnownomore appeal fromnature to nature'sGod.We are nownothing but theplaythingsofblindforce.

Feeling,perhaps,thedefectsofthestarkpantheismwhichidentifiesGodwith all that exists, somemenhave sought for a "higher pantheism" ofvarious kinds. No, they say to themselves, God is not simply anothernamefortheuniverseasawhole,but is tobe identifiedratherwiththespiritualpurposethatrunsthroughtheuniverse.Someofthemhavesaidthat God is the soul of the universe. As the human body has a humansoul, so the universe has a soul, they say, and that soul is to be called"God."

Twoprofounddefectsarefoundinalltheseformsofpantheism,highandmiddlingand low. In the firstplace, theygiveusaGodwho is in somekindofnecessaryconnectionwiththeworld.NotonlydoestheworldnotexistapartfromGod,theytellus,butGoddoesnotexistapartfromtheworld. What becomes, then, of the holiness or separateness of God?Clothesuchaviewwithallthebeautyoflanguagewithwhichithasbeencelebratedbypoetsandphilosophers, andstill it givesusaGodwho ismerelyafunctionoranaspectoftheworld.SuchaGodcanneverbringusintocontactwiththatdreadandmysteriousrealmofthebeyondintowhichoursoulslongtoenter.

In the second place, pantheism high or low can never really give us apersonal God. A God of which we are parts can never be a God with

whomwecanhavecommunion.Wecannever stand in thepresenceofsuchaGodasonepersonstandsinthepresenceofanother.Wecanneversay"Thou"tosuchaGod,andsuchaGodcanneversay"Thou"tous.Wecan never love such a God, and such a God can never love us. Anabstractioncanneitherlovenorbeloved.Nevercouldwesaytoa"worldprocess"or toa "spiritualmeaning"or toaprincipleofgoodness: "OurFatherwhichartinheaven."

How gloriously are those two defects of pantheism avoided in theteachingofHolyScripture!

Theformerofthetwodefectsiscertainlyavoided.Whatisitthatstandsout sharply in the Bible from beginning to end? Is it not the awfulholinessorseparatenessofGod,theawfuldistinctionbetweenthefiniteandtheinfinite,betweenthecreatureandtheCreator?

TheBibledoesindeedteachusthatGodisimmanentintheworld.HeisnotaGodafaroff.HeisnotaGodwhostandsalooffromtheuniverseasanartificerstandsalooffromhismachine.ThedevoutreaderoftheBiblecan say with Tennyson: "Closer is He than breathing, and nearer thanhandsandfeet."

But ifGod is thus immanent in theworld,He isalso transcendent.TheworldisdependentuponHim,butHeisnotdependentupontheworld.Hehassetboundstotheworld,buttheworldhassetnoboundstoHim.It is the work of His hands, but He is from eternity. "Before themountainswerebroughtforth,oreverthouhadstformedtheearthandtheworld,even fromeverlasting toeverlasting, thouartGod."Runningall through the Bible is the awful separateness of God from the world.That is what the Bible calls the holiness of God. The Bible, unlike thepantheists,presentstousaholyGod.

But the Bible also - and again unlike the pantheists - presents to us apersonal God. The God of the Bible is not just another name for theuniverseitself,norisHeanameforaspiritualpurposesupposedtorunthroughtheuniverse,orforanyimpersonalprincipleofgoodness.No,Heisaperson.Thatmuchisclearatthestart.Weshallspeaksubsequentlyof thedeepermysteryof thethreepersons inoneGod.Butat least it is

clearthatGodispersonal.Heisnotaforceoraprincipleoracollectivesomewhat of whichwe are parts.He is a person, to whomwe can say"Thou,"apersonwhocan,ifHewill,speaktousasamanspeakethtoHisfriend,andwhocan,ifHewill,becometousaheavenlyFather.

Butwhat is needed first of all is thatwe shall stand in awe beforeHisthrone.WearelivinginanagewhenmenhaveforgottenGod.Theyhavebecomeengrossedintheirownaffairs.Theyhavebeenpuffedupintheirpride.TheyhaveputGodoutoftheirthoughts.

