The Gospel is only good news to the sinner who sees himself as unable to be saved apart from the finished work of Jesus Christ. "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Gal 3:10). If you have no ability to lean upon yourself, then you will hear the Gospel as the most blessed of all news and receive Jesus Christ the only way that He can be received… by faith. Salvation demands implicit faith, which is the casting of the whole life and the whole afterlife upon Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. When the Law has a man around the throat with the grip of condemnation, that man will undoubtedly relinquish to the Lord Jesus Christ. You'll willingly bow when God's righteousness is revealed in your salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son. "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by fait"h (Gal 3:11).
The poor burdened sinner grieved with himself, and unable to contemplate any hope for acceptance with God by good works, is blessed of God with the Spirit of grace and supplications. (Zech 12:10) "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Now, at the appointed time of love (sometimes years after the first awakening and frequently during the same sermon), the Holy Spirit reveals that you, in the vileness of your deeds and being has nailed the Son of God to the cross. Yet, there is still a great difference between Gospel conviction which is unto life, and legal conviction that continues to pursue the sinner with the whip self-justification (O, imagine the burden of actually trying to pay God back for crucifying His Son?). "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (II Cor 7:10). Godly sorrow, and Gospel conviction, is God showing you that the great sufferings of Christ were His appointed means to purchase the forgiveness of your sins and deliver your soul from sin and hell (Acts 2:23). What blessedness God has worked for the creature! What freedom from the Law! And what a glorious entrance into the knowledge of eternal sonship and grace.
This blessed soul that sees the entirety of his own sins and the entirety of his own salvation in the death of Christ will willfully become a debtor both to God and all men. Thankfulness and praise is the testimony of your lips, and shame covers the pride of past disobedience. Instead of , "Why should I serve Christ?", the heart cries out, "How could I not have served Him!" This sorrow is contrary to human wisdom, but it is the sorrow of newfound love. The wisdom of man says that obedience to the good and acceptable will of God is by threats and rewards. The wisdom of God says that obedience is the fruit of forgiveness received, righteousness imputed, and grace promised. The wisdom of man is foolishness with God, "… the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (I Cor 1:25). God's weakness? His longsuffering, kindness, pity, and great love for sinners through Jesus Christ His Son- even WHILE we were covered with our sins. God's weakness? He laid aside the manifestation of His glory to become obedient to the death of the cross. God's weakness? He receives the wayward prodigal as His son again, and again, and again. The Power of the Gospel is that God does all of these things and fulfills His every purpose of grace according unto absolute and strict righteousness.
The Gospel is not only a gospel that deals with past sins. The Gospel, when fully needed and received is the only and sufficient power for all godliness. Recognizing that baptism, my public confession of union with Christ, demands a life of obedience, the believer soon enough sees himself too weak to stir up love worthy of a Christian. Therefore, again, as a poor and needy child, we cast our souls upon God's covenant mercies claiming the righteousness of Jesus Christ to be our very own. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26). Before faith came, we were kept under the law trying to give God something for righteousness. Now, God has given us faith in Christ whereby He deals with us as righteous. The believer is a possessor of the infinite righteousness of the Son of Man. "Behold, his souls which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith" (Hab 2:4). Is there any possibility that God will forsake you that believe Him? Is it possible that He would declare you justified by faith, and then not bring forth the fruits of righteousness that evidence His declaration unto others? When Abraham offered up his only son Isaac, it was God's testimony to the world that Abraham was justified indeed (James 2:21-25). (Is 40:28- 31) "Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
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