Religion vs Gospel
People tend to think there are two ways to relate to God -- to follow him and do his will, or to reject him and do your own thing -- but there are actually two ways to reject God as Savior: one is, as mentioned, rejecting God's law and live as you see fit. The other is by obeying God's law, by being really righteous and really moral, so as yo earn your own salvation. So there are three ways to live: religion, irreligion, and gospel.
The differences between irreligion and the gospel are easy to spot. It is often harder to discern the differences between religion and the gospel. Contemplate through the following list, recall specific incidences in your own life, and circle the description that is most true of your own heart.
"I obey; therefore, I'm accepted." vs
"I'm accepted; there, I obey."
"Motivation is based on fear and insecurity" vs
"Motivation is based on gateful joy."
"I obey God in order to get things from God." vs
"I obey God to get God -- to delight in and resemble him."
"When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or myself, since I believe that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life." vs
"When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle, but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while God may allow this for training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial"
"When I am criticized, I am furious or devastated, because it is critical that I think of myself as a good person. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs. " vs
"When I am criticized, I struggle, but it is not essential for me to think of myself as a good person. My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God's love for me in Christ."
"My prayer life consists largely of petition, and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment." vs
"My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with God."
"My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel humble but not confident -- I feel like a failure." vs
"My self-view is not based on my moral achievement. In Christ I am simultaneously sinful and lost, yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad that he had to die for me, and I am so loved that he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deep humility and confidence at the same time."
"My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work, or how moral I am -- and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral." vs
"My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for me. I am saved by sheer grace, so I can't look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am."
Gospel Repentance
Martin Luther pointed out that repentance is the way we make progress in the Christian life.
There are two different ways to go about repentance -- religious repentance and gospel repentance. In "religion", the purpose of repentance is basically to keep God happy so he will continue to bless us and answer our prayers. This means that we are sorry for sin only because of its consequences.
The gospel, however, tells us that as Christians sin can't ultimately bring us into condemnation (Rom 8:1). Its heinousness is therefore what it does to God: it displeases and dishonors him. Thus in religion, repentance is self-centered; the gospel makes it God-centered. In religion we are mainly sorry for the consequences of sin, but in gospel we are sorry for the sin itself.
Only under great duress do religious people admit they have sinned, because their only hope is their moral goodness. In the gospel the knowledge of our acceptance in christ makes it easier to admit that we are flawed, because we know we won't be cast off if we confess the true depths of our sinfulness. Our hope is in Christ's righteousness, not our own, so it is not as traumatic to admit our weaknesses.
Whereas in religion we repent as little as possible, the more we feel accepted and loved in the gospel, the more and more often we will be repenting. The more we see our own flaws, the more precious and amazing God's grace appears to us. The more we are aware of our acceptance in Christ, the more we are able to drop our self-defenses and admit the true dimensions of our sin.
Use the following to guide you in self-reflection and prayer, recalling specific incidences in your own life...
Gospel repentance involves deep humility (vs. pride)
Have you looked down on anyone?
Have you been too stung by criticism?
Have you felt snubbed or ignored?
Repent by considering the free grace of Jesus until you sense (a) decreasing disdain, since you are a sinner too, and (b) approval.
Reflect on God's grace until you experience a deep humility and a grateful, restful joy.
Gospel repentance involves well-guided zeal (vs. anxiety)
Have you avoided people or tasks that you know you should face?
Have you been anxious and worried?
Have you failed to be circumspect, or have you been rash and impulsive?
Repent by considering the free grace of Jesus until there is (a) no cowardly avoidance of hard things, since Jesus faced evil for you, and (b) no anxious or rash behavior, since Jesus' death proves that God cares and watches over you.
Reflect on God's grace until you experience calm thoughtfulness and strategic boldness.
Gospel repentance involves burning love (vs. indifference)
Have you spoken of through unkindly of anyone?
Have you been impatient or irritable?
Have you been self-absorbed, indifferent, or inattentive to people?
