The following is a portion of a series of reflections on the book Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp. You may also want to read the second and third reflection in this series.

Every bit of good news must stem from a bad state or situation. News cannot be good if it is not relative to a state that is not good, or at the least, not as good. Humans strive and seek for better marriage, more money, greater happiness; all of these seekings, then, are for improvements in an initial condition. Tripp implicitly acknowledges this when he begins his treatment of the redemptive work in and through humans with an extended discussion of sin.

The gospel saves and redeems people. That is the Christian message. And the gospel is, by its nature and definition, “good news.” If good news requires a relatively worse initial state, though, what is the gospel saving from? Most Christians would point out their personal problems: abusive pasts, issues with anger, chemical imbalances, or consistently hurtful relationships. Tripp digs much deeper, though, and identifies one single common problem that all mankind faces: sin. Before the gospel can be effective good news, the bad news must be acknowledged: sin is present in all humans.

Tripp goes further, though. “Scripture [defines] sin as a condition that results in behavior” (10). Using this definition, there is no ability to shuttle sin into a corner of a particular area of life. Sin cannot be seen as “bad choices” or “trouble with the past.” Instead, sin is rightly pictured as an all-pervasive, all encompassing disease that affects all behavior. Tripp puts it this way: “Because sin is my nature as a human being, it is inescapable” (10). This is the bad news that must be accepted and recognized before the gospel can be seen as good news.

Tripp hammers this point home by explaining the effect of sin on behavior. He begins by acknowledging what most Christians would assent to: “sinners tend to respond sinfully to being sinned against” (11). There is no radical admission here; but Tripp goes further. If sin is inescapable, then it does not simply manifest in awful situations. It is pervasive. “Something is so wrong inside us that we can’t even handle blessing properly” (12). Sin causes us to sin not just in the face of being sinned against, but in the face of being loved and treated well.

The depth of sin is perhaps best seen in our inability to do right. Even in God reaching toward us, we sin. This malfunction “colors every situation and relationship of our lives” (15). We cannot reach out to God; we cannot respond in kindness. We are broken. Against this dark canvas, though, the gospel can finally be seen rightly. Only in deep despair can the gospel be received without dilution. Only when we cease trying to mix in man’s wisdom or systems can the gospel be effective.