How is it with you, my friends? Have you been walking in your ownpaths?Have you forgottenGod? If so, I bid you read the blessed bookthatwill tellyouhowHemaybe found.IfyouheedHisWordyoumayfirst stand in awebeforeHis throne, and then, by theway thatHehasprovided, you may come to be at peace with Him and be His childforevermore.

TheTriuneGod

J.GreshamMachen

Machen(1881-1937)wasProfessorofNewTestament, firstatPrincetonTheological Seminary, and afterwards at Westminster TheologicalSeminary,Philadelphia.ExcerptsfromTheChristianFaithintheModernWorld(1936).

TheBibletellsusthereisapersonalGod,CreatorandRuleroftheWorld.God,accordingtotheBible,isnotanothernameforthemightyprocessofnature,andHeisnotsomeonepartoraspectofthatprocess,butHeisafreeandholyperson,whocreatedtheprocessofnaturebythefiatofHiswillandwhoiseternallyindependentoftheuniversethatHehasmade.

Nowweaskmore indetailwhat theBible tellsusaboutGod.Whenweask that, I knowwe shall bemetwith an objection.We are seeking toknowGod.Well,therearemanypeoplewhotellusthatweoughtnotto

seektoknowGod.InsteadofseekingtoknowGod,theytellus,weoughtsimplytofeelHim;puttingalltheologyaside,theysay,weoughtjusttosinkourselvesintheboundlessoceanofGod'sbeing.

Suchistheattitudeofthemysticsancientandmodern.Butit isnottheattitude of the Christian. The Christian, unlike themystic, knowsHimwhomHehasbelieved.Whatshallbesaidofareligionthatdepreciatestheology,thatdepreciatestheknowledgeofGod?

AccordingtotheBible,weloveGodbecauseHefirstlovedus;andHehastoldusofHis love inHisholyWord.We loveGod, ifweobeywhat theBibletellsus,becauseGodhasmadeHimselfknowntousandhasthusshownHimselftobeworthyofourlove.

I do notmean to say that theChristian in his communionwithGod isalways rehearsing consciously the things that God has told us aboutHimself. But underlying that sweet and blessed communion of theChristianwithhisGod there isa trueknowledgeofGod.AcommunionwithGodwhichisindependentofthatknowledgeofGodiscommunionwithsomeothergodandnotwiththelivingandtrueGodwhomtheBiblereveals.

Every trueman is resentfulof slandersagainst ahuman friend.ShouldwenotbegrievedtentimesmorebyslandersagainstourGod?Howcanwepossiblylistenwithpolitecomplacency,then,whenmenbreakdownthedistinctionbetweenGodandman,anddragGoddowntoman'slevel?Howcanwepossiblysay,asinonewayoranotherissooftensaid,thatorthodoxymakeslittledifference?Weshouldnevertalkinanysuchwayabout a human friend. We should never say with regard to a humanfriend that it makes no difference whether our view of him is right orwrong.How,then,canwesaythatabsurdthingwithregardtoGod?

ThereallyconsistentChristiancanhavenothingwhatevertodowithsuchdoctrinalindifferentism.ThereisnothingsodishonoringtoGod,hewillsay,astobeindifferenttothethingsthatGodhastoldusaboutHimselfinHisholyWord.

What,then,hasGodtoldusaboutHimselfinHisWord?IntheShorter

CatechismofthePresbyterianchurches,thereisthefollowinganswertothe question, "What is God?": "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, andunchangeable, inHisbeing,wisdom,power,holiness, justice,goodness,andtruth."ThatansweriscertainlyinaccordancewiththeBible.IthinkitwillhelpusalittlebittogetstraightinourmindswhattheBiblesaysaboutGod.

Notice that God is here said to be infinite, eternal and unchangeable.What is meant by saying that He is infinite?Well, the word "infinite"means without an end or a limit. Other beings are limited: God isunlimited. I suppose it is easy for us to fall into our ordinary spatialconceptionsintryingtothinkofGod.Wemayimagineourselvespassingfromtheearthtotheremoteststarknowntomodernastronomy--many,many light-years away.Well, when we have got there, we are not oneslightest fraction of an inch nearer to fathoming infinity than we werewhenwestarted.Wemightimagineourselvestravelingtenmilliontimestenmillion times farther still, and still we should not be any nearer toinfinity thanwhenwestarted.Wecannotconceivea limit to space,butneithercanweconceiveofinfinitespace.Ourmindfaintsinthepresenceofinfinity.

Butwewerereallywronginusingthosespatialconceptionsinthinkingofinfinity, andparticularlywrongwerewe inusing spatial conceptions inthinkingoftheinfiniteGod.Itmayhelpustothethresholdofthetruthtosay that God pervades the whole vast area of the universe known toscience,andthen infinitelymore; itmayhelpusto thethresholdof thetruth to say thatGod inhabits infinite space: butwhenwe look a littledeeperweseethatspaceitselfbelongstofinitethingsandthatthenotionofinfinitespaceiswithoutmeaning.GodcreatedspacewhenHecreatedfinitethings.HeHimselfisbeyondspace.ThereisnonearandnofartoHim.EverythingtoHimisequallynear.

So it iswhenwe try to thinkofGodaseternal. If theword"infinity" isrelated,bywayofcontrast,tothenotionofspace,sotheword"eternity"isrelatedbywayofcontrast,tothenotionoftime.WhenwesaythatGodiseternal,wemeanthatHehadnobeginningandthatHewillhavenoend. But we really mean more than that. We mean that time has nomeaning for Him, save in connection with the creatures that He has

made.He created timewhenHecreated finite creatures.HeHimself isbeyondtime.ThereisnopastandnofuturetoHim.TheBibleputsthatinpoeticallanguagewhenitsays:"Forathousandyearsinthysightareasyesterdaywhen it ispast,andasawatch in thenight."WeofcourseareobligedtothinkoftheactionsofGodastakingplaceintime.Weareobliged to think ofHim as doing one thing after another thing;we areobligedtothinkofHimasdoingthistodayandthattomorrow.Wehaveaperfectrightsotothink,andtheBibleamplyconfirmsusinthatright.Tousthereisindeedsuchathingaspastandpresentandfuture,andwhenGoddealswithusHeactsinatrulytemporalseries.ButtoGodHimselfallthingsareequallypresent.Thereisnosuchthingas"before"or"after"toHim.

It is very important to see clearly thatGod is thus infinite, eternal andunchangeable.TheseattributesofGodareoftendenied.Thosewhohavedenied themtoldus thatGod isa finiteGod.WemustnotblameHim,theytellus,ifthingsarenotjustrightintheworld.HeisdoingthebestHecan,theysay;Heistryingtobringorderoutofchaos,butHeisfacedbyarecalcitrantmaterialwhichHedidnotcreateandwhichHecanmoldonlygraduallyandimperfectlytoHiswill.ItisourbusinesstohelpHim,andwhilewemayat first sight regret thatwehavenot theall-powerfulGodthatweusedtothinkwehad,yetwecancomfortourselveswiththeinspiringthoughtthattheGodthatwedohaveneedsourhelpandindeedcannotdowithoutit.

WhatshallwesayofsuchafiniteGod?IwilltellyouplainlywhatIthinkweoughttosayaboutHim.HeisnotGodbutagod.Heisaproductofmen'sthoughts.Menhavemademanysuchlittlegods.Ofthemakingofgods,asofthemakingofbooks,thereisnoend.But,asforusChristians,with our Bibles before us, we turn from all such little gods of man'smaking, out towards the dreadmystery of the infinite and eternal, andsay,asAugustinesaid,withaholyfear:"Thouhastmadeusforthyself,andourheartisrestlessuntilitfindsitsrestinthee."

Thedefinition in theShorterCatechism,whichweare taking togiveusouroutlineofwhattheBibletellsusaboutGod,saysnotonlythatGodisinfinite,eternalandunchangeableinHisbeingandinHispowerandinHisholiness,butalsothatHeisinfinite,eternalandunchangeableinHis

wisdomandinHisjustice,goodnessandtruth.

