What is the gospel? What is the Law?

I want to answer these questions by quoting a portion of Martin Luther's sermon that was for the Third Sunday in Advent. It convicted and encourged me so that I thought I needed to share it with you. Here it is, please read carefully as the language is a little bit older and harder to understand:

Now, the word Gospel is of Greek origin and signifies in German Frohliche Botschaft, that is glad tidings, because it proclaims the blessed doctrine of life eternal by divine promise, and offers grace and forgiveness of sin: Therefore, works do not belong to the Gospel, as it is not a law; only faith belongs to it, as it is altogether a promise and an offer of divine grace. Whosoever now believes the Gospel will receive grace and the Holy Spirit. This will cause the heart to rejoice and find delight in God, and will enable the believer to keep the law cheerfully, without expecting reward, without fear of punishment, without seeking compensation, as the heart is perfectly satisfied with God's grace, by which the law has been fulfilled.

But all these promises from the beginning are founded on Christ, so that God promises no one this grace except through Christ, who is the messenger of the divine promise to the whole world. For this reason he came and through the Gospel brought these promises into all the world, which before this time bad been proclaimed by the prophets. It is, therefore, in vain if anyone, like the Jews, expects the fulfilment of the divine promises without Christ. All is centered and decreed in Christ. Whosoever will not bear him shall have no promises of God. For just as God acknowledges no law besides the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets, so he makes no promises, except through Christ alone.

But you may reply, is there not also much law in the Gospel and in the Epistles of Paul? and, again, many promises in the writings of Moses and the Prophets? I answer: There is no book in the Bible in which both are not found. God has always placed side by side both law and promise. For he teaches by the law what we are to do, and by the promises whence we shall receive power to do it.
--Martin Luther, Third Sunday in Advent, Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, p. 99, 100, #26-28


Please be encouaged that Christ is full of grace and truth; God doesn't just give us the law to keep us in our depths of depravity but He gives us the resources to be able to follow the law through Jesus Christ. Christ gives us the grace and the ability to follow through more with what honors God. I hope this encourages you to rely upon Christ and all that He is and all that He has done for you. God Bless and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

God Moves in Mysterious Ways by John Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treausres up his bright designs

And works his sovereing will.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan the work in vain;

God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain.

I hope this song encourages you today. This was written by a very broken man who finally understood the great sovereign power God has in our lives. I hope you are encouraged to know dear Christian that the clouds you dread are filled with mercy and will break blessings upon your head. God promises to be there for us when we are in the middle of the darkest of times. Trust Him, Rejoice with deep gladness for the wonderful mercy of Christ.

Fan the White Hot Flame of God's Gift that is in You

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ jesus, who abolished death and brough life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appoined a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me."
2 Tim. 1:6-12 ESV

I pray that we would fan the white hot flame of God's gift that He has put in us. What does this mean? We need to be unashamed of the gospel and stand up for the truth in the midst of the hardest adversity. I pray that God would continually fan the flames in me to be forever a witness of the grace of God. I pray that I would forget about myself and look to the one who has given all for me; that I would represent Him in this world more faithfully and passionately.

I encourage all who read this to go to John Piper's website and listen to a sermon about this text. It is a huge blessing. Go to www.desiringgod.org and search in the search bos for "Feed the Flame of God's Gift." I trust it will be a huge blessing to you too.