“What is man, that You remember Him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:6-7, 9).

The Christmas season allows us a fresh opportunity to ponder the reason for the season – The Incarnation. The Incarnation is one of the greatest events in all of history. It is that event whereby the eternally existing Son of God, the Creator of the universe, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity became a man, just like you and me, yet without sin. Hebrews 2:6-7 refers to mankind – you and me. Hebrews 2:9 refers to Jesus becoming man. God, who had existed for all eternity beforehand, now has taken on a second nature – a human nature. He is now fully God and fully man – two natures, a Divine nature and a human nature, coexisting in one person. This is important to understand because there are groups out there today who do not believe Jesus is God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Him to be Michael the Archangel. Mormons believe Jesus to be a man who later became God. Both groups are wrong and their followers have been misled. Jesus is the eternally existing God who became man. Why? “So that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). God became a man, in the person of Jesus Christ, so that He could die for the sins of everyone. Everyone here refers to all people who would ever be saved. Therefore, Jesus Christ is your and my only hope for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

How did He do this? What happened when He became a man? The Bible tells us He tabernacled Himself, or to put it another way, He veiled His glory. Had He not veiled His glory, it would have been daylight in Palestine 24 hours a day when He walked upon this earth. The Bible gives us a glimpse of this veiled glory: “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory…” (Luke 9:28-32). Speaking of Jesus Christ, the writer of the Gospel of John writes, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is the Word of the Lord! 

The Bible tells us God is passionate about His own glory. Isaiah wrote, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). Furthermore, the Bible declares believers will one day be “transformed into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21). Peter says we will “receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). So what does all this mean? If God is passionate about His own glory, we should be as well. We should seek glorify Him in all we do. As we celebrate the Christmas season, let’s remember the reason for the season – The Incarnation. Furthermore, may we look forward with great anticipation to that day when we, along with all the Saints of all time, will gather around His throne and resonate His glory

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Why does God allow difficulty to come our way? How should we respond to difficulty? What is God’s purpose in difficulty? These are good questions, ones that are asked often by those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. One thing the Bible is crystal clear about, and I have come to fully believe, is God has a purpose in allowing difficulty to come. Because of this, we do not have to let difficult circumstances rule our lives. We can live above them! The circumstances are not to be our focus. In this life we will have tribulation. But our focus must be on God! To do that, we must do three things.

First of all, as you experience difficult circumstances I want to encourage you to have confidence in God. Notice what Paul said to the Philippian believers: “For I am confident” (1:6). Paul expressed absolute confidence in God. His focus was on the One “who began a good work in you.” Therefore, he understood the responsibility was on God. He wrote that God would “perfect it,” that is, bring the work to completion. So, like Paul, you can have the full conviction that, through the work of Jesus Christ alone, you will be kept eternally and God will complete that which He has already started in your life!

Secondly, make prayer the priority of your life. Paul was in prison when he wrote his letter to the Philippian believers. However, he did not complain about his circumstances. Instead, he prayed. He did not pray, “God, get me out of here.” He prayed for others. He prayed for the further advancement of God’s kingdom. He wrote, “and this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” (1:9-10). The use of the words, “approve the things that are excellent,” means to differentiate between highest matters and side issues. There is nothing like a little difficulty to cause us to really consider what is really important and what is not. So pray that through the difficulty you are experiencing God would allow you to discern what is important and what is not so important.

Finally, understand that God is up to something in the midst of your suffering. This is true even though most of the time you want be able to pinpoint what He is up to. Ultimately, we can say He is in the process of making us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. You should also understand that your life is a testimony to the world concerning the power of the gospel. God allows difficulty to further advance the Gospel. Paul wrote, “What then? Only in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed” (1:18). Paul understood that through his imprisonment (his difficulty) the Gospel was being proclaimed. Believe it or not, God uses your life and mine to proclaim the Gospel to a watching world. As you experience difficult circumstances you have two choices and only two choices. Either complain and belly ache and wonder why in the world God is allowing you to hurt, or by faith, have confidence in His purpose, pray, and understand that God is advancing His kingdom through your life!

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). The Agnostic would say it is impossible to know the truth in matters such as God and the future life with which Christianity is concerned. The Atheist would say God does not exist. Many others would say all religions in the world lead to God. But, with Paul, I say, “For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day” (2 Timothy 2:12). What have I entrusted to Him? I have entrusted my whole life, here and now, and my whole eternal future.

