Sufficiency of the Gospel

“For she thought, ‘If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.’ And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.  And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched My garments?’  And His disciples said to Him, ‘You see the multitude pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’  And He looked around to see the woman who had done this.  But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’”  Mark 5:28-34

We here at GBF are learning what many throughout the course of history have also found to be true.  Most of our guilt, most of our shame, most of our problems of bitterness, addiction, disorder, and affliction can be sufficiently dealt with and healed within a solid, experiential grasp of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Sound too simplistic to be true?  Well, the concept may seem simple to grasp on the surface, but the cost to procure this Truth was extremely expensive.  Actually, it was the MOST expensive price ever paid.  It was paid for in full by the Heavenly Father through the sacrificial work of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  Because of this redemptive work, there is strength and healing available for the child of God in the here and now, not just the there and then.  “There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the lamb!”   

When we as people try to add anything to this powerful remedy, we only serve to dilute this strong medicine.  Biblical counseling will never be widely accepted by the masses because it goes against the grain of us as (sinful) people.  It rubs us completely wrong.  How difficult it can be for us to fall prostrate before a Holy God in repentance and brokenness, with no resource of our own to offer, or safety nets to catch us “just in case.”  Nevertheless, like trying to add works unto salvation, adding the “wisdom” of man to God’s healing resource will only serve to disconnect the truth, power, and effectiveness of it.  “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us…” 2 Peter 1:3 (Emphasis added)  For Christians to seek something more is like frantically knocking on a door, desiring what is inside, not realizing you hold the key in your pocket.

-Pastor Craig