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Friday, February 4, 2011

The Unreasonable Gospel

The Gospel is really unreasonable by the world's standards. It does not present itself in a manner that the world can really understand. Let's use John 3:16 as an example.

John 3:16 (NIV)
16 "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.

The world says we love those who love us. The world says to hell with the people who don't love us. God says that he loves us before we love Him. God's love is unmerited. It is unlimited. It means that God loves prostitutes, drug dealers and people who talk during movies as much as He loves the preacher and deacons of a church.

The world says that we earn everything we get.  God says He gives without regard. Earthly employers are in debt to their employees before they pay them. They expect the wages to be earned before they are paid. God gives to us without accounting what we have or haven't done for Him. He gives to us just as we are.

The world says that we should grab all we can get. God says that He will sacrifice His own Son for us. The world says, "Get all you can, can all you get and sit on the can!" God says, "Come to me and I will give you rest." His gives rather than pays. The world tells us that the one who earns the most gets ahead. God puts everyone at the front of the line.

The world says that people will only do what you make them do. God offers us a choice. He asks. He allows us to be as sinful as we want. He asks us to come to Him. He never forces His will upon us.

You know, I understand what the Apostle Paul was saying when he said that the cross was foolishness to those who were perishing. It doesn't use the reason of this world.

Maybe, that's because it isn't of this world.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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