Pondering the Promises of the Gospel
How often do you ponder the truth of the gospel? Do you carefully meditate on and think deeply about the truth of the gospel? How often do you share the gospel with family, friends, co-workers, and those in your community? How well do you see and respond to your own life struggles through the lens of the gospel?
We sometimes forget that the word "gospel" literally means good news. As we enter into conversations with the people around us, our discussion will eventually turn to the problems in our world today. Most would agree that our world is broken in many ways. Fractured families, government unrest, poverty, sickness, wars between nations, economic struggles, diseases, floods, earthquakes, devastating storms－the list goes on and on. Many have suggestions regarding how to fix the problems we see and experience, but we struggle to see any lasting results from the attempts that have been tried.
Man Rejected the Promise
As we observe our world, we also see glimpses of beauty and wonder. The majesty of mountains, the glorious beauty of a sunset, the vast expanse of our oceans and the wondrous teeming life found within them, and the sweetness of a newborn baby are all glimpses of the world that God designed for us to enjoy together with Him. At its beginning, this world that God created was a perfect place. Man walked in an intimate relationship with God and enjoyed the beauty, order, and productivity of the world around him.
But the original man and woman believed the lie that they could live fruitful lives apart from the authority of God.
They chose to disobey God and live according to their own understanding. At that point man’s relationship with God was broken and his relationship with other humans was now also broken. Even the physical world itself became broken because of man’s choice to disobey God. The Bible explains to us that breaking God’s law and choosing to live independent from Him is called sin. The penalty for our sin is that we are all separated from God and spiritually dead (Romans 6:23). Eventually we will physically die and our soul will live punished eternally in separation from God.
God Remained Faithful to the Promise
But because of God’s great love for us, He made a way that we can be forgiven for our sin and begin a relationship with Him that will continue into eternity. Because the payment for sin is death, He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to live a perfect life and offer Himself to die in our place (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again proving that He had the power over sin and death (Romans 5:8). We can enter into a relationship with Him when we turn away from our sin and submit our desire to control our lives to Him. We turn to Jesus asking forgiveness and giving Him the rightful place of ruling in our lives (Mark 1:15). This is the good news of the gospel! This salvation is a gift from God and not a result of anything we can do to earn it or make ourselves acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This gospel not only provides a way for us to be forgiven of our sins and enter into a personal relationship with God, but it also provides truths that guide us throughout each day.
Jesus tells us that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus comes to give us an abundant life (John 10:10). Milton Vincent once said, “God did not give us His gospel just so we could embrace it and be converted. Actually, He offers it to us every day as a gift that keeps on giving to us everything we need for life and godliness. Outside of heaven, the power of God in its highest density is found inside the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Believers Can Stand Firm in the Promise of the Gospel
Ephesians 6:10-17 explains how we should dress daily in the armor of God. Each piece is a synonym for the gospel. We are secured by the belt of truth from God’s Word and not tripped up by the lies of Satan, the false narrative of the world, and of our own thought life. We shield our heart and vital parts with the breastplate of righteousness that is not based on anything we have done or can do but is based on Christ's blood that covers and cleanses us. We cover our feet with the gospel of peace that gives us firm footing in the instability of this world. And we are given the shield of faith that will protect us from the flaming arrows of the evil one and his followers. This faith comes from looking to Jesus alone for our salvation and sanctification. Lastly, Jesus blesses us with the offensive weapon of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It is the truth of the Word of God that we can use to fight the battles of anxiety, stress, suffering, and fears that we face each day.
The promise of the gospel gives us hope that is beyond our present circumstances. One of the primary goals in biblical counseling is to help someone ground themselves in the hope promised to us in Jesus Christ, which is an eternal hope that cannot be shaken or taken away (Romans 8:31-39). As we grow in a greater understanding of what the gospel provides for us, it guides us in fighting the struggles often faced with anxiety, stress, sadness, and fear.
Ponder
To ponder means to think deeply. How would daily pondering on the gospel impact how you see and respond to your own life struggles?
How would daily pondering the gospel impact your ability to help others with their struggles?
Who in your life would benefit from you sharing the gospel with them?
Recommended Reading
Book: What Is The Gospel? by Greg Gilbert
Article: Reminding Christians Of The Gospel by Lilly Park
Counseling Training Resource: The Gospel For Disordered Lives by Robert Jones, Kristin Kellen, and Rob Green
As a pastor’s wife, Gayle has been involved in church ministry for 45 years, often in counseling, discipleship, teaching, and leadership. She has a degree in biology from Carson Newman University and a degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee. She is a certified member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.
