The Vision (1.3.20): That's Too Big!

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday afternoon's sermon in the 1689 Confession series.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

The revelation of the gospel to sinners…is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever made, or can do so…. (Second London Baptist Confession [1689] 20:3).

The reformed theologian John Gerstner once told a seminary class about a time when he preached a sermon in a Baltimore church. The sermon was on man’s depravity and his desperate need for divine grace.

After the service, a woman approached Gerstner and, pinching her thumb and forefinger close together so as to leave only a small space between them, said, “That sermon made me feel this big!”

To which Gerstner responded, “That’s too big!” (adapted from Dale Ralph Davis, 2 Kings, p. 42).

Our problem is not that we tend to think too little of ourselves, but too much. This section of our confession (20:3) reminds us of the sovereignty and grace of God in the revelation of the gospel to sinners.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle