3 - 2023 - Jeremiah's Vow

Lent 2023 | Day 15: The Gospel’s Cost

Jesus did not just die for those who had fallen short of God’s standard of perfect holiness. Jesus died for those who are working against the will and purposes of God.

God enters the Creation

Of the many aspects of the Gospel, the one that confounds the mind most of all is that God entered into the creation himself. We will not try and explain this profound mystery. It would be impossible to do. The best can do is take God’s description of the events at face value.

We see these allusions and descriptions of this entrance and presence in the world in a couple of places. The apostle John offers us these as an introduction to the second person of the Godhead.

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2 NKJV

And then a few verses later, he expounds on what that means. How did the Word do this?

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NKJV
John 1:14 NKJV

In his letter to the Church in Rome, the apostle Paul reminds us that God “demonstrates his own love” in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. But it’s not just that Jesus died that should inspire our gratitude. No, Paul says that when we consider for whom he died, we will be shocked.

The Gospel is for the Enemies of God

Jesus did not just die for those who had fallen short of God’s standard of perfect holiness. Jesus died for those who are working against the will and purposes of God. Paul says that God entered the world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth to die for God’s enemies.

⁸But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:8-10 NKJV

In another letter, this time to Christians in Colossae, Paul leaves no room for question about the nature of who Jesus really is.

⁹For in Him [ie., in Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…
Colossians 2:9 NKJV

And previously, earlier in the same letter under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit says that it pleased the Father to abide in Jesus as he walked on the earth.

¹⁹For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 NKJV

These are just a few of the more direct links to the entrance of God into the world.

But why should we think about these things? Why should it matter to our understanding of the Gospel that God entered into the created order as a human being and fulfilled the work of redemption?

It should matter because our understanding of this is what helps us appreciate the cost of the Gospel to God!

The Gospel cost God, in the second person of the Godhead (a reality that must be revealed in order for it to be known), a life of suffering and the experience of physical death.

It truly is beyond my ability to adequately describe what this means. In the life of Jesus God experienced what physical death would be like.

This is the cost of the Gospel. Not some fanciful notion of time wasted or resources lost.

God in the Flesh

God experienced the human reality of life in a fallen world.

God saw with his own human eyes the levels of depravity and malice to which people can descend.

God heard with his own human ears the cries of those longing for respite from the brokenness of their own lives.

God touched with his own human hands those who can become ostracized by the cultural norms and mores of the self-righteous religious rulers of the time.

God tasted with his own tongue the poverty of those who had no place to turn in their own communities, so they would follow a teacher into the wilderness in the hopes of finding some semblance of peace.

God smelled with his own nose the stench of sin and the rotted odor of death as life was siphoned away from those unable to escape the station in life to which they were born and subjugated to by their culture.

This, and so much more, is what it cost God.

The Effect of the Gospel on God

God voluntarily, intentionally, and purposefully entered into the world. And God did this knowing how much it would cost God.

Bishop Luis R. Scott, Sr. one time made reference to this cost by saying something to this effect (I have paraphrased my memory of his comments):

Jesus’s time on the earth were the most turbulent years in the history of God’s existence. Because for the first time in the history of God, the perfect fellowship the Godhead has enjoyed had been disrupted.
Bishop Luis R. Scott, Sr.

And that turbulence was chosen by God so that we might have life.

Lent 2023 Series

Lent 2023 | Day 14: The Gospel’s Blessing

The easiest way of thinking about the Gospel’s ultimate blessing is to recognize that we have been received, through a spiritual adoption, into the family of God.

As we continue our reflection on the Gospel, it would be inaccurate and a little disingenuous to not acknowledge that there are blessings as a result of believing the Good News. At the same time, it would be inaccurate to make the blessings of faith the reason for calling people to a relationship with God. The blessings are the byproduct of the relationship. They should not be the catalyst for it.

Today we will look a the Gospel’s Blessing. In particular, we will consider the ultimate expression of that blessing in our lives. The easiest way of thinking about the Gospel’s ultimate blessing is to recognize that we have been received, through a spiritual adoption, into the family of God.