Repent by considering the free grace of Jesus until there is (a) no coldness or unkindness, as you think of the sacrificial of Christ for you, (b) no impatience, as you think of his patience with you, and (c) no indifference, as you think of how God is infinitely attentive to you.
Reflect on God's grace until you show warmth and affection.
Gospel repentance involves a single eye (i.e. godly motives)
Are you doing what you do for God's glory and the good of others, or are you being driven by your need for approval, love of comfort, need for control, hunger for acclaim and power, or the fear of other people?
Repent by considering how the free grace of Jesus provides you with what you are looking for in these other things.
Reflect on God's grace until he becomes your joy and delight.
Displacing your idols
This morning you began identifying your idols. In prayer, name your idols to God.
"Lord, these are the things I have built my life and heart around...."
In prayer, confess that these are things are good, but finite and weak.
"Lord, this is a good thing, yet why have I made it so absolute? What is this compared to you? If I have you, I don't have to have this. This cannot love me and help me as you do. This is not my life -- Jesus is my life. This is not my righteousness and worthiness, It cannot give me that -- but you can and have!"
In prayer, confess that these things are lethal.
"Lord, why am I giving this so much power over me? If I keep doing it, it will strangle me. I don't have to do so -- I will not do so any longer. This will not be my master. You are my only King."
In prayer, admit how deeply you have grieved and devalued Jesus.
"Lord, I see how repulsive idolizing this mere idol really is. In yearning after this, I was trampling on your love for me. I realize now my lack of thankfulness, my lack of grateful joy for what you have done for me."
Rejoice in Christ
Pray and praise and meditate so the spirit may inscribe the gospel truths on your heart. Pick one or more sample prayers and passages from below that are relevant to you, or follow the same pattern for other idols you may have: How does Jesus particularly provide what the idol cannot? Pray to him, thanking him for his provision, and find some passage of the Bible in which he very visibly and concretely demonstrates this gift or quality. Meditate on it: ~ what word or phrases speaks to you? ~ Make connections between it and your life: what is God saying to you? ~ Respond to God in prayer, giving thanks, asking for guidance, asking for forgiveness, and resting in God's love. ~ Rest in God's presence. Stay open to God. Listen to God. Remain in peace and silence before God.
Rejoicing prayer for times of temptation:
"Lord, only in your presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forever more, yet here am I trying to find comfort in something else. This thing I am tempted by is just a pleasure that will wear off so soon, while your pleasure, thought it may start small, will grow on and on forever. Please remove my idol of pleasure, which can never give me the pleasure I need." (then meditate on John 6:5-13, 32-40)
Rejoicing prayer for times of anxiety:
"Lord, I live by your sheer grace. That means though I don't deserve to have things go right, yet I know you are working them all our for good, because you love me in Christ. My security in life is based neither on luck nor hard work, but no your gracious love for me. You have counted every hair on my head and every tear down my cheeks. You love me far more and better than anyone else loves me, or that I love myself. Please remove my idol of security, which can never give me the security I need." (then meditate on Luke 8:22-25 and Mark 4:35-41)
Rejoicing prayer for times of anger:
"Lord, when I forget the gospel I become impatient and judgmental toward others. I forget that you have been infinitely patient with me over the years. You are slow to anger and rich in love. When I am anything other than tenderhearted and compassionate to people around me, I am like the unmerciful servant, who, having been forgiven an infinite debt, is hard toward his fellow debtor. Please remove the idol of power -- the need to get my own way -- which is making me so hard toward these people." (then meditate on Matthew 26:36-46)
Rejoicing prayer for times of struggling with rejection and a sense of worthlessness:
"Lord, when I forget the gospel I become dependent on the smiles and evaluation of others. I let them sit in judgment on me, and then I hear all their criticism as a condemnation of my very being. But you have said there is no condemnation for me now. You delight and sing over me. Let me be satisfied with your love. Please remove my idol of approval, which can never give me the approval I need." (then meditate on John 15:9-17 and 17:13-26)