We Never Outgrow the Gospel

…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy… 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Jerry Bridges writes, "The gospel is for sinners, and if we don't acknowledge ourselves as sinners then we tend not to put much value in the gospel." No Bible-believing Christ-followers I know in our Grace Church community would flat out deny their ongoing, real, and intense struggle with sin. But every time we excuse, minimize, rationalize, or point the finger of blame, we are participating in a system of denial.

But don't be discouraged! As a child of God, you don't have to minimize your sin. You have received glorious mercy and amazing grace from God because of Jesus Christ!

Will you confess today that although you are in Christ, the presence of sin is still within you? Will you acknowledge the spiritual war that rages for the love and affections of your heart? Recognize that these admissions never lead a child of God to somewhere dark and depressing, rather, confession leads you to the cross where you can acknowledge and celebrate that the power and guilt of sin have been defeated! And you can rejoice and celebrate because you know from God's Word that the Holy Spirit is propelling you to fight for holiness and He will progressively defeat sin in your life. God promised to complete the work He started and make you more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18)!

This is the gospel! And a growing Christian never outgrows the gospel! Preach it to yourself over and over! As you do, you will begin to see this dark world and your spiritual war through the lens of the existence, power, authority, wisdom, faithfulness, love, and grace of King Jesus! You will find yourself responding to God in a manner similar to Paul in 1 Timothy 1:17—
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.


Yesterday's Application: