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The Gospel
THE GOSPEL
The remedy
for our sins, whether scandalous or acceptable,
is the gospel in its widest scope.
Respectable Sins,
Chapter 4
This summer
I read Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate
by Jerry Bridges. It is a powerful, life-changing book.
In the
beginning chapters, Mr. Bridges lays his foundation based on The
Gospel. He says that The Gospel is the remedy for our sins; The
Gospel “plows the ground of our hearts so that we can see our sin.
Not only does The Gospel prepare me to face my sin, it also frees me
up to do so.” In other words, The Gospel is my security blanket, my
comfort, my strength, while I take a good honest look at my
sinfulness. When I know that my sin is forgiven, I can better look
at what is awful. I can better face it and knowing it is forgiven,
I’m more willing to address it – instead of hiding it from myself. I
am comforted. Never before had I seen this wonderful work of
forgiveness!
Secondly, have you ever preached The Gospel to yourself? I
love that! If I ever have, it has been in my car driving to teach or
in preparation for a lecture - never to preach it to myself as the
recipient of the grace and forgiveness The Gospel holds. What a
marvelous door The Gospel has just opened for me! Mr. Bridges says
that preaching The Gospel to himself is a daily practice, and it has
become my own.
This is my
personal set of Scriptures (a work in continual process) for a
private Gospel preaching to Suzanne.
I am not
ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the
salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the
Gentile.
Romans 1: 16
I AM A
SINNER
through and through. Not ‘I was’ a sinner, but ‘I am’ a sinner. I
was born a sinner and in my flesh is no good thing.
We all, like
sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD
has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53: 6
As it is
written: "There is no one righteous, not even one.
Romans 3: 10
If we claim
to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins
and purify
us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1: 8-9
GOD IS
PERFECT.
He is perfectly Holy, Righteous and Good. In Him is nothing that is
not good.
This is the
message we have heard from him and declare to you:
God is
light; in him there is no darkness at all.
I John 1: 5
GOD LOVES ME
beyond my wildest dreams and desires me to be His child.
…for whoever
touches you touches the apple of his eye.
Zechariah 2: 8
The Lord is
not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is
patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone
to come to repentance.
II Peter 3: 9
GOD GAVE HIS
SON
to die for
my sins and be the bridge to bring me to Himself. Only Jesus Christ
can take my sinfulness and bring me before Holy God.
For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16
Salvation
is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to men
by which we must be saved.
Acts 4: 12
My dear
children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if
anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our
defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice
for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins
of the whole world.
I John 2: 1-2
I BELIEVE
AND RECEIVE HIS SON.
For salvation and for eternal life I believe and receive Jesus
Christ. My sins are forgiven, I am given the gift of eternal life,
the Holy Spirit indwells my heart, I am made righteous, and I gain
riches untold. Glory!
…that
everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3: 15
Yet to
all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave
the right to become children of God. John 1: 12
Here I
am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3: 20
Always be
prepared to give an answer
to everyone
who asks you
to give the
reason for the hope that you have.
But do this
with gentleness and respect.
I Peter 3: 15
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