Vincent, Milton. A Gospel Primer for Christians. Focus Publishing, 2008 (97 pages).
"Terror accomplishes no real obedience. Suspence brings forth no fruit unto holiness. No gloomy uncertainty as to God's favor can subdue one lust, or correct our crookedness of will. But the free pardon of the cross uproots sin, and withers all its branches. Only the certainty of love, forgiving love, can do this." ~ Horatius Bonar (1808-1889), in "God's Way of Holiness"This book was recommended to me about six years ago. When I finally acquired a copy a couple years later (at a T4G conference, I believe) and when I finally read it, I knew right away I had found something “more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.” This was gospel truth that was balm for my soul. I had been in ministry for a very long time even then, but like Vincent, had often wrestled with the nature of God’s countenance toward me as a sinning Christian. I am so grateful to God for the revival of these gospel truths that He has been seeding in my heart over the last ten years or so.
Vincent wrote the book as both a guide and a corrective for Christians in their understanding and application of the gospel (p. 5). It is meant to guide Christians to “experience the gospel more fully by preaching it to themselves each day”; it is meant to correct the flawed understanding of the gospel as necessary for conversion but not for one’s ongoing walk with Christ and growth in sanctification. The value of such a guide and corrective is evidenced from the author’s own struggle which he shares in Part IV, “Surprised by the Gospel.” His story, no doubt, mirrors that of many Christians. “My problem,” he states, “was that I couldn’t seem to figure out how to stay in the good favor of the God who had saved me.” (p. 91)
I appreciated so very much Vincent’s story as he told of his journey to a clearer, more accurate understanding of the ongoing role of the Gospel in a believer’s life. I, too, struggled with perceptions of a God who “was frequently angered at me” (p. 91) when I sinned (or, as I wrote in my margin, “disgusted”). I resonated with his statement, “I figured that if I beat myself up sufficiently in His presence, or pled with Him long enough, or just waited a few hours to put a little distance between me and my sin, then He might warm up to me again.” (p. 92) On and on the see-saw ride would go, often agonizing that the “rest” I often read and sang about seemed to be so elusive and far-removed from my own experience.
My heart was stirred as I read Vincent’s description of how Romans chapter 5 “saved [his] life” (p. 94; cf. also Rom. 6) in helping him see how Paul rejoiced in his justified status before God, leaving the maintaining of that status also to Christ. So the unpacking of the doctrine of Christ’s propitiation (especially on pp. 63-64; cf. 1 Jn. 2:2; 1 Thess. 5:9-10) and God’s countenance toward me “without any admixture of wrath whatsoever” has come to rest on my soul and has brought significant renewal. Of course, it is an ongoing work!
So the book, which is saturated with Scripture texts in the footnotes, will be a valuable aid in helping Christians who wrestle as Vincent did. Vincent helps us to treasure more deeply the gospel in its liberating glory and amazing grace and to find our rest in Christ.
The heart of the book, and I believe where the greatest value of the book lies in personal meditation or in discipling other believers, rests in Part I, “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily.” It may be coincidence (or rather, providential), but I suspect it may have been intentional that there are 31 such reasons Vincent gives, which makes it very natural to use in a daily “rehearsing” of the gospel, using one of his reasons each day of the month.
To that end, following are just some of the key gospel truths Vincent urges us to keep before us:
- The gospel, as “the full armor of God,” (Eph. 6:11,13), provides our daily protection (pp. 17-18). Vincent states, “I am vulnerable to defeat and injury unless I seize upon the gospel and arm myself with it from head to toe.” (p. 16) Often, many of our problems stem from leaving ourselves vulnerable due to not being adequately clothed with the resources God has already provided.
- Since a questioning of God’s goodness lies essentially behind our disobedience (Gen. 3:4-6), rehearsing the gospel helps reinforce trust in God’s good character and intentions toward us (Deut. 5:29; pp. 17-18). This is a great corrective when questions of God’s character surface in our lives or in counseling situations.
- Our righteous standing before God is not only secured by the work of Christ, it is also maintained by Him; therefore, we are able to rest from our labors of seeking God’s favor (p. 20; Rom. 4:5; 5:1-2, 18-21; Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:3; 1 Jn. 2:1-2). Our efforts to please God then flow out of love and delight in that secure favor, rather than laboring out of uncertainty or fear of losing it.
- When Christ’s atoning work is applied to our lives, God’s wrath is fully satisfied, appeased, propitiated by Jesus who absorbed it all on our behalf; therefore God’s continuing countenance toward us is one of love, affection, and compassion, “without any admixture of wrath whatsoever” (p. 63; 1 Jn. 2:2; 1 Thess. 5:9-10). This does not mitigate our need to confess and repent of our sin, but doing so is not to win back God’s favor. Instead it restores our own reception of the grace and love that God had longed to display all along (p. 64; 1 Jn. 1:9).
In Parts II and III, Vincent provides a “Gospel Narrative” in both prose and poetic forms, respectively. The prose version (pp. 55-65) contains 41 statements that are summarized under a common gospel outline of “The Glory of God,” “My Sin Against God,” “God’s Work on My Behalf,” and “My Salvation.” Both the prose and poetic versions are, like Part I, liberally footnoted with Scripture. Those with a more creative or artistic bent should especially appreciate the application of the same gospel truths in the poetic version of Part III (pp. 67-88). Both sections are quick, easy reads; they are thorough without being exhaustive. Either section could be effectively used not only in a daily rehearsal of the gospel by Christians, but also in evangelistic discussions with someone inquiring about the gospel or the claims of Christianity.
My one suggestion to those who pick up this book is to read Part IV first. I’m not sure why the author and/or publisher chose to put Vincent’s story at the end, but I feel it is tremendously helpful to begin with his story that provided the impetus to the writing of the book in the first place.
I believe this little book can be used powerfully and effectively in accomplishing the author’s desires in writing it, expressed at the conclusion of his Introduction:
“…this book is based on the premise that all Christians should become expert in their knowledge and use of the gospel, not simply so they can share it faithfully with non-Christians, but also so they can speak it to themselves every day and experience its benefits. In fact, if Christians would do more preaching of the gospel to themselves, non-Christians might have less trouble comprehending its message, for they would see its truth and power exuding from believers in indisputable ways.”I look forward to continuing to use the book as Vincent intended – as a “guide” and “corrective” – both in my own life and in the lives of those God entrusts to me in ministry to the end that God will be greatly glorified and His church strengthened in the gospel of Christ!
