Gospel: Positive Blessing

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 7
There is nothing simply negative in the gospel. It is not a prohibitory system. It is a gracious system of conferring positive blessing. To forgive sin may be negative, but to give righteousness, is a positive blessing. This marks the genius of the gospel. "Whosoever believeth in Him [Jesus] shall not perish"; it does not stop here, but "shall have everlasting life." "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, but it goes on, "and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in Me." If we are delivered from the power of darkness, it is by translation into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. It is sad that our narrow minds and dull hearts deprive the gospel of its glory. It is the glorious gospel of the blessed God; it represents God in the gracious place of the Giver, and sets man in his only place of possible blessing, that of a simple recipient. By faith we receive Christ (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)), and receiving Him, we receive from Hint power to become the sons of God. We receive forgiveness of sins, abundance of grace, and the gift of righteousness. We receive eternal life. Christian action follows on this reception of Christ. The teaching of the Holy Ghost unfolds to us what we have received in having received Christ. It is well to keep this principle constantly before the soul. It is not that which we renounce, any more than that which we do, which makes us Christians, but that which we receive. And this principle runs through the Christian life. It is a life which has its affections, sensibilities, energies and activities. Our Christian life is not a system of negation any more than is our natural life.
J.L. Harris