Gospel Ammo Verses
I want to list some gospel ammo verses--passage that help me re-tell the gospel to myself.Over the last few years I've found that I need to re-tell the gospel to myself every single day. If I don't do this, I get caught listening to myself, listening to the false and prideful default message of the human heart: the gospel-less notion that I must perform well in order to earn God's favor. The gospel, however, is a completely different message. It's good news. It's the news that Jesus Christ has performed well in my place, living the life I should've lived and dying the death I should've died, bringing me into a relationship of favor with the Father.I've found that I must have a cache of gospel ammo verses readily at hand if I'm to talk to myself rather than listen to myself. Here's a short list of the main ammo I regularly use to preach the gospel to myself:1. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. This passage, chiefly verse 21, is a first resort for re-grasping the gospel. What a great exchange Christ won for us on the cross!2. Luke 15. I benefit when I re-present these three parables, cheifly the parable of the Prodigal Sons, to myself. No chapter of the Bible has influenced me more than Luke 15.3. Isaiah 52 & 53. I'll be going back to this passage for the rest of my life. The good news, that someone else suffered for my sin, is outrageous.4. Romans 3:21-26. The "but" that begins verse 21 is perhaps the most significant "but" in all of Scripture. What news--God put forward his righteous Son as a propitiation for our sins!5. Romans 5. This is a chapter to be mastered. I don't think you can enjoy God or love your neighbor unless you soak in this chapter. Romans 5:8 changes everything.6. Philippians 2:5-11. I get to preach this incredible text not just to myself, but to my congregation, very soon. The humility of Christ brings me to my knees. The exaltation of Christ makes me look up. The incarnation and exaltation of Jesus was a joint project undertaken for our redemption.7. Ephesians 1:3-14. Here's Paul's longest sentence in Scripture, as well as one of his most theologically rich. Predestination shouldn't scare or confuse you. Predestination is, simply, gospel--you've being given grace and mercy that you didn't deserve or earn.8. Ephesians 2:1-10. In seminary I wrote a 25 page paper on the Greek text of this passage. Ever since, I've not been able to get this slice of Scripture out of my head. It's plain and simple--there is only one thing that we have legitimate grounds to boast about: the person and work of Christ.These are the 8 main passages I re-tell myself on a regular basis. There are other gospel ammo verses I utilize. These are just the main ones. I hope this is of help to you.