Due to this adoption, we have all been given an eternal inheritance. It is an inheritance of eternal life. It is promise of eternal fellowship with God. This inheritance will be shared by all how have placed their truth in the work of Jesus on the cross.

What’s more, this inheritance has been guaranteed by the power of God. The protector of this inheritance is God himself, in the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians gives some of the most encouraging reminders in the New Testament about our promised inheritance. The work of God to safeguard what he has promised is not inconsequential. It is an essential reason by which we can have confidence in what the Gospel Promises. Let’s look at what Pauls said to the Ephesians.

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV

A little later on in the same letter, Paul offers a warning against grieving the Holy Spirit. Against grieving the one who is constantly protecting what Jesus purchased with his own blood on the cross. What makes this statement remarkable is that, in offering the caution, he couches the warning within the promise of inheritance we have.

³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 NKJV

We have been saved through faith in the Gospel and we have been sealed by the Spirit of God as a way of protecting what God is doing in our lives.

This truly is one of the most glorious blessings. That we have an inheritance from God and that God will make sure that it will never be wasted or lost.

Lent 2023 | Day 13: The Gospel’s Challenge, Pt 2

In the Gospel, there is built into it the expectation of growth. Like all seeds, the plant is hidden within it. And until it is planted, nothing will come of it.

The challenge we looked at yesterday was related to the internal confrontation the Gospel creates. Until and unless we accept the Gospel’s definition of reality regarding our sins, we will struggle to enjoy God’s promises.

The other challenge the Gospel offers is one related to action. To put it another way, this challenge is offered on the other side of salvation. Once we have accepted the work of Jesus for our sins, we are exposed to the mission the Gospel points to.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, he left instructions with his disciples. He told them to go into the whole world teaching whomever they found to obey Jesus’s commandments. These are simple instructions. However, they would require unwavering devotion to the message of redemption.

In the Gospel, there is built into it the expectation of growth. Like all seeds, the plant is hidden within it. And until it is planted, nothing will come of it.

The continued expansion of the kingdom of God requires our consistent proclamation of the Gospel. This does not mean everyone will become a preacher, evangelist, or teacher. At least not in a vocational sense. But everyone who has believed the Gospel has a duty to find ways of communicating what they have received with others.

We are all called to serve in the kingdom. And because we all are beneficiaries of the grace of God, we should cultivate the skills to share what we have received.

Now, I know that this sounds like too much to ask. But, it really isn’t. There are as many ways to communicate the Gospel as there are people in the world. Each of us has a unique life from which we can find a connection with others. We don’t all have to say the same words to be faithful heralds of the same message.

For too long, the responsibility of every believer to build up the courage to share their story of faith has been missed. At almost every turn, Jesus told the people he healed or ministered to not to say to others. But, the impact of what Jesus did was so great, most people ignored Jesus and shared about him anyway.

Consider what God has done for you. Think deeply about what it means to have been saved from a life of sin and restored to fellowship with God. If that is not enough motivation to at least share it with one other person, what are we really saying about the Gospel? About God and our salvation? About Jesus?

My purpose today is not to shame anyone. It is however a reminder that what God has done cannot be repaid. God has never and will never ask for that. So, framing this challenge in that way is neither fair nor appropriate.

We should be convicted about our role to participate in sharing the Gospel. Not in some legalistic way. But rather as an expression of our love and appreciation for what God has done for us. And what he is doing within us.

This is the Gospel’s other challenge. That we would do what Jesus said would be the task of all who claim his name.

Lent 2023 Series

Lent 2023 | Day 12: The Gospel’s Challenge, Pt 1

Sin is not like the kinds of features and attributes that get better with effort. Sin is attached to the very essence of who we are.

The word challenge has a couple of meanings that I would like to consider. The first is the idea of obstacles we have to overcome. The second is being issued a task that will require intentionality and focus to accomplish. In today’s reflection, we will consider the first understanding.

