September 13

because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake. — 1 Thess 1:5 BSB

The Holy Spirit never enters a sinner's soul except through the gospel of God’s grace. Have you ever thought about that? You may be praying for the Holy Spirit to teach you, to be your Comforter, your Instructor, and your Guide. You may be asking for his gifts and sanctifying work in your heart, but have you considered how these blessings are tied to the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you want the Holy Spirit to work in your soul, you must hold firmly to the gospel. Don’t run to the law or to yourself; hold tight to the gospel, as much as you have already felt its power and believed in it with living faith.

When you are tested, hold on to the gospel. If Satan sifts you, hold on to the gospel. If you find yourself in the furnace of affliction, still cling to the gospel. If you wade through floods of sorrow, don’t let go of the gospel. Don’t let Satan, if you’ve ever felt the gospel’s power and preciousness, steal it from you or drive you away from it. Hold fast to the gospel, for it is your life. Where else will you find anything that meets your needs as a poor, tempted, tried sinner? Will you turn to the law, which only curses and condemns? Will you look to yourself? What is self but a pile of ruins? In the end, you must return to the gospel if your soul is to be saved and blessed, and if you are to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit, who alone can bless and console you.

I want to impress this vital truth upon your conscience: don’t look away from the gospel. As Berridge says, “Don’t squint and peek elsewhere.” Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the gospel because if you believe it, it will save your soul. Doesn’t the Apostle say it is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”? There is no power or salvation in anything else. Never expect power, salvation, or comfort except through the Holy Spirit bringing the gospel into your heart.