When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)
We are always talking to ourselves all day; for many of us, that conversation continues on into and perhaps even through the night. This means that we never stop preaching the Gospel to ourselves. The vitally important question that we must ask ourselves — and answer — is, Which gospel am I preaching to myself?
The gospel of good works or the Gospel of grace?
The gospel of merit or the Gospel of mercy?
The gospel of the self or the Gospel of the Savior?
The gospel of “Do” or the Gospel of “Done”?
Which one is it for you? Are you on the left side of the equation or the right side? The kind of gospel you preach to yourself will absolutely determine, not only what kind of day you will have, but what kind of life you will live. The gospel of good works, merit, self, and “Do” leads to doubt, fear, anxiety, and disappointment. The Gospel of grace, mercy, Savior, and “Done” leads to freedom, joy, hope, and faithfulness to Jesus.
The key to staying on the right side of the equation is to remember that we live under the banner of the finished work of Jesus Christ. When He was hanging on the cross, having endured the full wrath and judgment of God the Father against the sins of all who will believe, Jesus uttered His great victory cry: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Christian, Jesus meant what He said! This is one of the things that makes the good news of the Gospel so incredibly good! Christ’s work is complete; your sin debt has been paid in full. You cannot add anything to what has been “Done” on your behalf. Only by living in view of the finished work of Christ will we be able to rise above the waves of challenge that wash over us each day, knowing that we are fully forgiven and unconditionally loved.
What kind of preacher are you? Preach this truth to yourself each and every day, and you will be set free to be all Jesus has called you to be in this life and the next:
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24)
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 