The Gospel of Jesus Christ is misunderstood by vast numbers of people within the professing Church. That sounds like an arrogant statement, but is one that can be quite easily shown to be true. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is presented in a man-centered way by telling men that God loved them so much that He sent His Son to die for them so that they would not go to hell. That sounds like God is man-centered and is only concerned about saving men from hell. In other words, the Gospel is simply a way human beings may escape suffering and obtain good things from God. But a holy God cannot do anything from a motive that is not for His own glory. A holy God that sets forth the good news of Jesus Christ will set it out in a way His glory is central. It is not good news to lovers of God for Him to save sinners in a way by which His glory (their chief love) is not the primary motive. The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster tells us that the chief goal or end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. If the chief end of man is truly that, then that is God’s chief end for man as well. The Gospel restores man in a way where God’s glory is manifested in the Gospel and then in the restoration of man to manifest God’s glory forever.
“There is no single aspect of religion which may not bear the marks of egocentricity or theocentricity, according as the one or the other of these constitutes the fundamental character of the religious relationship…Salvation may suggest nothing to me but the idea of my own perfect happiness, if not in this world, at any rate in the next; or it may signify the conformity of the human will with the divine, so that I am content to play whatever part God may appoint for me in His scheme of things.” (Let God Be God! An Interpretation of the Theology of Martin Luther)
Romans 3-4 sets out the Gospel of God and of Christ. In Romans 3:21-28 it is almost as if Paul has broken out in doxology of sorts and has forgotten that the Gospel has to do with human beings. This is an exaggeration of course, but the focus is without question on God and what He has done. That is what is really good news. The text of that is given below. As you read this text ask yourself if the text is focusing on the idea of the happiness and well-being of humans in this world or even in the next or whether it is focused on the glory of God in salvation. This is truly, as Paul sets out in Romans 1:1, the Gospel of God. Jesus called it “the gospel of the kingdom” in Matthew 4:23 and 9:25. Paul called it “the gospel of the glory of Christ” (II Cor 4:4). We must not denigrate the Gospel of God and of Jesus Christ by thinking of it as having glory and loveliness simply because it is good for us. It has glorious and loveliness because it is the Gospel that is to the praise of the glory of His grace (Eph 1:5-6). This is a Gospel that displays His glory and we are to love His glory in it rather than to admire ourselves when we hear the Gospel. It is simply our hideous pride to see and heart the Gospel and still focus on self. We are so focused on self by pride that we can hear of the glory of God and still only think of self.
“21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”
The Gospel is all about the righteousness of God and how He justifies sinners by His grace. The Gospel is about God who set forth His Son as a wrath bearing substitute for sinners all by grace. He did this in order to demonstrate His own righteousness. As His glory shines in this text, it would seem that we are on holy ground and we had better take off the sandals of our pride and self-centeredness in order to see His glory. Dare we boast? Dare we take our minds and hearts off of His glory in the Gospel so we can focus on ourselves? Dare we think of God as focused on human beings rather than His own glory? Egocentric people think of self as the focus of God and the Gospel thus marring the manifestation of His glory. Theocentric people think of His glory as the focus and so His glory is manifested to and through them. This is a massive difference as the two views are different Gospels. The egocentric view leaves men in their self-centeredness and pride. That is nothing but hell. The theocentric view has God changing men and giving them a love for God and His glory. That is nothing but heaven.
God Loves... Himself 
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