Doesthatseemsurprisingtoyou inthe lightofwhatwehave justbeensaying?Well,perhaps itmight seem tobe surprising.Thesequalities --wisdom, justice, goodness and truth -- are such startlingly humanqualities.Canweascribethemtothatinfinite,eternalandunchangeableGodofwhomwehavejustbeenspeaking?Ifwedotrytoascribethemtothat God, are we not guilty of a naive anthropomorphism? Are we notguiltyofthechildisherrorofthinkingofGodasthoughHewerejustabigmanupinthesky?Arewenotguiltyofmakingagodinourownimage?

Theansweris:No,wearenotguiltyofthat.IfwethinkofGodashavingsomeattributeswhichwealsopossess,wemayconceivablybedoingitforone or the other of two reasons. In the first place,wemay be doing itbecausewearemakingGodinourownimage.But,inthesecondplace,wemaybedoingitbecauseGodhasmadeusinHisimage.

TheBibletellsusthatthissecondalternativeiscorrect.Godmademaninthe image of God, and that is the reason why God possesses someattributeswhichman also possesses, thoughGodpossesses them to aninfinitelyhigherdegree.

The Bible is not afraid of speaking of God in a startlingly tender andhumansortofway.ItdoessojustinpassageswherethemajestyofGodisset forth. "It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth," says thefortieth chapter of Isaiah, "and the inhabitants thereof are asgrasshoppers." "All nations before Him are as nothing; and they arecountedtoHimlessthannothing,andvanity."Butwhatsaysthatsamefortieth chapter of Isaiah about this same terribleGod?Here iswhat itsays:"Heshall feedhisflocklikeashepherd:Heshallgatherthelambswithhis arm, and carry them inhisbosom, and shall gently lead thosewhoarewithyoung."

How wonderfully the Bible sets forth the tenderness of God! Is thatmerely figurative? Are we wrong in thinking of God in such childlikefashion? Many philosophers say so. They will not think of God as aperson.Oh,no.ThatwouldbedraggingHimdowntoomuchtoourlevel!SotheymakeofHimapaleabstraction.TheBibleseemschildishtothem

inthewarm,personalwayinwhichitspeaksofGod.

ArethosephilosophersrightoristheBibleright?ThankGod,theBibleisright. The philosophers despise children who think of God as theirheavenly Father. But the philosophers are wrong and the children areright.DidnotourLordJesussay:"Ithankthee,OFather,Lordofheavenandearth,becausethouhasthidthesethingsfromthewiseandprudent,andhastrevealedthemuntobabes."

No, God is no pale abstraction. He is a person. That simple truth --precious possession of simple souls -- is more profound than all thephilosophiesofalltheages.

Butnowwecometoagreatmystery.God,accordingtotheBible,isnotjust one person, butHe is three persons in oneGod. That is the greatmysteryoftheTrinity.

The Trinity is revealed to us only in the Bible. God has revealed somethingstousthroughnatureandthroughconscience.ButtheTrinityisnotamongthem.ThisHehasrevealedtousbysupernaturalrevelationandbysupernaturalrevelationalone.

TheNewTestamentisfoundedthroughoutonthedoctrineoftheTrinity,and the doctrine was really established by the great facts of theincarnationoftheSonofGodandtheworkoftheHolySpirit,evenbeforeitwasenunciatedinwords.

WhattheNewTestamentordinarilydoesistostatepartsofthedoctrine,sothatwhenweputthosepartstogether,andwhenwesummarizethem,we have the great doctrine of the three persons and one God. Forexample, all passages in the New Testament where the deity of JesusChrist is set forth are, when taken in connectionwith passages settingforththedeityandpersonalityoftheHolySpirit,passagessupportingthedoctrineoftheTrinity.

Butwhatneedstobeobservednowisthatalthoughbyfarthelargerpartof theBiblical teachingabout theTrinity isgiven in that incidentalandpartialway--presupposingthedoctrineratherthanformallyenunciating

it as a whole -- yet there are some passages where the doctrine isdefinitely presented by themention, together, of Father, Son andHolySpirit.

The most famous of such passages, I suppose, is found in the greatcommission, given by the risen Lord to His disciples according to thetwenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. "Go ye therefore, and teach allnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andofthe Holy Spirit." There we have a mention of all three persons of theTrinity in themost complete co-ordination and equality-- yet all threepersons are plainly not three Gods but one. Here, in this solemncommission by our Lord, the God of all true Christians is foreverdesignatedasatriuneGod.

