The psalmist writes, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul” (Psalm 94:19). The greatest consolation God has given us is salvation in his Son, Jesus, the light for the nations (Luke 2:22–33). But the gospel itself is multifaceted in its benefits. The consolation of the gospel is jam-packed with consolations, plural. Here are twenty-five gospel consolations for you with verse references based on my recent sermon from Acts 13:13–52 for your edification.
- God chose you (Acts 13:17; Deuteronomy 7:6–8; Ephesians 1:3–5)
- God has made you a people, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, and his treasured possession (Acts 13:17; Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9)
- God redeemed you from slavery, giving you freedom (Acts 13:17; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Exodus 14)
- God has patience with you (Acts 13:18; Romans 2:4; Romans 3:25)
- God destroys your enemies (Acts 13:19; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20:10, 14)
- God is giving you an inheritance (Acts 13:19; 1 Peter 1:4)
- God has given you a prophet and king, who speaks God’s Word, gives you ears to hear, and rules and judges justly (Acts 13:20–22; Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15–20; 34:10–12; David)
- God has given you the promised offspring who crushes the serpent’s head (Acts 13:23; 2 Samuel 7:12–16; Genesis 12:1–3; Genesis 3:15)
- God has given you repentance (Acts 13:24–25; Romans 5:19)
- God has given you salvation (Acts 13:26; Romans 1:16; 5:17)
- God has given you the perfect substitutionary sacrifice (Acts 13:28–29; Hebrews 10:12–14; Genesis 22:1–14)
- God has given you a perfect, risen great high priest (Acts 13:30; Hebrews 4:14–15; 5:5–6; 10:11–13; Psalm 110:4)
- God has given you witnesses (Acts 10:31; Romans 10:14–17; Hebrews 11; 12:1–3)
- God has given you his the good news of his written Word (Acts 10:31–32; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12–13; Isaiah 52:7)
- God has given you His Son, a risen, eternal, holy king (Acts 13:33–35; John 3:16; 1 John 5:12; Psalm 1–2; 2 Samuel 7:12–16; 1 Chronicles 17:11–14; Psalm 16:8–11; Psalm 72; Psalm 110; Isaiah 52:7)
- God has given you an eternal covenant with all its blessings (Acts 13:34; Isaiah 55:3; 2 Samuel 7:13–16; 1; 1 Chronicles 17:11–14)
- God has given you forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:38; Colossians 2:13–14; Hebrews 10:17–18; Jeremiah 31:34)
- God has justified you (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:21; Galatians 2:16)
- God has made you his new covenant people of grace, purified and unified—the church, conformed to the image of his Son (Acts 13:40–42; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 2:4–22; Habakkuk 1:5; Isaiah 29:14)
- God has given you to suffer for Christ’s sake (Acts 13:49–50; Mark 8:35; Romans 8:18; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 1:6–7; James 1:3–4; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 5:3–5)
- God has given you eternal life (Acts 13:46, 48; Colossians 2:13; John 3:16; John 4:14; Romans 6:23)
- God has made you a light (Acts 13:47; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 60:1, 2–5; Isaiah 66:10–14; Philippians 2:15; Matthew 5:14)
- God has given you joy (Acts 13:51–52; Psalm 16:11; Romans 5:3; Psalm 16:11)
- God has given you hope and purpose (Acts 13:51; Matthew 28:18–20; Romans 5:1–5; 8:28; Ephesians 1:5; 2:10; 3:10; 1 Peter 1:3)
- God has given you the Holy Spirit, adopting you as his own (Acts 13:52; John 7:37–39; Acts 2:1–4; Romans 5:5; Galatians 4:6; Numbers 11:29; Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28–32)
And here is, then, God’s consolation, the sum total of these twenty-five gospel consolations, for you—The God of glory gives you himself (Act 13:52; Romans 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:3–4; Revelation 21:3–4; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 84).
So, when the cares of your heart are many, let God’s consolations for you in the gospel cheer your soul (Psalm 94:19).
