Watching the first video, “Discovering the Gospel in Genesis,” made me remember when our professor asked the class our initial thoughts about the book of Genesis. I recited that this book tells us our origins—an explanation of how all existence in the universe came to be and how. This kind of perspective allows us to understand the present world we live in. However, I realized my explanation was insufficient; it also tells us where God’s creation is headed. It does not merely provide a historical account of the past or help us comprehend the present, but it also helps us find hope in the future.
Speaking of the future, and to understand it, we need to look back at the culture of blessings in the Bible. Now the word blessing, in the contemporary context, is often associated with material worth. Too often we conceptualize the word blessings as receiving a gift and being treated with food or clothes. It is different how the word was used in this context—it is "deep fulfillment,” as Keller phrased it. The word "blessing" here means fulfillment—satisfaction, meaning, purpose, and value—attainable only through a relationship with God. If that is the case, then blessings in their ultimate form come with knowing God, whom we know personally through Jesus Christ. Thus, the Christian man is a man wholly blessed by God. This makes me realize, whenever I look at the future, that true satisfaction is not found in a fitting career, stable income, or hobbies. Even in life's struggles, like Jacob's fear of Esau, true fulfillment is found only in seeking the face of God.
The second video was about the gospel in the book of Exodus. I like the principle of grace and the analogy of Keller here when he reflected on the idea of what the gospel is concerning the freedom of the Israelites from the hands of Egypt. Salvation from sin is given as a gift. Similarly, God freed his people before he gave them the law. However, the law does not act as the ultimate solution to the rift between God and man. Thus, grace is needed and payment is imminent. And the payment was already done when Christ died on the cross. The law’s function, therefore, is to establish God’s relationship with man. It is God revealing himself to them who He is. And to know is to act according to the character he possesses—holiness, justice, grace, and love.
Reflecting on this idea, I realized not to take the law for granted. Obedience is evidence of what Christ has started. The Christian man is known not more for his speech but for his actions toward others and how he conducts himself. The unbeliever finds the Christian man different, and through his life, the gospel is shared. While obedience is not the gospel itself, a life transformed by grace and lived following God's will can serve as a compelling witness to others, opening doors for sharing the gospel.
In summary, I find that the videos share compelling insights—angles that I have not looked at in the same way. Initially, I saw Genesis as merely a historical account of our origins, but it relates to me in the present and helps me comprehend the future. The video on Exodus reinforced this by highlighting grace and the role of the law in revealing God's character, making law, grace, and blessings interconnected. Additionally, it makes me remember that obedience reflects a life transformed by grace rather than a means of salvation. I learned more about how the gospel can be found in these books in particular. These insights have deepened my understanding of how the gospel is shown through the entire Bible in a unified narrative. Most importantly, it helped me understand a part of God’s plan for mankind and my personal life.