Forgiveness of sins and justification are good news because they remove obstacles to the only lasting, all-satisfying source of joy: Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not merely the means of our rescue from damnation; he is the goal of our salvation.
If he is not satisfying to be with, there is no salvation. He is not merely the rope that pulls us from the threatening waves; he is the solid beach under our feet, and the air in our lungs, and the beat of our heart, and the warm sun on our skin, and the song in our ears, and the arms of our beloved.
105 words
This OMG is a quote from John Piper’s article, “What Is the Christian Gospel?” Piper is a pastor and author, as well as chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. He’s a self-described Calvinist in his approach to scripture and theology, while I am not. Yet there is much we agree on.
What I love about this quote is the idea that the gospel is good news because Jesus is someone you’d want to be with. He’s the fulfillment of our deepest longings. He’s “the only lasting, all-satisfying source of joy.” Like all his followers, I long to see his face.
Unfortunately, some would refuse that joy if it meant repenting and surrendering to Jesus. Maybe that’s the reason for hell. It’s a place for those who, ironically, would be miserable in heaven, the place of true joy.
Next post: Tuesday, February 6, 2024, “The Gospel of God”
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