In preparing to lead the Good News evangelism track for Rockbridge, I have had the chance to think a lot about the Gospel. Below is what came out as I worked on the opening night talk, Compelled By Love.
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Is there a more ludicrous, radical deal in the whole world? I mean, sometimes car dealerships will give you $5000 for whatever piece of junk car you can push, pull or tow there and apply it towards a new car. That is a good deal. Buy one get one free bags of boneless, skinless chicken breasts at Harris Teeter is a really good deal.
But this? This is crazy. First you have Jesus, the only perfect person to ever live, the only one to be untarnished by sin. This perfect one gets made to BE sin, so fully does He take on our identity and our sin on the cross (it so pulverizes and covers Him) that He is actually transformed into it.
Then you have us, who are by nature God’s enemies and deserving of wrath, and we receive the righteousness of God in exchange for our sin and wickedness. We are remade from darkness to light, from objects of wrath to accepted in the beloved, from enemies of God to His friends, from children of the devil to children of the King, from unacceptable to acceptable. Our pain and sickness and mess for His peace and righteousness. Our wages, which earned death, for His inheritance, which is an eternal Kingdom.
Is that Good News? Is that life to the dead? Is that comfort to the afflicted? Riches to the poor? Freedom for the captive?
Yes! This is a compelling love.
1 comment:
I like how getting $5000 for a junk car is a good deal, but getting buy one get one free chicken is a REALLY good deal.
Btw, I'll be praying for your time at Rockbridge, and that you would hear the Lord in all your preparations for your track.
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