The Kingdom of Heaven and Ice Cream

A recent article by Phil Drysdale, http://www.phildrysdale.com/2014/07/jesus-saved-you-from-your-sins/, discusses the dangers of preaching a gospel centered on our sin and need to be saved from it. While he states very clearly that Jesus did save us from our sin (note the past tense), he argues this is NOT main point of the gospel. Rather, the main point of Christ's coming to earth, as stated by Phil, was to bring us into relationship with God.

I grew up in an extremely conservative church in which sin was much the focus. I remember hearing about a "relationship" with God but that was such an enigma. What was very clear, however, was my sin and my need to be saved from my sin. As I kept sinning, I figured "it" just wasn't working for me. Thus, the gospel was not much good news for me. While Jesus did save me from my sin, that was not the purpose of his coming. He came to restore my relationship with God through the power of the spirit.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, (1 Peter 3:18 ESV)

Focusing on sin and our need to be saved from it is causing needless division in the church and alienating others from it. If we focus on our need to be saved from sin, we are forced into arguing whether or not something is sinful, and we need to convince someone they are a sinner so they have agree they need saving. A problem with this philosophy is it is based on moral behavior rather than relationship with God. This is why so many outside the church point to mistakes made by those in the church - for every finger I point at another, three are pointing back at me.

Indeed, Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,". However, the very next phrase, Romans 3:24 says "AND all are justified freely through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

In short, we are restored into full relationship with God through Christ. Listen to the spirit as it speaks the truth of who you are - created in His image.

What of the picture?

The Kingdom of God less like a hospital and more like a going going out for ice cream after a doctor's appointment. That is assuming someone other than you covers the tab.

In order to be admitted into a hospital, you have to first be diagnosed with a sickness.  Hospitals are pretty depressing places unless you are there to have a baby or bring someone home when they are well. Everyone likes ice cream!