08 Jun Preach the Gospel to Yourself
Our mission as a church is “To fulfill the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment.” In simple terms, this means we are to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations, and do all of this while loving God and one another. We have an easy time, generally speaking, knowing how to preach the gospel to all nations. Even if we are scared, we know it must be done.
Do we know, though, how to preach the gospel to ourselves? Here’s why I am asking: I am good at getting stuff done, at preaching God’s Word to other people (not talking skill, just at the act of it), at sharing the good news of the gospel, and sharing Bible verses with people who need Biblical wisdom. But how often am I sharing those gospel truths with myself?
Here are some reasons why we need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day:
First, it helps us to remember the miracle of our salvation. If we’re constantly reminding ourselves that we were dead and then made alive, this creates a joy in us for the miracle that God has done in our lives. It reminds us how much God loves us. Remember where you were before Christ, and where you are now because of Christ. This should generate joy within you, a sense of – THANK YOU, LORD!
Second, it helps us to not live in condemnation. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” But far too often, we live under the weight of condemnation that we place upon ourselves for the sin that we committed that hour, that day, or that year. However, when we remember the gospel – that Christ has paid for all of that sin – it helps us to remember that we need not live under the weight of condemnation. What a freedom we have in Christ!
Third, preaching the gospel to ourselves helps us to have assurance of our salvation. We spend a lot of time listening to the voices in our head (or at least I do!). When that voice changes from – “Are you sure you’re saved?” to “Remember when God saved you?!?!”, that boosts our sense of assurance of salvation. I know a lot of Christians who doubt their salvation. When we rehearse and preach the gospel to ourselves, we understand the doctrines of assurance and perseverance more clearly.
Finally, preaching the gospel to ourselves daily helps us to preach the gospel to others when the chance arises. When we are firm on the promises and truths in Scripture, we can share the gospel with more boldness. Preaching the gospel daily entrenches those truths in our hearts and in our minds, so that when the time comes, they are easily accessible.
Maybe you’re like me and the reasons why to preach the gospel to yourself are great, but you also need the “How?” I’ve got a couple ways for you!
First, get in God’s Word daily. This one is a no-brainer. If you’re not in God’s Word, God’s Word won’t be in you. Read something from the gospels or one of the epistles daily – the truths about the gospel, salvation, sanctification, sin, atonement, and a bevy of other doctrines are at your fingertips. If you can mine them all and understand them all perfectly, you let me know.
Second, when your mind starts turning with all of the sin, guilt, and shame, get on your knees and thank Jesus for what He has already done on the cross. Being thankful for the finished work of Christ is a great way to train your mind to not think about the wicked works of the flesh.
Finally, get some good material to read to get the gospel in your mind even more. I would suggest to you “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent as a starting place. Once again, retraining your mind to think gospel instead of guilt will be far more glorifying to God at the end of the day.
Friends – don’t forget to preach the gospel to yourselves – it is crucial in the fight to renew our minds every day.