The Gospel clarifies our reality

When we first hear the Gospel, we are immediately confronted with a stark reality. Specifically, we are told to accept that we are sinners. That there is something terribly wrong with how we look at the world. It is often difficult to accept this.

Part of the problem in our becoming convinced of what the Gospel assumes is that we do not really see ourselves as having insurmountable flaws. We have been taught to believe that with some hard work and creativity, we can become better versions of ourselves. And while this is not the whole truth, it has elements of truthfulness in it.

If we can identify areas of our lives where we can improve, with some effort we can increase our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. And this is part of the problem. Sin is not like the kinds of features and attributes that get better with effort. Sin is attached to the very essence of who we are. What this means is that it permeates the very world we exist in. Sin is not some localized phenomenon. It is the very atmosphere we live in.

Sin is all around us

To understand the challenge more clearly, it’s like telling a fish that the world it exists in (the water) is the very prison that confines it every moment.

Because sin is everywhere, in everything, and is the given reality of our lives, we have a difficult time understanding “what’s wrong.” This is why the Gospel is challenging. The Gospel is pointing at the only world we have ever known and says, “You have to leave this world if you want to be truly free.”

This is why one of the principal images of the Christian conversion experience is dying to sin. If we do not die to the world as it is, we are still bound by its laws and restrictions. But, if like Jesus, we die to ourselves and to this world, we can be born again with a new life. With a restored nature.

Yes, we will still be in this world, but we will no longer be of this world. We don’t fully understand all of this. I know I don’t. But I have been thinking and reflecting on the implications of these images and concepts for a long time. And the more I consider what they are saying the more I realize that God is not using these images as platitudes to make us feel better. These images are windows into the fullness of what God has been doing for us.

Do we believe what God says about sin?

The Gospel’s challenge is that points that THE problem that is keeping from having a relationship with God and tells me how God has decided to resolve it. But, in order for me to benefit from this solution, I have to accept that the problem of sin is as grave as the grace required to deal with it is. If we think that God is overreacting to our sin by sending Jesus to die on the cross, we may not fully appreciate the nature of the problem we are facing.

I learned a long time ago, the solution to a problem is a good indicator of how serious the problem is. The reason I hire plumbers, electricians, and mechanics to fix those issues when they break is that I usually don’t know what’s wrong with the system that’s broken.

These tradesmen have more experience in spotting and fixing the problems that are present. That is why I pay them. Just because the person fixing it makes it look easy doesn’t mean it is. It just means that the person has the expertise needed to get the job done in as efficient and economical a way as possible.

Sure, I could have attempted to fix it myself, but it would have taken more time than I had. And it would have cost me more aggravation than it was worth. So, I hire someone who knows what they are doing. Or at least knows more than I do.

So, if the problem I have is sin, and God is an expert in fixing that particular issue, then why do so many call into question the price tag God has put on our salvation? I think we have a hard time believing the bill when it comes due.

Sin is as bad as God says. And we know this is true because of the cost Jesus paid to address it.

This is the first challenge the Gospel makes to us. Are we willing to accept that sin is what God says it is?

Lent 2023 Series

Lent 2023 | Day 11: The Gospel’s Fulfillment

It is not something we often think about, but the Gospel’s fulfillment actually begins with the birth of Jesus.

It is not something we often think about, but the Gospel’s fulfillment actually begins with the birth of Jesus. At least he part of God’s redemption plan most clearly understood by us. We will not go into all of the theology surrounding the incarnation here. However, it is worth mentioning that without the physical entrance of Jesus into the world, the idea of a physical death would make little sense.

The sacrificial system used by the Israelites serves as the precursor to the cross. The reasons and interactions between people and priests and God are all images we need to better understand our redemption in Jesus. While the Old Testament speaks in shadows and allusions, Jesus embodies the full expression of what those actions and symbols pointed to.

In the Old Testament system, we are taught about the need for atonement and restoration of fellowship with God. These processes are necessary for there to be a relationship with God. Without them, we do not have any hope of having our relationship with God restored.

