The God of the Good News

Session Focus

The gospel begins not with us, but with God. Before we understand sin, salvation, or discipleship, we must see who God is—His holiness, His love, His sovereignty, and His covenant purpose to redeem a people for Himself in Christ, by the power of His Spirit.

Doctrinal Affirmations: Our
Majestic God of Glory

God Is Holy, Glorious, and Distinct from All Creation

Scripture reveals God as utterly holy—set apart in His being, character, and purposes. In Isaiah’s vision, the seraphim cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” (Isa 6:3). This is not exaggeration; it is revelation. God is not merely holy—He is holiness itself.

The Hebrew term ?????????????? (q??dôš) speaks of absolute purity and separateness. God is not just a greater version of us—He is entirely different in who He is. We are created and dependent; He is eternal and self-existent, transcendent. As He declares, “I am God, and there is none like me” (Isa 46:9). He is the Creator; we are creatures (Gen 1:1). He is self-existent (Exod 3:14); we depend on Him for life and breath (Acts 17:25).

Yet this does not mean God is distant or unknowable. The very God who is infinitely above us has chosen to make Himself known. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things revealed belong to us” (Deut 29:29). He reveals Himself in His Word, in His works, and supremely in His Son (Heb 1:1-2; John 1:18). Because He has spoken, we can truly know Him—not exhaustively, but truly and personally. Because He is utterly holy, He cannot and will not ever lie to us; He can be fully trusted!

At the same time, because God is God and we are not, we cannot control Him through our religious efforts or reduce Him to something manageable. “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he pleases” (Ps 115:3). Nor can we reshape Him into our own image—that is the essence of idolatry (Rom 1:23). But this is not bad news—it is good news. It means God is not limited by our weakness, our misunderstandings, or our failures. He is free, powerful, and perfectly faithful to accomplish His purposes.

Because God is holy, sin is not small. It is a direct offense against His nature (Hab 1:13). This is why the gospel matters. Without God’s holiness, there is no true understanding of sin—and without understanding sin, there is no need for good news.

God Is Love and Acts in Covenant Faithfulness

The God who is holy is also love. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The Greek term ???γ??πη (agap??), when used of God, does not describe a vague or sentimental feeling, but a holy, self-giving, covenantal love that acts for the good of His people according to His perfect will.

In our day, many think of God’s love as an unconditional affirmation that overlooks sin and never judges. But Scripture presents something far deeper and more glorious. God’s love is not opposed to His holiness; it is shaped by it and expressed through it. As D. A. Carson has argued, when God’s love is detached from His holiness, it is no longer the love of the God of the Bible, but a reduced and distorted substitute.

This means that God’s love is also exclusive and jealous. “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire; he is a jealous God” (Deut 4:24). His jealousy is not sinful or insecure, but the rightful, holy zeal of a God who alone is worthy of worship and who is committed to the good of His people. He will not share His glory with idols (Isa 42:8), nor will He allow those He loves to remain in what destroys them.

Throughout Scripture, God binds Himself to His people through covenant promises. From the first gospel promise (Gen 3:15), to His covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3), to the new covenant promised in Jeremiah (Jer 31:31–34), God’s love is faithful, purposeful, and committed to redeeming a people for Himself.

This love reaches its fullness in Christ. “But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Here we see clearly that God’s love does not ignore sin—it confronts it and overcomes it through the cross. The gospel is not God excusing evil, but God dealing with it decisively in His Son.

At the same time, Scripture is clear that to reject this love is no small thing. God shows kindness even to those who do not know Him (Matt 5:45), and His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance (Rom 2:4). But when His love is persistently resisted, it results in judgment. “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). To despise God’s love—both in His daily kindness and in the salvation He offers—is to remain under His just judgment.

The gospel, then, is not God reacting to human failure, nor is it a blanket approval of who we are. It is the revelation of His eternal, holy love—a love that saves, transforms, and brings us into right relationship with Him. And it calls for a response: to turn from sin and trust in the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.

God Is Sovereign Over All Things

God rules over all things—creation, history, and redemption. “The LORD has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom extends over everything” (Ps 103:19).

Nothing lies outside His authority. He “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11). Even the cross—the central event of the gospel—occurred according to God’s definite plan, and yet through real human choices and actions (Acts 2:23). God’s sovereignty is not mechanical or impersonal; it is the wise, purposeful rule of the all-powerful, living King.

The New Testament declares Jesus as κ??ριος (kyrios), Lord over all. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt 28:18). His reign is universal, personal, and unchallenged.

This also means the gospel rests on God’s initiative, not ours. He is the One who calls, saves, and keeps His people (Rom 8:28-30). Our salvation is not fragile or uncertain—it is grounded in the sovereign, gracious purpose of God.

