Make All Things New

Let’s welcome the shame of the Gospel! For the law can produce pride. While the law was intended to convict us of our sin. if we keep it at all, it can produce pride and arrogance. In my sinfulness, if I keep the law (to any small degree), I often begin to think of myself as better than others. “I didn’t lust today. Those other guys are sorry, porn-addicts.” Or, “I prayed with Jill today, I am such a good husband. Probably better than most”

That is disgusting! Even more so when you recognize that fulfilling the law would never gain me righteousness (as if I could fulfill the law!). Romans 3:20 says: “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The law was given not so that I could fulfill it and think highly of myself, but so that I would look to the only righteous One who ever did fulfill the law.

How twisted am I that I can find a way to boast in my failure? For even keeping one portion of the law (apart from faith in Christ) would do no eternal good. Yet, I would brag about how good a law-keeper I am? How ridiculous!

You see, as a human, I naturally like the law because I naturally like to make much of myself. If I keep the rules (even in part), I can feel good about myself. The Gospel brings shame because the concept of a savior is shameful and humbling. Needing a savior says at least two things about me. First, it shows that I am broken and in need of help. Second, the need for a savior shows that I am totally incapable of rescuing myself.

So, prior to faith in Christ, my situation is as a broken sinner who needs outside help because I can’t fulfill a law that, even if I could, would never make me righteous. What a wretched situation to be in! In recognizing my need for a rescue, my need for the Savior, the Gospel of Jesus Christ shames my foolish pride showing me His great worth and my great lack. Yet it simultaneously brings great joy because Jesus’ perfect righteousness is credited to me and my sin is taken on by Him.

But as Anthony implied in his post, the Gospel isn’t just shaming at the point of conversion, the Gospel shames our pride throughout the running of the Christian race. Pride builds up because my flesh still wants recognition and esteem! “Look at me! Look at me!” And then I am reminded of the Gospel. The only Perfect One was crushed on account of my sins. I am so “great” that the Spotless Lamb of God had to be murdered to pay for my “greatness”. One glance at the cross of Calvary and I am reminded of the extreme cost of my sin. The Gospel shames me and my pride is crushed anew. I am reminded of the righteousness that I did not earn yet was freely given. But God doesn’t leave us there. While Christ became my sin and atoned for it, I was also given an alien righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). So I am thankful the Gospel brings shame and eternally grateful that it never leaves us there.

Yesterday, during the morning prayer in church, my friend Anthony prayed through Romans 1:16-17. He prayed something that greatly encouraged me, something that goes well with the class we are taking together through LAMPhilly. He said something like (paraphrasing): “The gospel is something we need not be ashamed of preaching to others because it is the power of God but we don’t have to be ashamed to preach it to ourselves either!” What a great point! So often we think of that passage as merely an encouragement to preach the gospel to all people (and it is!). All people must include ourselves as well! God isn’t just looking for people who will share His gospel message with the world, He is looking for changed people, people who have been and are being transformed by the gospel, to share the gospel with the world. So yes, we should not be ashamed to preach the gospel (to others or ourselves) for it is the power of God onto salvation.

Anthony’s prayer sent me back to looking at Romans 1 this morning. I was thinking of how Paul states, “For” I am not ashamed of the gospel. He is not ashamed “for why?” Indeed, he is not ashamed of the the gospel because (”for”) it is the power of God. Additionally, in verse 15, he states that he is “eager to preach the gospel”. He is eager to preach because he is unashamed, and he is unashamed because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. So what am I getting at here? I don’t just have to be “unashamed” of preaching the gospel to myself but I should be “eager” to do so as well! Why? Because it has been revealed to me (you, us) that the gospel is the power of God to change us more into Christ and bring us to God.

Preaching the gospel to ourselves and others should not only come without fear but without the feeling of duty either. God has shown us great grace in opening our eyes to see the glory of His gospel. He shows us fresh grace each day as we are able to joyfully rehearse the gospel to ourselves and others. May it never be that we would be ashamed of this great grace shown through the gospel. And equally, may it never be that we would lose our enthusiam for preaching this fresh grace to all!

Note: a great book for understanding how to “preach the gospel to yourself” is right here. I highly recommend it!