The new picture, the emerging story I am believing

Part of what I've come to believe now, straight from scripture.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

We have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

______________________________

That's the basics.  God reached out to us.  It's what he wants.  He makes it happen.  

We can choose to ignore him and that's on us, but he's done it all already and we can relax in to that.

I'll come back to "what that means for us" later in terms of "church" and other things I used to lean into.

Suffice to say, the above is 100% the more important thing and it 100% shapes everything else.

God is for us in ways we don't begin to understand because of a lot of religious and cultural filters.

Like the old song says, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness".

_____________________________

God is the open door.  We are not the screen door.  

Or at least we're not supposed to be, but we do often try to be - probably with good intentions - but that's not our role to assume.

We are set free from performance based acceptance.

We are set free from religious law following - that's not how he determines his love for us.

We are set free from the cultural baggage that religion can try to impose.

We are set free from all that.

We are set free.


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