Thursday, November 29, 2007

A holistic gospel for a holistic mess

This was the quote for the day at Of First Importance ... so true, so true, and such "exceedingly good news!"


“Sin and evil constitute bad news in every area of life on this planet. The redemptive work of God through the cross of Christ is good news for every area of life on earth that has been touched by sin, which means every area.

Bluntly, we need a holistic gospel because the world is in a holistic mess. And by God’s incredible grace we have a gospel big enough to redeem all that sin and evil has touched. And every dimension of that good news is good news utterly and only because of the blood of Christ on the cross.

Ultimately all that there will be in the new, redeemed creation will be there because of the cross. And conversely, all that will not be there (suffering, tears, sin, Satan, sickness, oppression, corruption, decay and death) will not be there because they will have been defeated and destroyed by the cross.

That is the length, breadth, height and depth of God’s idea of redemption. It is exceedingly good news.”

- Christopher Wright, The Mission of God, 315



btw, I had the privilege of sitting next to Dr. Wright for several sessions when I was at the conference in Germany in September. He is such a humble, sweet man -- obviously well-loved by all of the people there who have known him and been supported by him through their years of ministry.

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