How is the Gospel on display through repentance?

Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that people assume that if they allow the evidence of sin to be evident in their life, it paints a picture that Christianity is weak or not real. But, for the Christian, it does no good to try to cover our sin – we must come to the cross and repent of our sins.

Once we are saved, the reality of the Gospel is put on display in our lives. Because there is forgiveness at the cross, we can live the Gospel to those around us. We can be honest with others with how it is impossible to earn salvation by works, and repent and ask forgiveness when we sin. 

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Oftentimes, people assume that if they allow the evidence of shortcomings or sin to be evident, then it paints a picture of Christianity that's weak or not real. But actually it's just the opposite. If we are working hard to cover our sins in our own way, rather than laying them at the feet of the cross and repenting of them before God and then as a result treating other people in our lives differently, then the reality of the gospel of Christianity is put on display in our lives and then those around us don't feel like that they're being held up to an unhelpful standard because they realize they're living with humans. They're living around and in the context of humans who also fail. But because there's forgiveness at the cross then we can basically live the gospel before those who are around us, our spouse, our kids, our co-workers, people in the community, day after day by being honest with where we stand with the Lord, being honest where we've come short, asking for forgiveness, repenting before God, turning our lives in order that we might follow Christ with all that we are.