Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. (1 Timothy 1:3–4, NIV)
Why is it so important to stay faithful to the apostles’ teaching and the singular gospel? In the pattern of Hebrew poetry, I crafted an acrostic that utilizes every letter possible to stress the absolute necessity of retaining the singular good news. In the Scripture alone do we meet a God who (is):
All sovereign and able
Bigger than any enemy
Cares for the broken who trust his Son
Devoted to exalting his saving power in Christ
Excellent in his love
Forever unchanging
Good all the time
Here right now calling for your surrender
Irresistible when he discloses his beauty
Just in sending sinners to hell and in saving all who trust in Jesus
Killed death decisively at the cross and who kills sin progressively in the lives of all who trust him
Loves magnifying his mercy in forgiveness through Christ
Moves people to treasure his worth
Never will leave or forsake those who are his
Opening doors of help for all who look to him
Pleased in the redeeming work of his Son
Quick to respond to all who call on his name
Rightly passionate to preserve and display his glory
Seeking all who are surrendered to him
Totally committed 100% to all who are in Jesus
Unswerving in his faithfulness
Victorious over death and sickness, selfishness and suffering
Working right now for his own
eXtreme in his curse-overcoming, righteousness-securing jealousy for his bride
Yet open to save any who admit their sinfulness and need for Jesus
Zealous for his name and his fame and his mission to save, set free, sanctify, and satisfy sinners by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
This is good news that can be found no where else! May we remain a people who “guard the deposit” that God has entrusted to us (1 Timothy 6:20). May the generations yet unborn not curse this generation for failing to hold fast to the apostles’ teaching and to the singular gospel of Jesus. Feeding people bread made without flour will neither satisfy nor sustain. So may we feed our sheep with the bread of life and lead them to the bounty that is Christ. Devote yourself to the singular gospel that grows out of the clear Word of God, trusting that God’s ordered way is best and that God’s Word is enough.
