The Coins Drop: Getting the Gospel Deep in You
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thanksgiving in your hearts to God.”
~Colossians 3:16
As I planned out my lunch period during my High School days, I always made sure I had enough coins to get myself the beloved nectar from heaven that would get me through the rest of day: Dr. Pepper. Now this was before the days of having to put bills in the machine for the 20oz bottle that blew up in your face when you opened it (Seriously, was that planned as a cruel joke? “We get their money, then shake the bottle as it goes down, and when they open it, BOOM. Bwhahahaha!”).
One of the more frustrating moments was when you put your first coin in and hear the click-clack of it going down the machine, and then you would put your last coin in the machine and hear “click-CLUNK!” The coin wouldn’t drop. It was stuck somewhere in the machine, and without the coin dropping, I would have to eat my Hot Pocket and Star Crunch with…gasp, water! I would “lay hands” on the machine, pray to unknown gods, use some kung-fu, shake it wildly hoping I would hear the click-clack of the coin dropping so my beloved would come out.
Over the years I have taken in the truth of the gospel, many of its truths and implications have dropped deep into my heart producing life change that is staggering to me. When I find I am struggling with a certain sin during a certain time, it seems my heart has gone “click-CLUNK” with the gospel. It is not dropping into this deep part of my heart. To make the gospel drop, I must continually repent of my sin and put my trust and treasure in the person and work of Jesus. I find that it’s the implications of the gospel that need to drop in my heart. And they don’t just drop once, this is an ongoing process for me.
Here are some of the gospel implications/promises/truths that need to drop in our hearts:
(adapted from materials from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky)
- Instead of believing you are estranged from God, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that you are now chosen by God in Christ. (Election, Ephesians 1:3-6)
- Instead of believing God condemns you, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that you are now forgiven by God in Christ. (Propitiation, Romans 3:23-26; 1 John 4:10)
- Instead of believing God rejects you, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that God in Christ now accepts you. You are declared not guilty. (Justification, Romans 3:24, 5:1, 9)
- Instead of believing you are unloved by God, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that God in Christ now adopts you. (Adoption, Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5)
- Instead of believing you are spiritually powerless, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that God has made you spiritually alive in Christ. (Regeneration, Titus 3:5)
- Instead of believing you are in bondage to sin, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that God has delivered you from sin’s power in Christ. (Redemption, Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7)
- Instead of believing you must be unholy because of sin, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that God has set you apart from sin and for holiness in Christ. (Sanctification, Romans 6:22)
- Instead of believing you are without hope, you must learn to claim the gospel promise that all things will be restored by God in Christ. (Glorification, Romans 8:30)
Where in your life do you feel the  “click, CLUNK” of the gospel?  What gospel coin do you need to repent of not believing and, by faith, live by?  Which one do you need to pray that the Holy Spirit would let catch fire in your heart?
What coins need to drop so that the life Jesus came to give us can come out of us for the sake of others and His glory?