Let me tell you about the one the Bible speaks of. Let me tell you about the one who rescued me from the domain of darkness and transferred me to the kingdom of His beloved Son. His name is Jesus. His name “is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). The Bible further speaks of this Jesus in that “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). He is “the First and the Last, and the Living One. [He] was dead, but look – [He] is alive forever and ever, and [He] holds the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). He is the one who died for my sins. He is the one who was raised from the dead never to die again. He is the God and Creator who became a man, without ceasing to be God (Hebrews 1). He is my only hope! And I believe! Do you believe?

I cannot explain it. Like the blind man Jesus healed in John 9, “one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (9:25). It is a matter of faith. The Bible says I am a sinner and I deserve judgment. The Bible also says God is a God of grace and freely extends forgiveness and salvation to all who believe. But the question is, believe what. In answering that question, let’s think for a few moments about faith. It is important we understand what the Bible teaches about faith. The word itself is never plural. In other words, the Christian faith does not mean believing in a number of things. It is a single disposition of mind and heart towards Jesus Christ. This faith in the Lord Jesus Christ involves a desire for eternal life. This is what the writer of Hebrews means by “things hoped for” (11:1). It is looking for more than is on the surface. So when the Bible talks about having faith in Jesus Christ, one must understand that faith is only as good as its object. The object of faith in salvation is Jesus Christ. Therefore, one must believe in Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to believe?

Saving faith in Jesus Christ produces three elements. First of all, there is knowledge of Christ. Such knowledge would include the historic facts about the person and work of Christ. This is the gospel! Peter presented the basic facts of the gospel on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Paul mentioned the basic content of the gospel in his first letter to the Corinthian believers (1 Cor. 15:1-3). However, mere knowledge is not enough. There is a second element to faith known as assent to Christ. We must be convinced that these historic facts (knowledge) about Christ are true. We must believe that Jesus is able to do what He said he could do –forgive sins and guarantee eternal life! 

However, just as mere knowledge is not enough, neither is mere assent. There is a third element known as commitment to Christ. By commitment I mean whole-hearted committal to Jesus Christ. In John’s Gospel, the Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Believe here means to believe “in, into,” or “upon.” You must believe in, into and upon Jesus Christ. It is a belief that brings about a change. This change is known as conversion (salvation). When a person is saved, he or she does not take three distinct steps. However, that person’s salvation does begin with knowledge of the Savior leading to assent to the Savior, which brings about commitment to the Savior. Saving faith is simply committing oneself to Jesus Christ. This is clearly expressed in Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.” When we put the sum total of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, then we pass from spiritual death to spiritual life. We experience conversion! He changed my life. He’ll change your life, too! But it all begins with faith—Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. Will you believe? The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval…And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:1-2, 39-40).

Hebrews chapter eleven is often referred to as The Faith Chapter or Faith’s Hall of Fame. This is because it records for us numerous examples of the saints of old who, “by faith,” believed God. Over and over again the writer of Hebrews employs two simple words: “By faith.” He says, “By faith we understand the worlds were prepared by the word of God…By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice…By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death…by Faith Noah prepared an ark for the salvation of his household…By faith Abraham obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive…By faith…” (Hebrews 11:3-31). Furthermore, he says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (11:6). This is the Word of the Lord!

It is important we understand what the Bible teaches about faith. The word itself is never plural. In other words, the Christian faith does not mean believing in a number of things. It is a single disposition of mind and heart towards Jesus Christ. This faith in the Lord Jesus Christ involves a desire for eternal life. This is what the writer means by “things hoped for” (11:1). It is looking for more than is on the surface. So when the Bible talks about having faith in Jesus Christ, one must understand that faith is only as good as its object. The object of faith in salvation is Jesus Christ. Therefore, one must believe in Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to believe?

Saving faith in Jesus Christ produces three elements. First of all, there is knowledge of Christ. Such knowledge would include the historic facts about the person and work of Christ. This is the gospel! Peter presented the basic facts of the gospel on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Paul mentioned the basic content of the gospel in his first letter to the Corinthian believers (1 Cor. 15:1-3). However, mere knowledge is not enough. There is a second element to faith known as assent to Christ. We must be convinced that these historic facts (knowledge) about Christ are true. We must believe that Jesus is able to do what He said he could do – forgive sins and guarantee eternal life! However, just as mere knowledge is not enough, neither is mere assent. There is a third element known as commitment to Christ. By commitment I mean whole-hearted committal to Jesus Christ. In John’s Gospel, the Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Believe here means to believe “in, into,” or “upon.” You must believe in, into and upon Jesus Christ. It is a belief that brings about a change. This change is known as conversion (salvation). When a person is saved, he or she does not take three distinct steps. However, that person’s salvation does begin with knowledge of the Saviour leading to assent to the Saviour, which brings about commitment to the Saviour. Saving faith is simply committing oneself to Jesus Christ. This is clearly expressed in Acts 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.” When we put the sum total of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, then we pass from spiritual death to spiritual life. We experience conversion!

“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). I believe Paul’s letter to the believers’ in Rome has been rightly described as The Constitution of Christianity. It is a twenty-two page, 7,100 word letter, which according to A.M. Hunter, has “century after century has been the flame at which one great Christian leader after another has kindled his own torch to the revival of the church and the enrichment of Christendom.” Samuel Coleridge said, “I think that the Epistle to the Romans is the most profound work in existence.” John Knox said, “[Romans] is unquestionably the most important theological work ever written.” How is it that such things can be said about this letter? It was written by a former Jewish Pharisee who hated Christianity (Acts 9:1). He helped kill the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58; 8:1). He persecuted the early church with passion (1 Timothy 1:13).

However, this persecutor of the early church had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ and it forever changed his life. God took a man who passionately hated the church, Christians, and Christ and used him to write most of the New Testament. This man we know as Paul came to view himself as a “bond-servant of Christ Jesus.” The use of this term expressed his complete submission to Jesus Christ. He further viewed himself as totally set apart for the gospel. The word means slave, and Paul saw himself as such. He was a slave to Christ. He saw himself as God’s property. I wonder how many believers today see themselves as slaves to Christ.

Three things can be said of a bond-servant of Christ. First of all, a bond-servant is one who has been redeemed. There are two types of people in the world today, the redeemed and the condemned. We are redeemed on the basis of Christ’s death. Romans 3:24 says, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Secondly, a bond-servant is one who has resolve. He has resolved to live for Christ. Paul said he had been “set apart for the gospel of God” (1:1). He was resolved to live for Christ. Furthermore, a bond-servant has resolve to live a life of holiness (Eph. 1:4), to proclaim Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:14-15), and to please God (1 Cor. 7:23). Finally, a bond-servant is one who has the promise of reward. God’s Word makes it clear that all those who faithfully serve Jesus Christ will be rewarded (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

It is the combination of redemption, resolve and reward that sustains the bond-servant of Christ. We can face whatever circumstances life might bring our way. We can remain faithful to God no matter what. We can be assured that God will fulfill His purpose for us. This is the message of Romans 8:26-39. We have been redeemed. We can resolve to live for Christ. We will be rewarded for our faithfulness. Are you a bond-servant of Christ?

“In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil” (Hebrews 6:17-19). 

I confess to you, at times I simply do not understand God’s purpose and promise. In fact, I would say that this is the case most of the time. I would venture to say the case is the same for most folks reading this article. We are quick to offer up praise to God when all blessings flow. However, we have a tough time believing when those blessings seem to go. It is during times such as these, when the trials and tribulations of life come, that we must learn to think theologically rather than logically. This is exactly the message of the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 6:17-19. God does not expect us to understand all the ins and outs of life. Neither does He expect us to be able to explain it all away. From this passage of Scripture we know two theological facts: (1) With God, there is an unchangeable purpose; and (2) that purpose is guaranteed with an oath.

So let’s think theologically for a moment. In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon writes, “God has made everything appropriate in its time.” Therefore, theologically we can conclude, God is in control all the time. From that we can further conclude that because He is in control all the time, all time is under his control. Since God is in control all the time and because all time is under his control, then we must equally conclude that God is in control of every single event that occurs within time, and to take it one step further, eternity. Finally, we must conclude that He is in control of every single event within our lives. There is nothing about us over which God is not sovereign. He is in control!

