God's Will: Gospel Worldview

God’s Will: Gospel Worldview

Let me say something about worldviews in general so that we are working with a similar definition. By worldview I mean the way that we interpret and understand and perceive the world around us. We all have a worldview, for we all perceive and interpret and understand in some particular way what is taking place around us in our own little worlds and in the whole world.

A gospel worldview is different then any other world- view. There is the gospel worldview and then there are all other worldviews. I have heard someone say that we shouldn’t speak of worldviews because it is secular in origin but I disagree. Worldview is simply what I defined it as, our view of the world. This is not secular or sacred, it just is. We all perceive what is taking place around us in some particular manner. What sets the gospel worldview apart (GW from here on), is that it is the only true and accurate view and therefore the best and right worldview. When we perceive the world around us as the gospel tells us that it is we are perceiving the world correctly. Essentially what has happened is that we have taken off the glasses of sin and put on the glasses of Jesus. Or more scripturally, we have gone from blindness to sight. We have not only begun to see things clearer but we are now seeing them for the first time as they really are when we see them in the gospel.

Our worldview is first changed in salvation. If I can use my self for an example. At salvation I went from anti-theism/atheism to theism. I went from a world of pointlessness and vanity to a world of purpose and meaning. Paul went from a world of human righteousness to a world of human depravity. What happened was not a change in thinking. Don’t try to convince your mind of what you do not believe. We cannot believe what we do not believe no matter how hard we try. If you believe the sky is blue no amount of arguing will convince you it is Pepto-Bismol pink. Our world view is changed not by changing our own minds, like in all the other worldviews. Our mind is changed by the Spirit of God in the effectual application of the word of God. We can really want to believe something, (like change our worldview), but if we don’t believe something then we don’t believe it. The religions of the world are all worldviews and they can be chosen and mixed as liked. They are in our power to believe and adopt. But the GW is not in our power to adopt.

Why is it that we can adopt false worldviews at leisure but cannot accept the GW except by God? As said above, we are blind to truth. We, by nature worship and serve the creation, that includes the creation of false religions. Idolatry is ingrained in us from conception. We are born with a nature that includes the ability to believe lies above the truth. It is as Pilate said, “What is truth? (Jn 18:38)”

Jesus, in a dispute with the Pharisees about His true origin and His true Father, had this to say,

“If God were your Father you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desire of your father you want to do. He was a murder from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear because you are not of God.”


The words of Christ to the Pharisees are the same for all men (I Jn 4:5-6). We believe lies before we believe truth because lies are our nature. Lies come natural to us. We can chose which lies we will believe but we cannot chose to believe the truth apart from the Spirit of God changing our minds. Justification by grace through faith in Christ is the first time that we see as we should see. It is the moment of passing from death to life that we first see some of truth, our worldview is first shifted to the truth at justification.

At justification, the moment we pass from blindness to sight, death to life, we, for the first time, see Jesus as He is, the Savior that saves us. Up until that time, no matter how much knowledge of Jesus and sin and the bible we may have had, truth had not penetrated our beings. Until justification, no matter how much knowledge one has, they are not seeing truth as true, for they are not trusting it. It is when we first place our faith in the truth of Jesus Christ that we first have our worldview changed.

“What does worldview have to do with God’s will, ” you may be asking. Everything. We are not to be conformed any longer to this world but we are to be transformed (Rom 12:2; Eph 4:17-19) . God’s will is this transformation. Part of this transformation is seeing the world as God sees the world. We could argue that until you see the world as God sees the world you cannot really understand what you are called to. It is as our understanding and knowledge (not just in our heads but in our hearts, our beings) are conformed to God that we are transformed, that’s why Rom 12 speaks of the renewing of the mind.

We are taught in scripture that we have the mind of Christ (I Cor 2:16; Phil 2:5), this certainly includes our understanding and perception of the world. We see differently and hear differently then the rest of the world. We are set apart from the world by the word of Christ (Jn 17:17) that only His sheep can hear (Jn 10:27), contrary to the world that hears the lies of Satan (I Jn 5:19).

What is a gospel world view? It is many things and to show the correct view of everything, to apply the gospel to every area of life would take a very long time so we will just apply it to some broad, general circumstances.

We have talked about suffering in a previous post, and what I outlined of suffering is GW. The gospel, rightly understood and believed, will enable a joy in suffering. It does not dull the suffering or make the suffering enjoyable in some sadistic masochistic manner but it brings suffering into subjection to God. For certain, and do not think otherwise, suffering is always suffering. The gospel does not relieve suffering but it gives hope, comfort and rest in suffering. The pain Christ experienced upon the cross was not deadened by the gospel. The pain Paul experienced in his lashings was not diminished by the gospel. Suffering is God’s will in the gospel but it is received in faith of His goodness. The suffering stays real though. But the way it is perceived is changed.