Wethinkalso,forexample,oftheapostolicbenedictionattheendoftheSecondEpistle to theCorinthians: "The grace of theLord JesusChrist,andtheloveofGod,andthecommunionoftheHolySpirit,bewithyouall." Here the terminology is a little different from that in the greatcommission.PaulspeaksoftheSonas"theLord."Buttheword"Lord"inthePaulineEpistlesisplainlyadesignationofdeity,liketheotherGreekwordwhichistranslatedintoEnglishbytheword"God."ItistheGreekword used to translate the holy name of God, "Jehovah," in the Greektranslation of the Old Testament which Paul used, and Paul does nothesitate to apply to Christ Old Testament passages which speak ofJehovah.

Thatbringsustosomethingsupremelyimportant intheteachingofthewhole New Testament about the Trinity. It is this -- that the NewTestamentwriters,inpresentingGodastriune,areneverforonemomentconsciousofsayinganythingthatcouldbyanypossibilityberegardedascontradictingtheOldTestamentteachingthatthereisbutoneGod.Thatteaching is at the veryheart and core of theOldTestament. It is everywhit as much at the heart and core of the New Testament. The NewTestamentisjustasmuchopposedastheOldTestamentistothethoughtthat there aremoreGods than one. Yet theNewTestamentwith equalclearnessteachesthattheFatherisGodandtheSonisGodandtheHolySpirit is God, and that these three are not three aspects of the samepersonbutthreepersonsstandinginatrulypersonalrelationshiptoone

another.Therewehave thegreatdoctrineof the threepersonsbutoneGod.

That doctrine is amystery.No humanmind can fathom it. Yetwhat ablessedmysteryitis!TheChristian'sheartmeltswithinhimingratitudeand joy when he thinks of the divine love and condescension that hasthus lifted the veil and allowed us sinful creatures a look into the verydepthsofthebeingofGod.

Iaskyounowtoconsideronegreatcentralpartofthedoctrine,thedeityofourLordJesusChrist.WhentheBiblesaysthatChristisGod,itdoesnotaskusto forgetasingle thingthat ithassaidabout thestupendousmajestyofGod.No,itasksustoremembereveryoneofthosethingsinorderthatwemayapplythemalltoJesusChrist.

TheBibletellsusinthefirstversethatGodinthebeginningcreatedtheheavenand theearth.Does it askus to forget thatwhen it tellsus thatJesus Christ is God?No, it asks us to remember that. It says of JesusChrist:"Allthingsweremadebyhim;andwithouthimwasnotanythingmadethatwasmade."

TheBibletellsusthatGodisinfinite,eternal,andunchangeable.DoesitaskustoforgetthatwhenittellsusthatChristisGod?No,ittellsustorememberthat."IamAlphaandOmega,"saysChrist,"thebeginningandthe end, the first and the last." "Before Abraham was, I am." "In thebeginningwastheWord.""Heisbeforeallthings,andbyhimallthingsconsist."

TheBible tellsus thatGod isholy.Does itaskus to forget thatwhen ittellsusthatChristisGod?LetthewholeNewTestamentgivetheanswer.

The Bible tells us that God ismysterious. Does it ask us to forget thatwhenittellsusthatChristisGod?No,ittellsusthattherearemysteriesin Christ which only God can know. No one knoweth the Son but theFather,saysJesus,asnooneknoweththeFatherbuttheSon.

TheBibletellsusthatGodisthefinaljudge.DoesitaskustoforgetthatwhenittellsusthatJesusisGod?No,JesusHimselfsaidintheSermon

ontheMountthatHewouldsituponthejudgmentthronetojudgealltheearth.

Everywhereitisthesame.TheBiblefromGenesistoRevelationpresentsastupendousviewofGod,andthenittellsusthatJesusChristisallthatGodis.

Machen(1881-1937)wasProfessorofNewTestament, firstatPrincetonTheological Seminary, and afterwards at Westminster TheologicalSeminary,Philadelphia.ExcerptsfromTheChristianFaithintheModernWorld(1936).

