Don’t Just Memorize the Bad News
Last week I tuned into the SBC Pastor’s Conference via their live streaming video. During David Platt’s message which was loaded w/ good stuff, one statement he made really caught my attention. He said in regards to the gospel and memorizing Scripture, “Don’t just memorize the bad news. Memorize the good news as well.” And perhaps one of the best examples of this would be Romans 3:23, a verse that we all know: “For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.” As I was reading through Romans 3 this morning, I came to the subsequent verses (24-25) and realized that I didn’t have them memorized–verses that follow up the bad news, with some incredibly great news.
24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
Amazing news. Have we sinned? Yes. Have we fallen short of His glory? Absolutely! BUT, He justified us by His grace through Christ’s redemption. He purchased us back. He made us righteous. He hung bloody and naked publicly on a tree. He became our propitiation–our atoning sacrifice. And He has passed over our sins because of the blood of Christ.
Be reminded of the great news of the Gospel today!