Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, and I will sing praises to Your name.

The gist of Christianity is not, "Let go, and let God." It is "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This does not sit well with the ears of men, because it demands something they cannot do by their own reason or strength.

The former notion of Christianity, "Let go, and let God," is a nice, easy way to comfort oneself with an idol. "Let go" of what? How are you going to do that? Yes, you may commit all things to another, but to whom are you letting them go, and why?

The latter, however, demands a crucifixion and an application of righteousness at Someone else's expense, namely He who was made in the likeness and image of true God and true Man, the Man Christ Jesus.

He, by His Word and Spirit as generated from eternity by the Father, penetrates like water coming down from the heavens, seeking and seeping all the way down to the depths of Sheol in order to save and restore those who would reject Him outright.

In doing so He arranges that His accomplishments may be brought to bear upon poor sinners in bodily form unto the resurrection of the dead. Therefore the hope of a Christian, and the gist of Christianity, is receiving and abiding in Christ by virtue of His grace and favor alone.

Repentance and the kingdom of heaven go together like body and blood, meat and drink. As with all of creation, these are brought into being and delivered by the grace of God in Christ Jesus alone.

As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

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