Gospel-driven piety is one which is careful to find its motivation and efficacy in the person and work of Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in the gospel of God's grace. It relentlessly avoids any ascetic or mystical attempts to piety, as embraced by Catholicism or even some modern day Evangelicals. It does so as both asceticism and mysticism undermines the sufficiency and efficacy of the gospel to mature believers in Christ.
As an example of how gospel-driven piety thinks, here is an excerpt from the recent report of Jay.M Nair on his Sabbatical from all ministry. After having described how his sabbatical went and the valuable lessons he learned, he goes on to a section on improvement. He lists areas of improvement in his life and explains how using the gospel, he aims to tackle each of these issues. He lists :
- Moodiness - to be less moody and have emotions that are in-line with the hope of the gospel.
- Despair - to be less disappointed over past failures, but be driven by the promises of the gospel of God's grace.
- Critical Spirit - to be less judgmental of human shortcomings (whether in me or others) but be affirming the evidences of grace (both in me and others).
- Temperament - to be less irritated by weak and difficult people, but be tender and kind, in light of the condescending grace of the Lord towards me as revealed in His gospel.
- Patience - to be less grumbling over life's circumstances, but be patient knowing the gospel truth of the Sovereign orchestration of all things for my good and that the God who did not spare His own Son, will not withhold any good thing from me.
- Bitterness - to be less angry, but be forgiving knowing how much I have been forgiven by His Sovereign Grace in the gospel.
- Thankfulness - less taking for granted anything or anyone, but be always moved by gratefulness, flowing from the knowledge of His love in the gospel.
- Guilt - to be less scared to confront sin, knowing the freedom of the gospel that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Boasting - less boasting over earthly and human things, knowing all my boast is in the Lord, by whose perfection I stand accepted before the throne of grace. [1]
The whole report can be read here.
Footnotes
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[1] Jay. M Nair, Back From Sabbatical – A Report, Beacon of Truth, 2011