This short reminder of what God initiated is important to make sense of how God ultimately fulfilled his promise of salvation for all people. God never wastes his effort or energy. He is economical in that sense. But, that also means that everything God does is designed to help us better understand what he wants us to know.

The Gospel’s fulfillment only makes sense in the greater revelation of God’s purposes. This means that what we see on the cross was preceded by Jesus’s life. We can bear witness to Jesus’s life because of his birth. And God’s people anticipated the coming of the Messiah because of what God said about the coming king.

All of these linkages in time are a part of God’s unfolding revelation of what he has been doing from the beginning of creation. Too often we miss these connections because they are so far apart. That’s why it’s helpful to take some time and think about God’s actions over a wider span of time. I know that I have been supposed, more than once, by what I have seen working together. Events and situations that at other times seemed possible.

Lent 2023 Series

Lent 2023 | The Second Sunday in Lent

The Collect

Almighty God, who sees that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.¹

The Lessons

Psalm: Psalm 25

O. T.: Gen. 32:22-32

Epistle: 1 Thess. 4:1-8

Gospel: Matt. 15:21-28

Meditation

Lent 2023 Series

Collect and Lessons are from the Book of Prayer and Order (2020). [↩]

Lent 2023 | Day 10: The Gospel’s Promise

The Gospel’s Promise is that God can save. God will deliver on his promise to save because God can.

Over the last few days, we have been looking at the Gospel trying to better understand its many dimensions. This series of reflections will not be able to identify them all. That is not our goal. The goal is that by looking at the aspects of the Gospel identified, we might better appreciate what God has done and continues to sustain by his grace and power.

Today’s theme is similar to the one we shared yesterday–The Gospel Effectiveness. However, while yesterday we sought to highlight God’s power to deliver on the Gospel message, today will be an exploration of God’s faithfulness to do so.

If I were to summarize what I mean it would be this: The Gospel’s Promise is that God can save. Not in the sense of ability as we discussed yesterday. But rather in the sense of willingness. God will deliver on his promise to save because God can.

An excellent example of this reality can be found in an exchange Jesus had with a man suffering from leprosy. We find the story in the opening verses of Matthew 8.¹

¹When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. ²And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” ³Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
New King James Version

This interaction between Jesus and the leper has always been a powerful reminder of God’s mercy. The telling in Mark offers us the added motivation of Jesus. “Then Jesus, moved with compassion…” (Mark 1:41a).

When Jesus looked at the situation of the man, when Jesus considered the plea he made, we are told by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was moved with a tender affection. Jesus wanted to do something for this man.

In Jesus, we see the fullness of God walking on the earth. Jesus’s life is the public and visible expression of God (Colossians 1:15-20). And in Jesus, we see God’s willingness to intervene on full display.

God among us in the person and work of Jesus is the Gospel’s promise. This is the promise not only enacted and embodied, but it is also the promise fulfilled.

Lent 2023 Series

The Story is also found in Mark 1:40-45 and Luke 5:12-16 [↩]

Lent 2023 | Day 9: The Gospel’s Effectiveness

If God’s power to save and to keep us saved rested on our ability, consistency, and strength, there would be no hope for salvation. But our salvation does not rest on anything we bring to the situation.

One of the most common themes that Christians I have encountered struggle with is that of their salvation. Specifically, the issue of whether or not it can become lost again. There are various answers to this. Each theological system will argue that its point of view is internally consistent. That the reasons for their positions are valid even when the conclusions are difficult to understand. My goal is not to enter some extended argument against any particular system.

Why do Some Question their Salvation?

For me, I am not interested in getting into those debates. We all must study Scripture for ourselves and seek the counsel of trusted mentors. We all have to decide which theological traditions and what they argue make the most sense to us. What I want to do, what I am more interested in looking at the implications the Gospel offers to us in regard to the subject of salvation. More specifically, what is the Gospel’s effectiveness in saving a lost soul?

Many times, conversations about salvation revolve around whether or not a person believed the correct version of the Gospel on the one hand; or whether a person is growing sufficiently in spiritual matters on the other. Yes, these are generalizations and even over-simplifications. But, if we listen to what people are asking and how they are asking about it, we will find these are far more common points of origin. Many people do not have sophisticated views about doctrine in general, or salvation specifically. Most Christians are simply holding onto the part of the Gospel they understand. Even if it is only one or two aspects of it.

Thinking more deeply about Salvation

A greater reality is that because of the many facets of the Gospel, people struggle to see how they all work together. This is part of the reason for this series of reflections. Maybe, if we look at these varied realities of the Gospel in smaller portions, we can better appreciate the whole.

Today’s focus shifts the emphasis of salvation away from the recipient to the giver of the Gospel. The great promise of the Gospel is that God is at work. That God has prepared and provided a means of salvation. And, if we take God at his word, we can experience the fullness of what the Gospel points to.

The effectiveness of the Gospel does not depend on my ability. The effectiveness of the Gospel does not require my effort. The effectiveness of the Gospel rests solely, completely, entirely, and unquestionably in the hands of God.

What that means is that regardless of what goes wrong on our side of the relationship God will uphold his end of the promise. God cannot fail in saving us. God will not fail in keeping us.

The Gospel is a testament to God’s Character

There is nothing that can keep us from receiving and being the beneficiaries of God’s grace once we have believed. Our vacillating nature was a part of the eternal calculus God did in drafting the Gospel message. God knew that we would struggle with holding on to his promises. God knew, from the foundations of the world, that faith would not come easily to so many. that’s why the Gospel is simple and clear. So that we could accept it even when we struggled to hold on to it.

But, God does not rely on our faithfulness to save us. God has declared that salvation is an eternal promise. Not a conditional one. And by virtue of the eternal nature of the Gospel, we can know that the Gospel will accomplish the mission for which it was created.

Yes, we can have a discussion about what it means that some believe and some will deny. We can consider what it means that some people never fully embrace the life of faith. We can even have our doubts about whether or not a person was ever really saved. But in the end, the question of the Gospel’s effectiveness is about God’s side of the salvation issue.

Too often people look at the people who don’t seem to be living up to what we think they should be and then turn and blame God for failing. This is not only a disingenuous form of argumentation, but it also betrays a self-righteous spirit within the person arguing in such a way.

Allow me to put this as simply as I can:

The Gospel is effective because God is God. That’s it. And if he says that the Gospel leads to eternal life, then I will take God at his word.

Lent 2023 Series

Lent 2023 | Day 8: The Gospel’s Simplicity

The better we understand the fullness of the Gospel’s message, the greater our appreciation of its reality.

The Gospel’s Clarity and the Gospel’s Simplicity are related realities of the message of salvation. However, there is a distinction we should draw between these two ideas. The better we understand the fullness of the Gospel’s message, the greater our appreciation of its reality. Our thankfulness for God’s grace will deepen as our awareness of its fullness is increased.

I will provide here what I mean in trying to distinguish between clarity and simplicity. The difference between clarity and simplicity is that the former speaks to the ability of the hearer to understand what is being asked of them, while the latter points to how the obstacles to understanding are minimized. Therefore, as it relates to the Gospel’s Simplicity we are looking at what makes a hearer’s understanding more difficult.

This threshold of understanding is what makes the issue worthy of consideration. And because, in God’s mercy, he makes the Gospel simple, far more who hear it may believe. Whether they truly do trust in Jesus is a different matter. One beyond the purpose of this reflection. This is one of the reasons that no one will have an excuse when asked why they rejected the Son of God.

As I have thought about what this means, I came to the conclusion that it means access. Because the message of the Gospel does not require the ability to decipher complex logical, theological, and philosophical questions, it opens wide opportunities for those who can believe its promises.

We are not Hindrances to Evangelism

We should not take this lightly. There is a mission-critical implication of this. And it is two-sided as well.

