“The
New Testament teaches that Christians ought to hear the gospel as much as
non-Christians do….In most of Paul’s letters to churches, sizeable portions of
them are given over to rehearsing gospel truths. For example, Ephesians 1-3 is
all gospel, Colossians 1-2 is gospel, and Romans 1-11 is gospel. The remainder
of such books shows specifically how to bring the gospel truths to bear on
life. Re-preaching the gospel and then showing how it applied to life was
Paul’s choice method for ministering to believers, thereby providing a divinely
inspired pattern for me to follow when ministering to myself and to other
believers.
The
gospel is so foolish (according to my natural wisdom; 1 Corinthians 1:21-23),
so scandalous (according to my conscience; 1 Corinthians 1:23), and so
incredible (according to my timid heart; 1 John 3:19-20), that it is a daily
battle to believe the full scope of it as I should. There is simply no other
way to compete with the forebodings of my conscience, the condemnings of heart,
and the lies of the world and the Devil (2 Corinthians 4:4) than to overwhelm
such things with daily rehearsings of the gospel…
The glory of God is the most powerful agent of transformation available to mankind. It is so powerful that it transforms those who merely gaze upon it. The Apostle Paul gives personal testimony concerning this stunning fact. "But we all," he says, "beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and being transformed into the same image from glory to glory." (2 Corinthians 3:18) From Paul's testimony I learn that if I wish to become all that God wants me to be, I must behold His glory each day.
But where do I find God's glory to behold? Indeed, the glory of God is revealed throughout all of Creation, (Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 6:3) but the Bible indicates that, outside of heaven, the glory of God in its thickest density dwells inside the gospel. It is for this reason that the gospel is described in Scripture as "the gospel of the glory of Christ" and "the gospel of the glory of the blessed God." (2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Timothy 1:11) Consequently, as I habitually gaze upon the glory of the Lord revealed in the gospel, I can know the actual deposits of God's very glory are attaching themselves to my person and transforming me from one level of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18) This transformation is deep and abiding, and unfadingly displays the glory of God to others. (2 Corinthians 3:13)”
― Milton Vincent. A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love. Focus Publishing (MN), 2008.
The glory of God is the most powerful agent of transformation available to mankind. It is so powerful that it transforms those who merely gaze upon it. The Apostle Paul gives personal testimony concerning this stunning fact. "But we all," he says, "beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and being transformed into the same image from glory to glory." (2 Corinthians 3:18) From Paul's testimony I learn that if I wish to become all that God wants me to be, I must behold His glory each day.
But where do I find God's glory to behold? Indeed, the glory of God is revealed throughout all of Creation, (Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 6:3) but the Bible indicates that, outside of heaven, the glory of God in its thickest density dwells inside the gospel. It is for this reason that the gospel is described in Scripture as "the gospel of the glory of Christ" and "the gospel of the glory of the blessed God." (2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 Timothy 1:11) Consequently, as I habitually gaze upon the glory of the Lord revealed in the gospel, I can know the actual deposits of God's very glory are attaching themselves to my person and transforming me from one level of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18) This transformation is deep and abiding, and unfadingly displays the glory of God to others. (2 Corinthians 3:13)”
― Milton Vincent. A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love. Focus Publishing (MN), 2008.
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