The previous post examined how Jesus Christ is able to deliver those stuck in a rut of legalism and bring life-giving revival to their souls. But there is also hope for those stuck in a different rut.

While the transformation from legalism is happening in some, other believers are experiencing deliverance from the kind of liberal religion that walks away from other core parts of the gospel. Much ink has been spilled in deconstructing and ostracizing essential doctrines like the depravity of humanity, the need of atonement for our sins, or the eternal wrath of the perfectly loving and just God. This is often the group that blazes a trail on issues of social justice and compassion that is driven more by a belief in the goodness of humanity than it is by the glory of the supremely loving God.

And yet, in God’s perfect power, he is able to deliver from someone else’s legalism, and someone else’s liberalism just like he delivered you and I from our sins and gave new life to our broken hearts. During revival, it seems that the walls of legalism and liberalism come crashing down and the weighty joy of the gospel is discovered, embraced, and pursued.

So, for preachers like Edwards, Whitefield, and Wesley, the magnificent doctrine that is core to the gospel became central to their preaching. They underscored the sinfulness of humanity, the wrath of God against our sins, and how deserving we are of eternal judgement. But they also gloried in the beautiful Saviour who has absorbed the fullness of God’s wrath so that we could be covered with God’s favour. Theirs was a message of mercy, grace, and hope that came by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, and then led to a joy-filled life of “I get to.” I get to worship. I get to read God’s perfect word. I get to talk to my loving Heavenly Father. I get to serve. I get to tell others about Jesus. I get to be part of the family of God.

Maybe you can look back through your journal or think through some of your past church experiences, and you see different shades of legalism and liberalism. Perhaps as you read this and as you go to church, your heart longs to be set free to experience the kind of joy for which you were made. You can do that. You can have that. And the good news is that this has nothing to do with yourself. This happens through prayer. Earnest prayer. This happens as God revives your heart with the wonder of the gospel.