The Remedy for Cancer of the Soul

Yesterday's post from Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate demonstrated the cancerous nature of sin. Left untreated, sin doesn't normally get better on its own, and it very often spreads to others. This is pretty negative news for most of us. So what's the cure? What's the best way to heal cancer of the soul? It's the gospel, of course.

We are very used to hearing ministers preach the gospel to us, but in our battle with sin, we must preach the gospel to ourselves. No pastor can be with us 24/7; no pastor can know the secret thoughts of our minds; no pastor can do battle for us. But God can! We need to daily acknowledge our sin, turn away from it, rely on the Holy Spirit for help, and believe that God has forgiven us already. Knowing and understanding and believing that Christ died on the cross to rid us of both the penalty and the power of sin will allow us to move forward in hopeful expectation of progress in our constant struggle with sin.

Bridges reminds us of the great hymn "Rock of Ages," which so poetically displays this beautiful picture of the "two-fold aspect" of Christ's great work:

Let the water and the blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Yes, the bad news of sin is very serious, but the cross is the double cure. Preach it, sisters (and brothers)... to yourself... every day.