The Gospel is the good news that God in his grace saves the lost through the work of his Son Jesus Christ and restores us to fellowship with God. This is the treasure, the pearl of great price, that is true and valuable even if it had no consequences for practical life. But it does! Thanks to Christ’s atoning death our sins are forgiven, we are freed from guilt and shame. The gospel thus opens up for those who believe a life of fulfilling service in obedience to God. This life of obedience is fulfilling (because it is right) even if it did not change society; but it does and it has changed entire civilizations because the life of obedience is the only way to live in fullest communion with God by glorifying him in all that we do. The gospel is all about joyful and meaningful communion with God, communion made possible because of what Christ has done for us. The good news is that we have fellowship with God.
John Bolt was born in the Netherlands; immigrated to Canada at the age of three; grew up in a sleeping village south of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is retired professor of systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan; his favorite movie is The Sting; favorite smells are food smells, especially bakery (cinnamon rolls!!); favorite color is green; his first (paid) job was delivering a morning newspaper, The Vancouver Province (up at 5:00 AM); non-academic passions: watching sports, especially my grandkids, reading novels, especially good mystery novels.