Now, let me just interject this, GW is not mind manipulation. This is not about tricking ourselves into believing something or forcing to accept as true that which is untrue. This is not about adopting a set of values or beliefs. This is not religion. This is about submitting to truth. When the bible says to consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, it isn’t telling you to consider it joy just to consider it joy. The considering that the bible is commanding is simply submitting to truth. Maybe a picture will help. When we get a shot for medical reasons we are not particularly excited about the needle but the medicine that is being delivered makes the shot worthwhile. We don’t see the medicine but the faith that the medicine is there leads us to pursue getting the shot. Its not a perfect picture but it works. We accept the truth of the gospel and submit to it, not because we fully see but because we trust the Physician. Maybe that helps, maybe it doesn’t help. Take it or leave it.

We are not conforming our lives to a set of doctrines that may or may not be true. We are submitting to a Person that is Truth. I fear for those in the church that try so hard to believe but don’t but settle for their trying to believe as saving faith. They don’t believe the gospel. But they try to. This is not faith. This is, “I want to believe but I don’t.” This is not good. They have yet to see the truth of the gospel, they have yet to pass from death to life. We all struggle with faith to some degree. None of us trusts the Lord as fully as we should. But to be saved we must have faith that the gospel is true.

“What do I do if I don’t believe the gospel but want to believe the gospel?” Examine your heart. If you desire to be saved this is a work of the Lord in your life. Jesus invites all who hunger and thirst, all who are tired and heavy laden. Why do you not come? Perhaps it is because of a sin that you don’t want to let go of? Perhaps your love of money or adulterous sex or pride keeps you from coming. You desire to be saved in the superficial way of desiring to keep all your sins but not be punished. Don’t be deceived, none who do not repent of their sins will inherit the Kingdom of God. My advice to you would be to trust the Lord when He tells you that all sin leads to death and that it would be better to enter heaven with one eye or one hand then to keep both and end up in hell. Sever the sin that ensnares you. Flee the wrath to come.

Perhaps you desire heaven but you don’t want to submit to Christ as Lord. You know that to be saved is to cast your whole life upon Christ in faith and this you don’t want. You want heaven but you want it on your terms. This is not a desire to be saved. This is a desire to continue as your own god and reject the true God. Recognize the foolishness of your ways. You have exalted yourself to godhood while relegating God to servant hood. Repent. You are but a creature of the Creator and your treason, though small in your eyes, is wickedness of the greatest kind before the Lord.

If you desire salvation then believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. If you cannot believe know that no desire for salvation will make you acceptable before the Lord. Only the work of Jesus upon the cross in your place can make you acceptable to God. Faith that you are saved is not saving faith. We are not called to believe that we are saved. We are called to trust Jesus and His cross and resurrection and know that we are saved by Him, not ourselves. This is faith. True faith. Faith hears Jesus promise of salvation to all who come to Him and faith goes to Him.

GW sees children as a blessing. Always a blessing. Not a curse. Not a burden or drain on life. Children are not an obstacle to happiness or just a hurdle in adulthood. The gospel promises children as a heritage from the Lord. Children are a blessing. How sad that so many see children as an inconvenience.

Now, it may be asked how “children as a blessing” is a GW. Isn’t the verse to support that Old Testament? Yes, Psalm 127:3-5. A GW sees all of scripture as gospel. Even the law and prophets are gospel, history, psalms, wisdom and any other. Scripture is gospel if, and that is a big “if,” it is understood rightly. Every scripture rightly understood will lead us to Jesus. So much could be said on this and it could easily fill a book so let me keep it brief.

In the law we see the standard of God that should lead us to despair of self and hope in God (Rom 5:20-21; Gal 3:24). The ceremonies and temple sacrifices all pointed to a better sacrifice, namely the Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (Heb 9:11-15). The wisdom literature was all fulfilled in Christ the Wisdom of God (I Cor 1:30). The history relays us information on Israel’s deliverance and set apartness for God, perfectly showing by type and illustration of what was to come (Heb 3:1-4:16). In the prophets we see a perfect picture of what is to come in Jesus and then how it was perfectly fulfilled in Jesus (Lk 4:16-21). The Bible tells one unfolding continuous story of God’s plan for and fulfillment of redemption. We are part of this story. It is a GW that sees this story and enters into this story as now being their story. God’s story is your story in Christ Jesus. Scripture unfolds this marvelous drama of cosmic redemption, from Eden to the New Jerusalem, the story is told and unfolded. From Genesis to Revelation we see God’s perfect plan unfolding through imperfect, sinful men, redeemed by God’s Redeemer, Jesus Christ. As we see the scriptures unfolding God’s story of redemption we see the world as it really is. This is essential to living for God. This gives all of creation and history the correct definition and purpose for what it was made.

