The Gospel is a beautiful mystery of God’s redemptive work in a broken world, meeting us where we are, but not leaving us there.

 

Everything we see, even that we cannot, was made by the Word of God. As God’s handiwork, man and woman were set apart as the pinnacle of creation. We are made to glorify our Creator, in our relationships with Him and one another. 

 

But we do not always honor God - or the image of God in one another. Thoughts, words, and deeds depart from this purpose for our lives. Whether our sin is with intention or by omission, the aftermath is brokenness we cannot repair, and chaos we cannot reorder.

 

God chose Israel as a light to the nations, using prophets, priests, and ordinary people to point us to the way of life and salvation. Although God’s outreach was rejected, in accordance with His timing and plan, God came in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who lived and taught the greatest two commandments: love God and one another. 

 

Despite hearing Jesus’ teachings, seeing his signs, and experiencing divine miracles, humanity did not receive Jesus fully, eventually betraying and denying Jesus himself. But God’s love proved greater than our brokenness when Jesus still chose death on a cross: a perfect man given for imperfect humanity. 

 

Buried in a borrowed tomb, Jesus was raised from the dead in the power of God’s prevailing love. Emerging from the grave, Jesus charged two women with bringing news of his resurrection to the apostles, to whom he appeared and continued to bear grace and truth.

 

After returning to his Father, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, creating the church and indwelling its members. The same Spirit continues to work right where we are, with Christ as head of the church.

 

As the Old and New Testaments are read during worship in this world, the Kingdom of God keeps transforming ours. Without salvation in Christ, I have no hope, just as none of us would. Sin is universal, but also personal, affecting even the most important people and special relationships in our lives. 

 

Receiving a baptism of like Jesus, our old ways are put to death, giving new life and purpose in him. We bear witness to Christ’s mercy through celebration of The Lord’s Supper. In this meal, the Spirit of Christ prepares us for daily and everlasting life. 

 

When we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives, we are made witnesses to God’s grace in word and deed, to friend and enemy alike. Although challenging, we are led to live in the tension of being in the world, but not of it. The gospel of grace challenges us with new thinking and new living.

 

Thus equipped, the Great Commission charges the church to share the Gospel with all people until Christ’s return, when he will judge the sins of the world and pardon those who hear his voice. This is a lesson we are still trying to learn; Jesus judges, not us.

 

The last words of the Bible assure, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people, amen.” To that voice we join ours: may it be so!