The gospel. What wonderful and joyous good news. It is God's gift to us. Which is not limited to just one way of helping us in our struggle and battle with sin. The gospel works through spoken word. It is working and powerful in our lives as we hear that our sins are forgiven, and as this forgiveness is preached in the world. The power of the gospel is seen in baptism. It is seen in communion. It's power is seen in the power of the keys (whatever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever is forgiven on earth will be forgiven in heaven). If this were it, that would certainly be more than enough, but God's love grace and faithfulness are inexhaustible. We also see the Gospel working through the lives and relationships that we have with our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith.
Our God is awesome. His love and grace and mercy are richly poured out into our lives. We do not have this because we have done anything to earn it or deserve it. Rather, we have it because we have a gracious God. We have it for the sake of Jesus and his life, death and resurrection. It means that we get to live our lives not ruled and controlled by the powers of sin death and the devil, but instead we get to live life in relationship with our God.
For in the gospel there is life and salvation. It is a blessing that is beyond words. It is a blessing that can not be exhausted. It is better than anything else in all of creation. John 3:16 has often been described as the gospel in a nutshell. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish, but have life everlasting.
What a good and gracious gift from our God. May that gospel be for you a source of strength, comfort, peace and joy; now and always.
Sincerely,
Pastor CJ
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