The GW does not allow us to depend on money (Matt 6:31-34). The GW does not allow us to fret in the face of opposition (Rom 8:31). The GW sends us to the poor and down trodden (Matt 25:31-46). The GW calls us to hope (Rom 5:1-5). The GW fights for marriage (Eph 5:22-33). The GW leads to personal holiness (I Pet 1:13-15). The list goes on and on, to cover every area of life.

As the gospel penetrates our lives we begin to see things as they are. No longer does sight rule but faith. We see reality for what it really is. Sin is seen as sin. Wickedness as wickedness. Righteousness as righteousness. Holiness as holiness. The world will tell us that in order to be happy we need to indulge in every desire and want, we need to free ourselves from rules and standards and do what feels good. But the GW sees the sin that dominates man and believes the verdict against sin and trusts the love of God and enters into a life of denial, trusting that God will not mislead. Never has one followed Jesus faithfully to the grave and looked back at life with disappointment, but how many have followed the world, even for a time, only to find sadness, disappointment and pain.

The GW sees everything for what it is: God’s glory and our good. Ultimately that is what the gospel promises is taking place in creation and history. God is being glorified by everything and everything is working for our good. That is quite a worldview to adopt when you consider the state of the world at any given time. We see death, poverty, war, disaster, disease, abuse, orphans, massacre, and things only getting worse. How could somebody adopt a view of the world that says, “everything is to God’s glory and our good?” As I said before, we can’t adopt this worldview on our own. In fact, there are days and times when this worldview will be challenged by what we see around us, yet, our faith has the victory (I Jn 5:4-5). How do we answer what we see? The life of Christ.

In Jesus we see the perfect love of God flowing out to man, not by correcting every wrong and ending all suffering but by redeeming all of creation (Rom 8:18-25). In Jesus we see the perfect wrath and justice of God fulfilled in the ultimate punishment of sins (Rom 3:21-26). In Jesus we see God’s hatred of evil and love of good. In Jesus we learn of God’s unstoppable love for us, even dying upon a cross for His enemies (Rom 5:10). In Jesus we learn that God is for us and with us (Matt 28:20). In Jesus we get the fullest understanding and image of God that man knows (Col 1:15, 19) In Jesus we see the full meaning of scripture (Lk 24:27; Jn 5:39; II Tim 3:15). In Jesus we are given the answer that unlocks every mystery (I Cor 2:7, 4:1; Eph 3:4-5). He is our wisdom, redemption, sanctification and righteousness (I Cor 1:30). In Jesus we see what we never saw. In Jesus we know God (Jn 14:9,17:3). Jesus is the gospel worldview. Look out at the world as Jesus looked out at the world and you will posses a gospel worldview and more then that, you posses the knowledge of God’s will that you desire.

Don’t qualify that last statement. Oh how we want to qualify everything till there is nothing left to believe. We have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, dwelling in us and this is better then Christ standing here now (Jn 16:7). We are equipped to do the will of God, we have the mind of Christ. And when we stand in the darkness of uncertainty, the gospel promises us an unfailing, unending, unstoppable love that cannot be defeated and cannot be overcome. The gospel holds forth Christ risen from the grave of your deserved death saying, even now, “I am for you, trust Me.” He is gentle and kind, He is merciful and full of grace, He is love. Do not let the uncertainty of the unknowns dictate the reality of the fully known: God’s love in Christ! What do we have to fear? Not death (I Cor 15:54-57). Not needs (Matt 6:32-33). Not man (Matt 10:28). Not Satan (I Jn 4:4). What do you have to fear? “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who is risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Rom 8:31-39)”

Are you persuaded? Do you yet see as God sees? Do you yet view the world even as Jesus viewed the world? The answer is in the cross and the empty grave. Look there and see the love of God, the power of God, the grace and mercy of God. Look there and see perfect righteousness and perfect justice of God perfectly fulfilled. Look there and see the wrath poured out upon sin. Look there, to the cross and empty tomb, and see life eternal. Hear the call, today. Jesus commands your repentance, Jesus commands your faith. He has come for the sick. He has come for the sinner. He has come for you. Let His love win you. Let His beauty capture you. Let His glory captivate you. Behold God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I plead, even now, be reconciled to God in Jesus (II Cor 5:20-21). Faith believes the world is even as God says that it is. Faith believes the promises and threatening of God. Faith looks beyond its own understanding and rests in God’s perfect wisdom. Faith hopes, even contrary to hope, for God is beyond all means.