A Truth to Believe

     How Can We Summarize the Gospels and Acts?

The Gospels are four distinct accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a whole they emphasize the arrival of God's promised Messiah, he is both God and man, who came to save his people from their sin by defeating Satan, sin, and death. Acts tells the story of how Jesus continues to work through his disciples to spread the good news of the gospel across the world.

Here is a way we could summarize each book:

Matthew is the eyewitness account of Jesus Christ the long-awaited Messiah who is the promised king from David's line, fulfills the Old Testament, and saves his people from their sins.

Mark is the fast-paced account of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, who is the suffering servant, ransom for many, and model for his followers.

Luke is a detailed account of how Jesus the Messiah came to seek and save the lost by giving his life and fulfilling God's plan of salvation.

John is the eyewitness account of Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, who reveals the Father and gives eternal life to whoever believes in him.

Acts is the account of how Jesus spreads the gospel and expands his church through the Holy Spirit's power and the witness of his followers as they face opposition.

Truths to Believe Archive

Something about Caregiving

Caring for our son Levi this past week through his most recent heart procedure (you can read his caring bridge site here) has reminded us once again how fragile we are as humans and how deeply we depend upon God's sustaining strength. Days of wellness and stability are a blessing not something we get to demand. They are all the more precious when interspersed with days of illness, disease, and struggle. It is truly God's grace when he grants health and wellness on this side of eternity. Yet, he also a promise of a future age when sorrow and sickness will be no more. May you trust him when he ordains unwellness while also believing that this life is temporary and a new age is coming.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 21:3–5

A Quote

“The Synoptic Gospels and the book of Acts, despite all their diversity, have something in common. All of them proclaim that the king has come, that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Messiah, the final prophet, the true Israel, and the Lord of all. Jesus fulfills the promise made to David that his dynasty will never end, that a king would always sit on the Davidic throne. By virtue of his resurrection and exaltation he is now seated at Gods’ right hand and reigns from heaven. The kingdom prophesied in the OT has come, for the king has come.”

Tom Schreiner, The King in His Beauty, 499.

A Resource

We love to consider new books to read in a new year. If you are looking for some good suggestions, here are 8 books that have significantly impacted us.