A few years ago, my wife and I (well I should admit, I) considered buying a dog from the animal shelter. The dog was a beautiful black and silver German-Shepherd, Alaskan-Malamute mix. My wife asked that we take her through the dog-training course offered at the shelter, if we were to go down this road again with another dog. I’ll admit, we have had to take a number of unruly dogs back to the shelter in the past.

One of the first lessons we learned (Or was it the first lesson the dog learned? I never really could figure that one out. Was I being trained or the dog?) involved identifying a familiar object between master and dog that would serve to bring the two together. That touchpoint could be the master’s hand. One would simply tell the dog, “Touch!” and she would learn to touch the object with her nose. And with much practice, this touchpoint would serve to refocus the dog from distracting or even dangerous circumstances, providing a sense of familiarity and comfort in the security of the master’s attention.

As we read the Pauline epistles, it would do us well to see how often the apostle brings believers back to the gospel as the touchpoint of the Christian life for his or her joy and encouragement. Throughout his letters we are being trained to come back to the gospel and touch it in our meditations and readings. The gospel touchpoint encourages, sustains, protects, and refocuses our hearts!

So, how does the gospel serve as a touchpoint for daily Christian living? Isn’t the gospel the good news of the definitive, finished work of Christ to save sinners through His perfect life, death, resurrection, and exaltation? How then can the gospel be a daily touchpoint for Christians?

Many, including me, have assumed that the gospel was for unbelievers, full stop. That is, many think of the gospel in terms of evangelism to the lost. Certainly, it is not wrong to equate the gospel and evangelism. In fact, the English word evangelism comes from the Greek word, good news or gospel. Yet, when we read the epistles, we will readily notice that the apostles weave the promises of the gospel throughout their letters.

While I compartmentalized the ministry of the gospel to unbelievers (I thought something like, “I have moved beyond that unbelief stage so I guess I don’t need the gospel presented to me again.”), the apostles continued to remind believers of the promises of the gospel.

Take the book of Romans for example. Paul closes the letter with these words: “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (16:25a). Stop there for a moment and just observe that Paul expects that the gospel message and preaching of Christ will strengthen the believers in Rome.

In verse 26 we also observe this purpose statement with regard to the disclosure of the gospel: “to bring about the obedience of faith to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” The preaching of the gospel of Christ strengthens believers and in fact purposes to bring about the obedience of the faith to the glory of God forever through Christ.

We might say that wired into the “DNA” of the gospel message is the power to grant faith that receives God’s announcement of justification for sinners and the power to grant a fruit-bearing, obedient faith that in fact brings glory to God forever through (gospel shorthand) Jesus Christ!

The secret to this empowering message of the gospel can actually be traced to the work of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul explains in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “…our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction…” Well, there we have it. I love how Paul says the gospel “came to you” as if it was a person paying us a special visit. But then again, I think that is the point. When the gospel produces full conviction, it is the power of the personal Holy Spirit attending the message of the gospel.

Believer, every day we need the reminder of the gospel promise that we are secure in Christ because of the promise of the gospel of Jesus to us! Our present and future is secured in Christ! You ask, “Are you sure?” Absolutely. What is the basis of this assurance? The good news of the promise of Jesus to save sinners who trust in Him through the announcement of the gospel!

We can be assured that Jesus’ obedience to the Law of God rendered on our behalf (Romans 5:19) has been accepted by God because of the gospel announcement of forgiveness of sins and the free and gracious justification of God through faith in Christ. The gospel has announced that by His knowledge, shall the righteous one make many to be accounted righteous (Isaiah 53:11a).

The gospel has pronounced that by His knowledge, he shall bear iniquities (Isaiah 53:11b). God has announced in the gospel message that Jesus is the Savior for sinners who rest and trust in Him! The gospel is the Christian’s daily touchpoint.