God Is NOT the Gospel

Stephen Altrogge

The Gospel is the good news the way 

to God has been opened for all who believe in Christ.

Okay, put your pitchforks and effigies down for just a second. Before you burn me at the stake as a heretic, let me explain myself.
Lately I’ve noticed that Christians in general (and I include myself in that number) have been equating the Father, Son and Spirit with the Gospel.

The Father of Glory

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." (Ephesians 1:17)

This is one of Paul's most personal and precious prayers involving all the persons of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of wisdom," and the Father is called the "Father of glory."

One may note many wonderful attributes of our heavenly Father simply by noting the titles by which He is known to the apostles. Not only is He "the Father of glory," as in our text, but James calls Him "the Father of lights" (James 1:17). To Peter He is the "faithful Creator" and "the God of all grace" (1 Peter 4:19; 5:10).

Music for the Dance

by Max Lucado

Let's imagine that you want to learn to dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are, you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing.

You take the book home and get to work. You do everything it says. The book says sway; you sway. The book says shuffle; you shuffle. The book says spin; you spin.

Finally, you think you've got it, and you invite your wife to come in and watch. You hold the book open and follow the instructions step by step.

You continue to read, then dance, read, then dance, until the dance is completed. You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, "I executed it perfectly."

"You executed it, all right," she sighs. "You killed it."

"What?"