Thinking theologically rather than logically provides three benefits. First of all, there is encouragement. The writer of Hebrews tells us that logical thinking will discourage but theological thinking will encourage. He says you will have, “strong encouragement.” Secondly, there is hope. This is not the hope the world offers, which can be summed up by the statement, “I hope so.” This is a sure and eternal hope! Therefore, he says we can “take hold of the hope set before us.” If we truly understand God is in control all the time of all time of all events within time then we know He is in control of the good times and the bad times. Therefore we can hope. This hope yields a sense of divine refuge, because the hope is in God and not yourself. Finally, this encouragement and hope we have serves as an “anchor for the soul.” It reminds us that because God has a purpose and because He cannot lie, we will not lose. And we will discover, as one preacher said, “In the mysterious manner of God’s own timing, for some unexplainable and yet unchangeable purpose, those of us who trust Him ultimately win – because God ultimately wins.”

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

As believers, it is very important that we know what we believe and why we believe it. Unfortunately, too many people who profess Jesus Christ have no idea what they believe or why they believe it. Furthermore, if asked to give a defense for what they believe, many Christians would be unable to do so. It ought not to be this way. The Bible says we are to “always [be] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Often times, when I speak in churches, I will ask the congregation if they believe the Bible contains the Word of God. Without hesitation, I usually get 100 percent of those in attendance responding with a resounding Yes! Then they are all shocked to learn that I do not hold this same belief. Because the truth is, the Bible does not contain the Word of God – the Bible is the Word of God. When I say the Bible contains the Word of God then I am free to pick and choose just what part of the Word of God is contained therein. However, when I understand the Bible is the Word of God, then there is no room for picking and choosing. I have to accept the entire Bible for what it is – The Word of God (to the exclusion of all other writings said to be God’s Word). Then I can proceed to explain to those in attendance exactly what I believe about the Bible.

I believe that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that the whole Bible is the Word of God. It is infallible, that is to say, that everything that it affirms is absolutely true. It is inerrant, that is to say, it is without error. It is complete, that is to say, it is all God wanted to inspire. It is authoritative, that is to say, when it speaks, we would do well to listen. It is sufficient, that is to say, it is all God wanted to say. It is effective, that is to say, it is powerful, it impacts lives, and it accomplishes divine purpose. It is determinative, that is to say, it distinguishes between those who will go to heaven and those who will spend eternity in hell. Furthermore, the entire theme of all Scripture is God’s glory and its central character is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible says we must be prepared to defend what we believe. This is especially true given the times in which we live. What makes Christianity different from Islam? How is it different from Mormonism? What about the Watchtower (Jehovah’s Witnesses)? What sets the Bible apart from the Book of Mormon, the Koran, and others? How is it that only those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ will be in heaven? As believers, we must be able to answer these kinds of questions. The only way we will be able to give a satisfactory answer is we must know what we believe and why we believe it.

“Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:19-23).

“Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness…” Obviously these are the words of one who struggled with despair and depression. After all, the writer of Lamentations begins chapter 3 by asserting, “I am the man who has seen affliction because of the rod of His wrath” (3:1). Depression. It is the common cold of emotional disorders. At any given time, 17 percent of the population suffers from it. It is more than the occasional feeling of the blues. It is a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal. It is sadness greater and more prolonged than anything one who has not experienced it could ever imagine. It can even be incapacitating on occasion. And the believer is not exempt.

Some of the great biblical characters wrestled with depression. At one point in his life, Moses wanted to die (Exodus 32:32). While struggling with his suffering, Job “cursed the day of his birth” (3:1). Furthermore, he cried, “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me” (17:1). Elijah was incapacitated with depression soon after he had been an integral player in one of the greatest demonstrations of God’s power (1 Kings 19). Even the great prophet Jeremiah (who also wrote Lamentations) declared, “Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow?” (20:18). How is the Christian to respond?

As a mental health professional, I work with people everyday who are depressed. Some were abused as children. Others are depressed because they missed their “dream” in life. Still others have suffered loss over which they had no control. And finally, there are some who cannot point to any particular reason for their depression. How should the Christian respond? Well, it is never appropriate for one believer to look at another believer, who may be struggling with depression, and indicate that it is their “lack of faith” that is the cause of their depression. Furthermore, the Christian who may be struggling with depression should not feel guilty because they cannot seem to “hold it together.” Even Jesus was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

The Christian should respond to depression by remembering that it is God who gives strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. The Bible says, “This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:19-23). This is the word of the Lord!