TheBibletellsusthereisapersonalGod,CreatorandRuleroftheWorld.God,accordingtotheBible,isnotanothernameforthemightyprocessofnature,andHeisnotsomeonepartoraspectofthatprocess,butHeisafreeandholyperson,whocreatedtheprocessofnaturebythefiatofHiswillandwhoiseternallyindependentoftheuniversethatHehasmade.

Nowweaskmore indetailwhat theBible tellsusaboutGod.Whenweask that, I knowwe shall bemetwith an objection.We are seeking toknowGod.Well,therearemanypeoplewhotellusthatweoughtnottoseektoknowGod.InsteadofseekingtoknowGod,theytellus,weoughtsimplytofeelHim;puttingalltheologyaside,theysay,weoughtjusttosinkourselvesintheboundlessoceanofGod'sbeing.

Suchistheattitudeofthemysticsancientandmodern.Butit isnottheattitude of the Christian. The Christian, unlike themystic, knowsHimwhomHehasbelieved.Whatshallbesaidofareligionthatdepreciatestheology,thatdepreciatestheknowledgeofGod?

AccordingtotheBible,weloveGodbecauseHefirstlovedus;andHehastoldusofHis love inHisholyWord.We loveGod, ifweobeywhat theBibletellsus,becauseGodhasmadeHimselfknowntousandhasthusshownHimselftobeworthyofourlove.

I do notmean to say that theChristian in his communionwithGod isalways rehearsing consciously the things that God has told us aboutHimself. But underlying that sweet and blessed communion of the

ChristianwithhisGod there isa trueknowledgeofGod.AcommunionwithGodwhichisindependentofthatknowledgeofGodiscommunionwithsomeothergodandnotwiththelivingandtrueGodwhomtheBiblereveals.

Every trueman is resentfulof slandersagainst ahuman friend.ShouldwenotbegrievedtentimesmorebyslandersagainstourGod?Howcanwepossiblylistenwithpolitecomplacency,then,whenmenbreakdownthedistinctionbetweenGodandman,anddragGoddowntoman'slevel?Howcanwepossiblysay,asinonewayoranotherissooftensaid,thatorthodoxymakeslittledifference?Weshouldnevertalkinanysuchwayabout a human friend. We should never say with regard to a humanfriend that it makes no difference whether our view of him is right orwrong.How,then,canwesaythatabsurdthingwithregardtoGod?

ThereallyconsistentChristiancanhavenothingwhatevertodowithsuchdoctrinalindifferentism.ThereisnothingsodishonoringtoGod,hewillsay,astobeindifferenttothethingsthatGodhastoldusaboutHimselfinHisholyWord.

What,then,hasGodtoldusaboutHimselfinHisWord?IntheShorterCatechismofthePresbyterianchurches,thereisthefollowinganswertothe question, "What is God?": "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, andunchangeable, inHisbeing,wisdom,power,holiness, justice,goodness,andtruth."ThatansweriscertainlyinaccordancewiththeBible.IthinkitwillhelpusalittlebittogetstraightinourmindswhattheBiblesaysaboutGod.

Notice that God is here said to be infinite, eternal and unchangeable.What is meant by saying that He is infinite?Well, the word "infinite"means without an end or a limit. Other beings are limited: God isunlimited. I suppose it is easy for us to fall into our ordinary spatialconceptionsintryingtothinkofGod.Wemayimagineourselvespassingfromtheearthtotheremoteststarknowntomodernastronomy--many,many light-years away.Well, when we have got there, we are not oneslightest fraction of an inch nearer to fathoming infinity than we werewhenwestarted.Wemightimagineourselvestravelingtenmilliontimestenmillion times farther still, and still we should not be any nearer to

infinity thanwhenwestarted.Wecannotconceivea limit to space,butneithercanweconceiveofinfinitespace.Ourmindfaintsinthepresenceofinfinity.

Butwewerereallywronginusingthosespatialconceptionsinthinkingofinfinity, andparticularlywrongwerewe inusing spatial conceptions inthinkingoftheinfiniteGod.Itmayhelpustothethresholdofthetruthtosay that God pervades the whole vast area of the universe known toscience,andthen infinitelymore; itmayhelpusto thethresholdof thetruth to say thatGod inha