Applying the Gospel

On a daily basis it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the work that we leave on our desk unfinished. Overwhelmed by the feeling that everything is dependent on “me.” Overwhelmed with the constant feeling that our sin is bigger than God’s grace. All of these feelings are real emotions I have felt in life, but are not grounded in the gospel. The only answer I’ve found to all of my struggles is in the person and work of Jesus. With all of the bad news I can get, I need the good news of Jesus to overwhelm my unbelieving heart and soul. So how do you apply the good news of Jesus to your everyday life? Here are some ways that help me…

Remember, “Jesus took my place.” Many times I am overwhelmed by my own personal sin. I think to myself, “shouldn’t I be further along than this?” “Why am I still struggling with this sin?!” The truth I have to keep reminding myself of, as a believer, is that “Jesus took my place.” It’s easy to condemn ourselves because of our personal sin. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the feeling that God is punishing me or that I need to punish myself for my sin. But, all of those feelings are lies and unbiblical. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 Paul says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” God the Father punished his son Jesus in our place. The bible uses the term “propitiation.”Jesus sacrificially took on the condemnation I deserve. This is called “substitutionary atonement.” All the condemnation we deserve was poured out on Jesus. Yes, my sin is grievous and I must repent. It’s what put Jesus on the cross but we need to remember Jesus took the full punishment of my sin (see 1 Peter 2:22-24; 1 John 2:2). The Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin (John 15:8-11), but He doesn’t condemn a believer for sin. Condemnation has to do with punishment and offers no hope. Conviction leads to repentance and gives hope. That’s why Paul joyfully announces in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” So, as the feelings of personal sin try to condemn you, remember that your faith is in Jesus and continue to preach to yourself daily, “Jesus took my place.” Remember, Jesus said, “it is finished.”

Many of us carry a pressure to perform and we base our self worth on our performance. Whether that be how well we perform at work, at home as a spouse, as a parent or as a Christian. We have a constant need to “try harder” and be “good enough.” Deep down we try to earn favor from God and others. Our life becomes overwhelming because we can’t work hard enough and perform well enough. That’s a gospel fracture in our life and where we need to apply the work of Jesus to our lives. In 1 Peter 2:22 it tells us that Jesus is the only one who has lived the perfect life and that the work that matters more than any other work has been accomplished in Christ. In John 19:30, Jesus’ last words from the cross are some of the greatest words for our soul, “it is finished!” Yes, work and life get stressful and overwhelming, and God has made it so that our work matters, but ultimately the work you and I could have never accomplished is finished in the person and work of Jesus Christ. A book that has really helped me with seeing a biblical perspective on this is a book called “The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness” by Tim Keller. As we depend on God, we can truly find rest and shelter for our weary souls, not in what we “do”, but in what’s been “done.” That’s why one of my favorite verses in scripture is Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11…

In conclusion, biblical scholar D. A. Carson says, “…the NT passionately insists that everything we need for life and godliness and a walk in the Spirit is secured for us in the gospel.” Find everything you need in the gospel of Jesus Christ and do everything you can to apply it to your life everyday.

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