Thankfully, I was also confronted by Romans 8:3,4:
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.God has done what the law could not do--fix my issue of being at enmity with God. To put it positively, the law could not make God "smile on me". In doing what the law could not, He has also done what I could not and cannot do! Some would say, "Anthony, this is basic Gospel truth. We know that all of our merit has been earned by Christ and not by our own works." To that I would say, I know! Isn't it great that these "basic" truths are able to confront us in the morning, awaken us to our need for the Gospel and show that if we are in Christ, we are indeed free! Isn't it great to know that I don't owe legalism anything (8:12)
Romans 8:3,4 is Gospel, and it's only the Gospel that will diffuse the pride of performance.
When Paul tells me to set my mind on the things of the Spirit and that by doing so I have life and peace (v.6) he's telling me to set my mind on what the Spirit has opened my eyes to and that which fuels (or should) my passions--the Gospel! It's the same kind of idea that he talks about in Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.All of those adjectives are synonyms for the Gospel. God did the Gospel, not me. All I can do, apart from the God's Gospel, is keep striving for right relationship with Him through my own efforts; and I am glad to say, my attempts are futile. Why? Because God did what the law, weakened by my flesh, could not do--He sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin by punishing His perfect Son on the cross so that I might be counted righteous (justified) before His eyes and for His glory. That is confounding (Ezek 16:62-63), it is exciting, and I need to preach that to myself and the pride of legalism and performance and my own life.
A great resource on this topic:
I recently finished A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent. It's a short book admonishing and encouraging believers to rehearse the Gospel daily. It's a new book, but it's filled with ancient truth and though the pastor is younger, he writes like "an old dude". I consider it a must read for all Christians.
