Sing the gospel to ourselves

"Preach the gospel to yourself."

That phrase has become a popular one among evangelical Christians in recent years. Our church has heard me say it or something like it -- such as "Remind yourself of the gospel" -- numerous times.

In corporate worship, we -- as the church -- have the opportunity to remind ourselves of the gospel by singing it. In doing so, we are following a heavenly pattern. In the Revelation to the apostle John, the following is recorded:

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth" (Rev. 5:9-10).

The apostle John's vision showed those around the throne singing about the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God and its far-reaching impact. We will sing as one great choir about the cross-work of Jesus one day in Heaven, but we can do it now corporately on earth as the church.

Our church, Covenant Community Church in Fredericksburg, Va., had that privilege once again last Sunday. Among the songs we sang that explained the meaning of the cross of Christ and His gospel were "The Gospel Song," "The Precious Blood" and "Before the Throne of God Above."

Sometimes, the great truth of Jesus' atoning work as a substitute for sinners is summed up in only one or two lines. In my sermon, I cited one line from "Before the Throne of God Above" -- the words of which were written by Charitie Lees Bancroft more than 150 years ago -- that is at the heart of the Christian faith: "For God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me."

As the church, we have hymns and songs from across the centuries -- by such writers as Charles Wesley and Horatius Bonar to Sovereign Grace Music and the team of Stuart Townend and Keith Getty -- that enable us to dwell on and proclaim the gospel and its benefits in corporate worship. For instance:

-- Wesley wrote in the 18th Century, "No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine" ("And Can It Be?").

-- Bonar also wrote in the 18th Century, "Thy works, not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart; they tell me all is done; they bid my fear depart" ("Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ").

-- Townend and Getty wrote in 2001, "Till on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied; for ev'ry sin on Him was laid--here in the death of Christ I live" ("In Christ Alone").

-- Peter Gagnon wrote for Sovereign Grace Music in 2005, "Oh, the precious blood of Christ the crucified, it speaks for me before Your throne, where I stand justified" ("The Precious Blood").

These gospel-focused lyrics and many more call for us to remember the the gospel, to dwell on its meaning for us and to declare it to one another that we might worship the God of our salvation.

Yes, may we sing the gospel to ourselves.