The first side is that we should not keep the Gospel to ourselves. The fact that God has made the Gospel simple to understand and receive should increase our confidence to share it. Knowing that because of the nature of this glorious news we, as messengers, do not have to be experts to perform this task should inspire us.

Now, this does not mean that we cannot ever be a hindrance to others. If we are careless in our sharing, we can cause our hearers to struggle to grasp what we are saying. I am just pointing out that we do not have to be, or feel that we will be, a stumbling block to the hearer. If I take the message that saved me and share that, in just the same way it made sense to me, then there is greater hope for evangelism. Not less.

Anyone is a Candidate for Salvation

The second side is that we should not prejudge who will accept the message. Because the message is simple, far more people can have the opportunity to hear it and believe it. We don’t have to vet the lost. We don’t have to do some kind of spiritual background check. We don’t have to check credentials. All we have to do, all we are asked to do, is preach the Gospel. To go and give to others what we have received.

To put it another way, not only is the message clear enough for a child (as we saw in our previous discussion), it is simple enough for that same child to know that they have believed the right thing!

We may not always fully appreciate this, but it is a vital component of the Gospel. If we cannot know that we have truly believed the Gospel, our hope will invariably devolve into works for assurance. However, if I know that I have understood and accepted the message and its intended meaning and purpose, my confidence in God grows. My commitment to God is bolstered.

If we underestimate the effect of knowing that we know what we know, what we end up doing is undervaluing the power of the Gospel’s simplicity.

Lent 2023 Series

Lent 2023 | Day 7: The Gospel’s Clarity

The particular genius of the Gospel is that is focuses on the singular issue that keep us separated from God.

The Gospel’s Clarity is Intentional

The particular genius of the Gospel is that it focuses on the singular issue that keeps us separated from God. Because of this characteristic, today’s theme becomes even more significant.

The Gospel’s clarity is founded on the fact that God is not trying to resolve every issue we have before our relationship with Him is restored. The gradual, but steady, process of transformation is already a part of the plan. Too often, and for too many people, there is a “pre-righteousness” mindset. It’s the idea that we have to “fix” ourselves before we come to God. We have to become holy and clean, and then we come.

This is not only wrong, but it is also the exact opposite of what God has designed in the Gospel. When the Gospel is declared, and we understand how terrible the problem of sin actually is, we must make a decision. Will we accept the offer of redemption or will we not?

The offer of salvation offered in and through the Gospel is clear. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. In his death, the repeated sacrifices of animals in the temple were completely abolished. What’s more, the quality and scope of Jesus’s sacrifice are both sufficient and efficient to save all who trust in him. And it doesn’t matter when they trust in him. God will apply the promise of salvation to all who believe.

The Gospel’s Clarity Leads to Sanctification

The Gospel’s clarity is what makes it effective. When we complicate it, when we try to help it along, when we miss the essential point of it we make it harder for people to know what they are being asked to do.

What makes the Gospel particularly beautiful is that it is so clear, we think we have missed something. There are many who think there must be more to what God is asking of us. Those who wonder about this would not be wrong about the question. They would just be asking it at the wrong time.

Sanctification is the word describing the process of becoming more like Jesus. This process is initiated at the moment of salvation. It does not precede it. This is a big part of the problem. When we fall into the trap of thinking that we have to fix ourselves before we come, we are essentially saying that sanctification has to happen before redemption.

To fully appreciate the Gospel’s clarity we should consider that it is clear enough for a child to understand. A child can understand the reality of sin. Yes, it is at a child’s level. But this doesn’t diminish their ability to grasp what is being asked of them.

A child knows when they have been disobedient. A child knows when they have fallen short of their parent’s desires and expectations. A child knows when they have offended their parents. And when the parent corrects their errors, instructs them in proper conduct, and extends to them grace and mercy, those same children can understand that too.

Once I began to appreciate this aspect of the Gospel, I was overwhelmed by a sense of peace. The Gospel is not complicated. The Gospel is not intended or designed to be complicated. And because of its clarity, the Gospel can have the effect God intended in my mind and heart.

Lent 2023 Series