Great Gospel Words

With this I am beginning a series of posts under the heading “Great Gospel Words.” I suspect that the list of words brought to mind with such a title would include salvation, redemption, adoption, justification, etc.

Well, this list is a bit different…in fact, quite a bit different. This list is comprised of all single syllable words.

Perhaps this unusual approach will help us to continue to marvel at the truth that despicable sinners like us, who deserve eternal separation from God in hell are, instead, now on the pathway that leads to an eternity is the Lord’s presence in heaven.

Great Gospel Words - “But God”

What is the next word in each of the following incomplete sentences? (Hint: It is the same three letter word for each sentence.)

• Friend to friend: “She had been recovering well from her surgery…”
• Coach to high school athlete: “Your football skills have improved…”
• Boss to employee: “You did a good job on that project…”

The short, three letter word I have in mind is almost always negative. At least in the way that we use it nowadays. \

• Friend to friend: “She had been recovering well from her surgery, BUT she now has an infection and is in serious condition.”
• Coach to high school athlete: “Your football skills have improved, BUT I am cutting you from the squad.”
• Boss to employee: “You did a good job on that project, BUT it was late and over-budget so I have no choice but to let you go.”

BUT, the word BUT is on my list of Great Gospel Words. That means it is positive! And, when you couple this word with one other word, it is supernaturally positive: BUT GOD…!! Here is the Gospel according to “But God…”

“But God shows His love for us in this, that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

• The bad news is that the righteous judgment of a holy God must be visited upon sin, and we are sinners. The Good News is that Jesus absorbed our deserved punishment when He died for us.

“But God raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 13:30)

• The bad news for those who were following Jesus was that His dead body was in the tomb, sealed by a massive stone. The Good News is that His payment for sin was validated by God raising Him from the dead.

“But God’s firm foundation stands.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

• The bad news is that everything this world offers to us upon which to build our lives is crumbling right before our eyes. The Good News is that God’s firm foundation of Christ, His Word, His presence in our lives and our promised entrance into heaven are eternally secure.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

• The bad news is that you and I find again and again that our strength if feeble and frail, quickly drained away to near exhaustion. The Good News is that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, providing exactly what we need exactly when we need it!

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

• The bad news is that too often evil and sin seem be winning. The Good News is that our God is powerful enough to take the worst that the enemy has to offer and turn it to His glory and our good!

In our use of this word, a positive is turned to a negative. In God’s use of this word, a negative is transformed into a positive.

“…we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:3-5

But God is rich in mercy!