Guilt or Gospel
These are words taken from a blog post by a man named Ben Stewart. I know I need to let it all sink in. What he says speaks volumes to my heart.
Enjoy!
"...knowing the supremacy of Christ enlarges the soul..." - John Piper
"...our lives are intellectually and emotionally disconnected from the infinite, soul-staggering grandeur for which it was made.” - John Piper
“The deepest cure is to be intellectually and emotionally staggered by the infinite, everlasting, unchanging supremacy of Christ in all things.” - John Piper
Guilt or Gospel:
Both give motivation to overcome: one from a place of condemnation and shame; the other from a place of forgiveness and mercy.
Both form an identity as followers of Christ: one as a failure who isn’t worthy; the other as a Child of God, fully covered by the perfection and worthiness of Christ.
Both produce power: one is a self-made power, relying upon self-will that eventually fails; the other is God’s power, given limitlessly through His Holy Spirit.
Both cause us to run: one into a deeper darkness, hiding the shame and pain that we feel; the other, into the Light of Christ’s life and love, embracing full exposure.
Guilt plays the tapes of our failures over and over again / The Gospel drowns our sins in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Guilt leads to a desperate indifference, resigning oneself to give-in / The Gospel leads to freedom, finding our hope and strength in the person of Jesus Christ.
Guilt eventually results in calloused hearts, and an acceptance of what is easier / The Gospel leads to repentance and a firm conviction to God’s call of holiness.
May you allow the gospel to motivate you, empower you, free you, form your identity, lead you to repentance, pursue holiness, embrace the light, receive forgiveness, and lean into Jesus.
Enjoy!
"...knowing the supremacy of Christ enlarges the soul..." - John Piper
"...our lives are intellectually and emotionally disconnected from the infinite, soul-staggering grandeur for which it was made.” - John Piper
“The deepest cure is to be intellectually and emotionally staggered by the infinite, everlasting, unchanging supremacy of Christ in all things.” - John Piper
Guilt or Gospel:
Both give motivation to overcome: one from a place of condemnation and shame; the other from a place of forgiveness and mercy.
Both form an identity as followers of Christ: one as a failure who isn’t worthy; the other as a Child of God, fully covered by the perfection and worthiness of Christ.
Both produce power: one is a self-made power, relying upon self-will that eventually fails; the other is God’s power, given limitlessly through His Holy Spirit.
Both cause us to run: one into a deeper darkness, hiding the shame and pain that we feel; the other, into the Light of Christ’s life and love, embracing full exposure.
Guilt plays the tapes of our failures over and over again / The Gospel drowns our sins in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Guilt leads to a desperate indifference, resigning oneself to give-in / The Gospel leads to freedom, finding our hope and strength in the person of Jesus Christ.
Guilt eventually results in calloused hearts, and an acceptance of what is easier / The Gospel leads to repentance and a firm conviction to God’s call of holiness.
May you allow the gospel to motivate you, empower you, free you, form your identity, lead you to repentance, pursue holiness, embrace the light, receive forgiveness, and lean into Jesus.
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