The Ground of our Confidence

I have been struck in recent days of the great confidence that we can experience in the gospel. My mantra, which I have spoken to those who would listen, but mostly just to myself, has been, "The gospel will win the day."

There are many new opportunities and challenges before my family in these days as we begin a new season of ministry. I am serving as the pastor of First Baptist Church of Longwood, FL. While getting my feet wet here, I am already midstream in my pursuit of a doctoral degree from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. Far more challenging, and rewarding, than either of these endeavors is my role as dad to five kids ranging in age from thirteen to six. In God's gratuitous grace, he has also given me the privilege and responsibility to be the husband of one wife.

I do not believe that I can manage all that is needed to be done in my life by my own ability. I do, however, believe that what God has done for me in Jesus is always enough. There is cause to have great confidence as we walk through this life. The benefits of God's grace for us are infinitely deep, immeasurably broad, and inexhaustibly rich. As I look to the cross, and then to an empty tomb, and finally to a Lamb-like Lion standing victoriously in heaven, My confidence in the gospel grows.

One of my favorite books is, The Gospel Primer, by Milton Vincent. On page 52, he writes:

Preaching the gospel to myself each day nourishes within me a holy brazenness to believe what God says, enjoy what He offers, and do what He commands. Admittedly, I don't deserve to be a child of God and I don't deserve to be free of sin's guilt and power. I don't deserve the staggering privilege of intimacy with God, nor any other blessing that Christ has purchased for me with His blood. I don't deserve to be useful to God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and I have what I have, and I hereby resolve not to let my portion of God's grace prove vain in me! And to the degree that I fail to live up to this resolve, I will boldly take for myself the forgiveness that God says is mine and continue walking in His grace. This is my manifesto, my daily resolve; and may God be glorified by this confidence that I place in Him.

Amen!