In the book of Acts and in the Epistles, the gospel message
—the good and glorious news that
“another true and obedient human being has come on our behalf,
that he has lived for us the kind of life we should live but can’t,
that he has paid fully the penalty we deserve for the life we do live but shouldn’t” [Graeme Goldsworthy],
with all of the personal and kingdom implications that that entails—
is referred to as “the Word.”
As you read God’s Word and consider the deep implications of the gospel for your life, you’ll begin to discern a pattern [with thanks to Tim Keller for this way of framing the issue]:
- God has holy standards for how we are to speak words and listen to words.
- This side of heaven we will never fully measure up to God’s holy standard regarding the use of our tongue.
- Jesus fulfilled what we (along with Adam, Israel, and every prophet, priest, and king) failed to do: his words were perfect words, without sin. By his punishment-bearing, substitutionary death, his words can become our words.
- Our day-by-day failure to use our tongue as we ought—for God’s glory and for the good of his people—comes from a functional rejection of Christ the Word.
- It is only as we look to Jesus, rejoicing in him and in his atoning provision, that we are freed to walk—and talk—in his way.
Tomorrow we’ll sum up the discussion with a brief glance at what Proverbs and Paul say about the importance of the tongue.
[Adapted from Justin Taylor, “Introduction,” The Power of Words and the Wonder of God, ed. John Piper and Justin Taylor (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2009), pp. 15-16.]