God’s Purpose Is to Redeem a People for Himself

At the heart of Scripture is a single, unifying promise: God will have a people who belong to Him. “I will be your God and you will be my people” (Lev 26:12; Jer 31:33; 2 Cor 6:16-18; Rev 21:3-4, 7).

This promise unfolds through what the Bible calls covenants. A covenant is a binding relationship that God establishes with His people, in which He commits Himself to them by promises and calls them to live in faithful response to Him. Unlike human agreements, God’s covenants are grounded in His character, secured by His word, and carried forward by His faithfulness.

Throughout the covenants, God also gives signs—visible, tangible markers that confirm His promises and identify His people. In the Old Testament, these include signs such as circumcision (Gen 17:9–14) and the Passover (Exod 12:24–27). In the New Testament, these signs are fulfilled and transformed in baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly proclaim and confirm our participation in Christ and His saving work (Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26).

From the first promise of redemption (Gen 3:15), through God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1–3), and ultimately to the new covenant promised in Jeremiah (Jer 31:31–34), we see one unified purpose: God is working to redeem a people for Himself.

This promise finds its fulfillment in Christ, the mediator of the new covenant (Heb 9:15). Through His life, death, and resurrection, He secures the full forgiveness of our sins and brings us into a restored and living relationship with God. “I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sin no more” (Jer 31:34). In Him, forgiveness is not minimized—it is the very foundation upon which our reconciliation with God stands.

We are not saved merely as individuals—we are brought into a people. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Pet 2:9). God’s purpose is not only to rescue, but to form a people who belong to Him together.

The gospel, therefore, is not limited to personal forgiveness, though forgiveness stands at its very heart. It is the fulfillment of God’s covenant purpose: through the full and final forgiveness of sins, God creates a people who know Him, reflect His character, and live for His glory among the nations.

Devotional Rhythms: Daily Communion
with God (Word and Prayer)

The Meaning

Because we have been brought into fellowship with God through Christ, we now meet with Him daily in His Word and in prayer. This is not about earning His favor, but enjoying the relationship we already have with Him.

The Practice

Set aside 10–15 minutes each day this week to meet with God.

Read a portion of Scripture and ask:

• What do I learn about God?
• What do I learn about myself and my world?
• What difference should this make today?

Then respond in prayer—praising God, giving thanks, confessing sin, and expressing your dependence on Him.

The Rhythm

Begin building a daily habit of meeting with God. Choose a consistent time and place, and return to Him each day—even when it feels simple, distracted, or imperfect.

For further help, see Appendix: Daily Quiet Time (DQT)

Discipling Others: Share, Model, Guide

Discipleship begins by helping others see God clearly. When people begin to see God as He truly is, everything begins to change.

Share

Speak about who God is—His holiness, greatness, sovereignty, and love. “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples” (Ps 96:3). Many people think of God mainly in terms of what He gives. Discipleship lifts their eyes to who He is.

Model

Your life teaches before your words do. “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Let others see a life oriented around God—your time in the Word, your dependence in prayer, your priorities shaped by His glory.

Guide

Help others take simple, faithful steps. “What you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things” (Phil 4:9). Show them how to read Scripture. Pray with them. Encourage consistency over intensity.

Remind them that growth takes time. “Let us not grow weary in doing good” (Gal 6:9). The goal is not perfection, but direction—a life increasingly turned toward God.

Questions for Discussion

1.       What stands out to you most about God’s character from this session, and why?

2.      How does seeing God’s holiness change the way you think about sin?

3.      In what ways have you misunderstood or minimized who God is?

4.      What would it look like for your daily life to be more centered on God?

5.      Who is someone you could begin helping to know God more clearly?

Go Forward

With Christ

Set aside 10–15 minutes each day this week to read Scripture and pray. Focus especially on what each passage reveals about God’s character (Ps 27:4; John 15:4).

With Others

Share one truth about who God is with someone—either a believer or someone exploring faith (Ps 96:3). Record your interaction and be ready to share next session.

On Mission

Pray daily for one person who does not yet know God, asking that He would reveal Himself to them (2 Cor 4:6).

Recommended Resources

J. I. Packer, Knowing God
A classic introduction to the character of God and what it means to truly know Him. Packer helps readers move from knowing about God to walking in a deep, personal relationship with Him.

Jen Wilkin, None Like Him
A clear and practical exploration of God’s unique attributes, helping readers see how God is different from us and how that truth reshapes our identity and daily lives.

A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
A short and devotional reflection on the attributes of God, written to stir both the mind and the heart toward reverence, worship, and awe.

R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God
A powerful and accessible look at God’s holiness, showing why it is central to understanding sin, grace, and the gospel.

Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story
A beautifully written overview of the entire Bible, showing how God’s plan unfolds from creation to Christ and helping readers see the big picture of redemption.

Where to start:
If you’re new, begin with The Biggest Story or None Like Him.
If you want to go deeper, read Knowing God or The Holiness of God.