Resting in the Gospel is resting in the good news of what God has done for you.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  When you come to Jesus – when you submit yourself to Him as Lord – you find rest in the good news that even in the depths of your sin, He lovingly laid down his life for you.

Romans 5:8 – “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God made the first move:  even while you were His enemy (Romans 5:10), He still loved you in a way that seems unfathomable:  He sent His Son – His only beloved Son – to die for you.  Expert negotiators would say that God made a huge mistake here:  if God was trying to get sinners to follow Him, wouldn’t it make more sense to set up a tit-for-tat relationship?  Since He is more powerful, why didn’t he demand that we give Him something first?  Great negotiators always get the opposing party to go first.

But not God.  He gave His only beloved Son to take your place (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24).  This is genuine, no-strings-attached love.  Jeremiah Burroughs defines this good news (the gospel) below:

“And now this mediation of Christ is, by the appointment of the Father, preached to the children of men, of whatever nation or rang, freely offering this unto sinners for atonement for them, requiring them to believe in Him and, upon believing, promising not only a discharge of all their former sings, but that they shall not enter into condemnation, that none of their sins or unworthiness shall ever hinder the peace of God with them, but that they shall, through Him be received into the number of sons.  They shall have the image of God renewed again in them, and they shall be kept by the Power of God unto salvation.  These souls and bodies shall be raised to the height and glory that such creatures are capable of.  They shall live forever, enjoying the presence of God and Christ in the fullness of all good.  This is the gospel of Christ.”

We love Him because He first loved us.  Our love is expressed through our obedience (John 14:15), and when we submit ourselves in obedience to Him, rest, joy and peace with others will result.

 

 

Recommended resource:  A Life of Gospel Peace by Jeremiah Burroughs

 

 

 

 

Posted in Gospel (The Gospel), Peace