One Christian brother I know said this: “I am a Christian who has struggled with depression for a long time. I am finding it hard to face each new day. My wife and I want to have children but are unable to. I don’t understand why God is allowing this. And I don’t like this feeling of not being in control. But I choose to believe that God is sovereign…that He is in control. I choose to believe that each day, His mercies are new…Great is His faithfulness!” Indeed, there is strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow!

“But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling. My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight. Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end” (Psalm 73:2-3, 16-17).

Why does God allow evil and suffering in the world? This is a question we are confronted with everyday. We turn on the news and see images of passenger jets slamming into buildings. We listen to the radio only to learn a sniper has taken yet another innocent life in and around our nation’s capital. We pick up the newspaper and learn of abuse allegations within the Church. We answer the telephone and receive news a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. We read and hear about the fact that in many parts of the world there are wars, famines, natural catastrophes, and epidemic diseases. It seems that everywhere we look, people are suffering. Furthermore, evil abounds and the evildoers seem to be getting away with the evil they perpetrate. It is no surprise that such evil and suffering and the supposed prosperity of the evildoer causes many to question how a good God can allow such evil and suffering. Such was the case with Asaph, the author of Psalm 73. He begins by saying, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling.” Why? Because he was “envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Like many believers today, Asaph almost lost his confidence in the Lord because he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked. Like most believers, Asaph struggled with why? Why does God seemingly allow the evildoer to prosper while the believer, who seeks to live righteously, suffers? To understand the answer to this question, we must look to eternity.

Our problem is that too often we view the purpose and promises of God in terms of our present personal happiness. However, we fail to realize that the purpose and promises of God are more about the coming of Christ’s kingdom than our individual enjoyment here and now. God’s focus is eternal. Therefore, as believers, we must focus on eternity. For us, life is more about eternity than it is about the here and now. For Asaph, the turning point for him came when he “came into the sanctuary of God.” It was there that his focus began to shift from now to eternity. He came to recognize that God would reward the righteous in eternity and destroy evil and the evildoer. Clearly, eternity makes all the difference. Paul says, “For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18). This is the Word of the Lord!

I do not know what you are struggling with today. I do not know what losses you have experienced in life. I have no idea what evil you might have experienced. I can only testify to my own experiences. But this I do know, our citizenship is in heaven (1 Peter 1:1), and as believers, our questions will one day be answered. When? When we all get to heaven. Paul put it this way: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12). I do not understand fully now. However, in eternity I will know fully.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

What is the gospel? I saw a bumper sticker one time that referred to the gospel as insurance. The bumper sticker read, “Need insurance? Romans 10:9.” I am not too sure God would appreciate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ being referred to as insurance. The word itself means good news. The Bible says, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). In other words, Jesus was proclaiming the good news! It is the good news that the King of kings had brought about the rule of God on earth, thus fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies (over 300 to be exact). This, of course, is God’s glory, the ultimate reason for the gospel. The night before He was to die for the sins of all believers, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You. I have glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:1, 4-5). Jesus died to glorify the Father. The gospel is all about the glory of God. However, it is much more than that. Paul referred to the gospel as, “the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:13). In other words, Jesus not only died to glorify the Father. He also died for me personally. How else can we, like Paul, say, “I have been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), and “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)? This is the Word of the Lord!

So whenever we think about or share the gospel we must remember two things. It is all about God’s glory and it is all about me personally. It is all about Jesus’ love for the Father resulting in His obedience to the Father, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:8), and it is all about His love for me (John 3:16). We must not allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in one aspect of the gospel that we lose sight of the other. Paul said it is “the gospel of your salvation,” but he also said it was “to the praise of His glory.” Christ died for me but He also died to glorify the Father. Furthermore He died for me in order that I could be saved, and that I too, could glorify the Father. So that negates any possibility of the gospel being insurance. The gospel is not fire insurance. It is my salvation to the praise of His glory! So my question to you is have you believed the gospel thus resulting in salvation? And if so, are you living your life to the glory of God?

If you answered no to the first question, hear now the words of Paul: “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10, 13). If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second, then I would encourage you to make sure you understand exactly what the gospel is and exactly what salvation is. Then meditate on this truth: It is “your salvation…to the praise of His glory.”