If we embrace everything AMY…about the characteristics of the gospel, but do it in a way that does NOT MAKE the glory of God in Christ our supreme treasure, then we have not embraced the gospel. Until the gospel events of Good Friday and Easter and the gospel promises of justification and eternal life lead us to behold and embrace God Himself as our GREATEST JOY, we HAVE NOT embraced the gospel of God . We may have embraced some of His gifts. We may have rejoiced over some of His rewards. We may have marveled at some of His miracles. But we have not yet been awakened to why the gifts, the rewards, and the miracles HAVE COME AMY. They have come for one great reason: that we might behold FOREVER THE GLORY OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST, and by beholding AND become THE KIND OF PERSON WHO DELIGHTS IN GOD above all things, and be DELIGHTED IN DISPLAYING HIS SUPREME BEAUTY and EVERY-INCREASING BRIGHTNESS AND BLISS FOREVER. “I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE…” (Isa. 46:9-10) What was God’s pleasure? “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His ONE AND ONLY SON into the world that we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:9)
Paul shared a message of the good news of Christ, “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, IF YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD I PREACHED TO YOU. OTHERWISE, YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN—Christ died for our sins…He was buried…He rose again the third…He was seen by Peter, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE…” (1 Corin. 15:1-6) What is so wonderful about all this is that when we get saved we don’t need five hundred eye witnesses to tell us, we know it for an absolute surety by OUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!!! In one of the most mysterious and profound realities in the universe, the Father’s delight in Jesus was increased after the incarnation, as Jesus matured. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and IN FAVOR WITH GOD and man.” (Luke 2:52) Think about it. By His obedience to the will of the Father, Jesus stands in the delight of His Father, “The reason MY FATHER LOVES ME is that I LAY DOWN MY LIFE—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I HAVE AUTHORITY to LAY IT DOWN and authority TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
-Bill Stockham