The Gospel

God in a Crib - in diapers, feeding off His mother's nourishment.

God as an adolescent - growing in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

God as fodder for gossip - "That bastard child," it was said.

God as a scandal - that Friend of sinners, winebibber, glutton.

God as a rebel - that One who pulled rank on religious elites.

God as a teacher - masterful, patient, stern, kind.

God on a cross - vile, exposed, shamed, mocked

God as the Lamb - the Slain, the Sacrifice, the Sacrificer.

God as sin - Who became sin for us, He who'd known no sin.

God as Substitute - The One who took the punishment in place of the Elect.

God as Searcher - Looking for those other lost sheep that must come to Him.

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I concur with the apostle Paul sentiment: "I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ."

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The gospel in brief:

We are unholy. He makes us holy.

We turn away. He turns us back.

We sin. He saves.