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.
- 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) - You were held captive.
He paid your ransom. (Mark 10:45, 1 Tim 2:5-6, 1 Pet 1:18-19, Rev 5:9) - 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) - You were a sinner.
He forgave you. (Eph 1:7, Col 1:14, 2:13, 1 John 1:9, 2:12) - 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) - 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) - 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) - You were unrighteous.
He made you righteous. (Rom 5:17-19, Gal 5:5, Phil 3:8-9) - You were enslaved to sin.
He set you free. (Rom 6:17-18,22, 8:2, Rev 1:5) - You were guilty.
He made you innocent. (Rom 4:8, 1 Cor 1:8, 2 Cor 5:19) - You were full of shame.
He took your shame. (Rom 9:33, 10:11, 1 Pet 2:6, Heb 12:2) - You were empty.
He filled you up. (Col 2:10) - You were dead.
He made you alive. (Rom 8:10-11, Eph 2:4, Col 2:13) - You were in debt.
He cancelled your debt. (Col 2:14) - You were far off.
He brought you near. (Eph 2:12-13, 1 Pet 3:18) - You were rejected.
He accepted you. (Rom 15:7) - You were lost.
He found you. (Phil 3:8-9) - 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) - You were blind.
He gave you sight. (2 Cor 3:14-16) - You were poor.
He made you rich. (Rom 8:32,10:12, 2 Cor 8:9, Eph 1:17-18) - You were condemned.
He removed your condemnation. (Rom 8:1, John 3:18) - 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) - You were weary and heavy laden.
He gave you a light and easy yoke. (Matt 11:28-30) - You were flawed.
He made you perfect. (Heb 10:14, 12:23) - 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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Great reminders. It is amazing, to me, how often the book of Romans comes up in gospel conversations.
I was thinking when I wrote that how often I was pointing to Romans.