Releshing the goodness of the gospel

A mere recognizing of the veracity of the gospel is not saving faith. Simply believing the gospel to be factually true is not enough. Neither is believing for fear of punishment suitable for salvation. In this excerpt, Walter Marshall emphasizes the need for a love and desire and enjoyment towards Christ, as well as a relishing of the goodness and excellency of the gospel.

Our assenting to, or believing the gospel, must not be forced by mere conviction of the truth, such as wicked men and devils may be brought to, when they had rather it were false. Neither must our believing in Christ be only constrained for fear of damnation, without any hearty love and desire towards the enjoyment of Him; but we must receive the love of the truth by relishing the goodness and excellency of it; and we must 'account all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, and count them but dung, that we may win Christ and be found in Him' (2 Thess. 1:10; Phil. 3:8, 9), esteeming Christ to be all our salvation and happiness (Col. 3: 11), 'in whom all fullness dwells' (Col. 1:19). And this love must be to every part of Christ's salvation - to holiness as well as forgiveness of sins. (The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification)