The bad news of who and where we were without Christ, magnifies the goodness of the good news of life in Christ.  Here’s a reminder to those who’ve put their faith in Jesus of why the gospel is good news.

  1. You were alienated, hostile, and enemies in your minds.
    He reconciled you.  (Rom 5:10-11, 2 Cor 5:18-21, Col 1:20-23)
  2. You were held hostage.
    He paid your ransom.  (1 Tim 2:5-6, 1 Pet 1:18-19)
  3. You were cursed.
    He redeemed you.  (Rom 3:24, Gal 3:13, Eph 1:7, Col 1:14, Tit 2:14, Heb 9:11-12)
  4. You were a sinner.
    He forgave you.  (Eph 1:7, Col 1:14, 2:13, 1 John 1:9, 2:12)
  5. You were in darkness.
    He brought you into light.  (John 12:46, 8:12, 2 Cor 4:6, Eph 5:8, Col 1:13, 1 Pet 2:9)
  6. You were an orphan and a slave.
    He adopted you as his child.  (John 14:18, Rom 8:14-17,23, Gal 4:4-7, Eph 1:5)
  7. You were wicked.
    He justified you.  (Rom 3:24,26, 4:5, 5:1,9,16,18, 8:30, 10:10 1 Cor 6:11, Tit 3:7)
  8. You were unrighteous.
    He made you righteous. (Rom 5:17-19, Gal 5:5, Phil 3:8-9)
  9. You were enslaved to sin.
    He set you free. (Rom 6:17-18,22, 8:2, Rev 1:5)
  10. You were guilty.
    He made you innocent.  (Rom 4:8, 1 Cor 1:8, 2 Cor 5:19)
  11. You were full of shame.
    He took your shame.  (Rom 9:33, 10:11, 1 Pet 2:6, Heb 12:2)
  12. You were empty.
    He filled you up.  (Col 2:10)
  13. You were dead.
    He made you alive.  (Rom 8:10-11, Eph 2:4, Col 2:13)
  14. You were in debt.
    He cancelled your debt.  (Col 2:14)
  15. You were far off.
    He brought you near. (Eph 2:12-13, 1 Pet 3:18)
  16. You were rejected.
    He accepted you.  (Rom 15:7)
  17. You were lost.
    He found you.  (Phil 3:8-9)
  18. You were born into sin.
    He rebirthed you and made you new.  (1 Pet 1:3-5,23-25, 1 John 3:9, 2 Cor 5:17)
  19. You were blind.
    He gave you sight. (2 Cor 3:14-16)
  20. You were poor.
    He made you rich.  (Rom 8:32,10:12, 2 Cor 8:9, Eph 1:17-18)
  21. You were condemned.
    He removed your condemnation.  (Rom 8:1)
  22. You were under wrath.
    He saved you from his wrath.  (John 3:36, Rom 3:24-25, 5:9, 1 Thess 1:10, 5:9, 1 John 2:2, 4:10)
  23. You were weary and heavy laden.
    He gave you a light and easy yoke. (Matt 11:28-30)
  24. You were flawed.
    He made you perfect.  (Heb 10:14, 12:23)
  25. You were dirty.
    He washed you clean.  (1 Cor 6:11, Tit 3:5, 1 John 1:7-9, 2 Pet 1:9)

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2 Comments

  1. Ray January 6, 2013 at 3:36 PM

    Great reminders. It is amazing, to me, how often the book of Romans comes up in gospel conversations.

  2. Josh Christophersen January 7, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    I was thinking when I wrote that how often I was pointing to Romans.