This Day-2 devotion is adapted from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon "Mind; Heart and Will"

The Whole Person Gospel

"But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed." (Romans 6:17)

One primary cause of spiritual depression, according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, is a partial understanding of the gospel. Many believers grasp certain aspects of Christianity while missing its comprehensive nature. The gospel transforms the whole person—mind, heart, and will.

Some Christians emphasize only the intellectual side of faith. They accumulate biblical knowledge but lack emotional connection to these truths. Others focus exclusively on emotional experiences, seeking constant spiritual highs without deep doctrinal roots. Still others reduce Christianity to moral behavior—doing the right things without grasping why.

Paul's words to the Romans remind us that authentic faith involves being "obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching." Notice how this combines all elements of our humanity: obedience (will), heart (emotions), and teaching (mind).

Dr. Lloyd-Jones observed that our spiritual understanding often mirrors the emphasis of those who led us to Christ. If your introduction to Christianity came through highly intellectual teaching, you might neglect emotional aspects of faith. If you were converted in an emotionally charged environment, you might struggle with theological depth.

The solution is embracing the fullness of the gospel. Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). When any dimension is neglected, our spiritual life becomes unbalanced, and depression often follows.

Today, consider which aspect of your faith might be underdeveloped. Have you emphasized knowledge without heartfelt devotion? Have you pursued emotional experiences without solid biblical understanding? Have you focused on behavior without grasping the motivations behind it?

The joy of salvation returns when we allow the gospel to permeate every dimension of our being—transforming how we think, what we love, and how we live.