THE LAW AND GOSPEL DIFFERENCES

When reading the Scripture it is important to remember that it is divided into two great doctrines: Law and Gospel. Each has a purpose and each does different things to us. The Gospel alone can change us, save us, strengthen us, and inspire us.

HOW IS EACH REVEALED TO US?
LAW: Revealed as it is imperfectly written on heart and perfectly revealed in the Holy Scriptures
GOSPEL: Revealed only in the Holy Scriptures

WHAT DOES EACH TELL US?
LAW: Tells us what we are to do and the punishment we are due for failure to do.
GOSPEL: Tells us what God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit does for us, with no demands.

WHAT DOES EACH PROMISE?
LAW: Eternal life through perfect obedience and eternal death for lack of it.
GOSPEL: Eternal life because of what Christ has done for each of us.

WHAT THREATS DOES EACH MAKE?
LAW: Failure to be perfect means eternal death
GOSPEL: None

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF EACH?
LAW: Tells what us to do, gives no power to do it.
GOSPEL: It gives what it demands of us: Faith

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF EACH ON US?
LAW: Causes rebellion, fear, & terror
GOSPEL: Creates faith, gives comfort & salvation

WHO IS TO HEAR EACH?
LAW: Those who are secure in their sins, feel not guilt for the sins they’ve committed.
GOSPEL: Those who are scared and alarmed by because of the sins they’ve committed.

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O blessed Lord God, heavenly Father, who am I that I should be given the privilege of repenting my sins to You and finding You ever ready to forgive me? Yet according to this privilege, I do humbly confess that most of my thoughts, most of my words, and many of my actions have gone the way of sin and self-service. Those thoughts, words, and deeds of mine that were in and of themselves not sin, are still yet tainted with sin; for I confess that I am sinful. For the sake of Jesus Christ, for the sake of his perfect thoughts, perfect words, perfect deeds, perfect life, and His perfect suffering and death – forgive me. Deal with me according to Jesus Christ that I may be forgiven and renewed in Your grace. Further grant, heavenly Father, that Your Holy Spirit may work in me the continual amendment of my thoughts, words, and deeds in this life which You began in my baptism. This I seek and ask in Jesus Christ and for His sake. Amen

Distain for the Little Things?

My God and my Father, forgive me my prejudice against and disdain for the lowly ways You’ve chosen to give and work the life of Jesus Christ in me for my salvation.
Forgive me for when I struggle and don’t return to my baptism and believe that simple water used with Your Word still:
gives and works Your saving grace in me,
unites me with Your Son, Jesus Christ,
forgive me my sin and the curse of original sin,
regenerates me by the power of Your Holy Spirit, and
gives me eternal life.

In all things I have put my faith in my ability to experience these realities and their effects, and I have lived by sight and not by faith in Your all sufficient Word that works what it says in me and through me. Forgive me, my Father, for the sake of Your Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. Amen.

LITTLE SINS

There is an old saying that goes: "It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out, it's the grain of sand in your shoe." Many a man, worried for fear he would not be able to cross a mountain, has had to stop some miles before he crossed the foothills because he had not taken time to clean out his shoes.
That has been the source of failure in many Christian lives. Eager to avoid the big sins, and often being successful at this, your life may outwardly appear as one of good Christian. Seeing such success, we allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of rightness with God. Having forgotten about your often hidden imperfections and sins within – the little pebbles in your shoe - these will surely cause failure, disappointment, disillusionment and frustration in your living the Christian faith.
Daily repentance is the always and only first step of faith in every journey. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

A PRAYERFUL CONFESSION:
Gracious Lord, You reign over all the times and places of our lives.
Hear my confession of the times when I have made Your times, my times.
For all the times in Your house when I have come with less than a faithful heart, forgive me.
For all the times in Your house when I claim to believe and love Jesus, and yet willingly treat other members of Your house without the love of Jesus, forgive me.
For all the times in Your house when I worshipped myself and not You, O Savior and Lord, forgive me.
For all the times in Your house when I was apathetic and inattentive to worship and prayer, forgive me.
For all the times in Your house when I have justified not being a Christian, a member of Your house, forgive me.
For all the times in Your house when I sought to serve my kingdom rather than Your kingdom, forgive me.
For all the times I have neglected Your house to tend to my own, forgive me.
O Lord my God, Lord of Your House the Church,
have mercy upon me and forgive me for the sake Jesus Christ –
the Holy Head of Your house, Your Church. Amen.

SEVEN ABOMINATIONS IN MY HEART

I find to this day seven abominations in my heart:
1. An inclination to unbelief.
2. Suddenly forgetting the love and mercy that Christ shows us.
3. A leaning to the works of the Law.
4. Wanderings and coldness in prayer.
5. Forgetting to watch for that which I have prayed for.
6. A tendency to murmur because I have no more, and yet a willingness
to abuse what I have.
7. I can do none of those things which God commands me, but my
corruptions will thrust themselves upon me so that “When I would do
good, evil is present with me.”

These things I continually see and feel and am afflicted and oppressed with; yet the wisdom of God in Jesus Christ, orders them for my good.
1. They make me abhor myself as the sinner.
2. They keep me from trusting my heart.
3. They convince me of the insufficiency of all my own inherent
righteousness.
4. They show me the necessity of always and ever flying to Jesus for my
hope, love and peace.
5. They press me to seek and pray to God.
6. They show me the need I have to watch and be sober.
7. And they provoke me to look to God, through Christ, to help me and
carry me through each day through this world. Amen.

–John Bunyan