The Glorious Gospel for SportSample

It must be a universal position in sport that we all share: we always want to know where we stand with the coach.

Recycled ideas keep swirling around your head:

• What does he really think of me?
• Will that performance secure my place in the team next week?
• Will she keep me on for another season?

It’s a crippling place to be when you’re second-guessing the thoughts of the coach. It can consume, suffocate and suck the joy out of playing, the main reason you play is to impress.

We’ll come back to how the gospel can shift us away from this stifling mentality later but let’s follow the picture to help us understand our position before God.

Imagine if we were left second-guessing about the way that God thinks about us. Paul doesn’t leave us second-guessing about such matters.

In Romans 1:18, we read from Paul that God is angry with people who have turned away from him:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness."

His revealed wrath is upright and fair anger against a rebellious people. So, the Bible is crystal clear on where people stand before a Holy God. He is angry and everyone who remains in this rebellious state will experience his absolute judgment. That’s everyone in your club and team who doesn’t trust in Jesus.

But if you’re a Christian in sport how does God view you? Have a read of the key verses we’re focussing on again.

Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul is all about the gospel. Today we see what the gospel reveals.

“For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed”

What does Paul mean? Throughout the book of Romans, Paul uses the word “righteous” in the context of being justified, that is, a verdict or declaration of ‘Not guilty’. But we are guilty – all of us.

In the gospel, God declares his acquittal of the guilty. Despite our sinfulness, God in his grace recognizes us as being righteous in Christ. How can this be? His wrath at sin has not vanished, it has been diverted.

God’s righteous anger against any Christian has been directed upon his son Jesus. Jesus takes the punishment.I deserve nothing and yet I receive a triumphant verdict that can’t be reversed.

God remains true to his dealing with sin and changes my status to be his child.

What’s God’s verdict of me every day? Not guilty. His view of me never changes.

What a liberating thought. I never have to second guess God. He is for me and is pleased with me all because of Jesus. He sees me and accepts me not, on my performance or lack of it, but on a verdict, he has already cast – Not guilty!

When we’re worried about what our earthly coach thinks of us it would do us well to remember what our heavenly God thinks of us. We’re utterly secure. We don’t have to keep impressing. Perhaps knowing this better will free us from the grip of playing to impress. Play for the one who has created you, who loves you, and who has cast an immovable verdict over you.

Pray for yourself

Dear Lord,

Thank you that you are a just God that punishes wrongdoing. Thank you that my rebellion against you was taken by Jesus and that through his sacrifice I am now no longer guilty.

Help me to know this truth deeply, help me to realize that my hope is secure and not dependent on my performance in sport or in life. Help me to enjoy this freedom as I play today.

In your name,

Amen