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Are you Self-Righteous? Take the Test!

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When you reach a certain age, you have to go for periodic checkups to ensure that nasty diseases haven’t flared up since your last check up. Similarly, it’s a good idea to undergo regular scans for self-righteousness.

Like cancer and heart disease, self-righteousness is one of the biggest killers around. Self-righteousness is believing there are things you can do to make yourself pleasing to God.

What is self-righteousness?

Self-righteousness is sometimes manifested in feelings of superiority towards others. But self-righteousness can also be reflected in a low sense of self-worth.

The defining ingredient of self-righteousness is that you are providing your own standard of righteousness.

When you decide what is good and right, perhaps on the basis of your own moral judgment or law-keeping, you are eating from the wrong tree. You are usurping God’s role as the Righteous Judge. True righteousness comes from trusting in Jesus, the Righteous One (2 Cor. 5:21).

Below is a simple self-administered test to help you detect the odor of self-righteousness. Respond to each statement below by indicating true or false.

How to score: Give yourself a point for every statement you scored as true.

How to interpret your score:

Score: 0 – 1 = you’re probably not self-righteous, unless you brag about your test result.

Score 2 or more: You’re a little bit self-righteous. Don’t panic! “All of us” are self-righteous at some point (Is. 64:6). The good news is self-righteousness is a treatable disease. See Doctor Jesus straightaway.

To learn more about self-righteousness and how to treat it, check out my article, “Six Signs of a Self-Righteous Mindset.”

The Grace Commentary is a great place to find answers to Bible questions, like these:

1. What is the word of God?
2. Why say a man is justified by works and not faith alone?
3. How will God repay us according to our deeds?
4. Why didn’t the religious leaders stone Jesus like they stoned Stephen?
5. Why did Paul call himself a bond-servant if he knew he was a son?
6. What is a measure of faith?
7. How do we work out your salvation “with fear and trembling”?
8. What is the significance of David’s Key?
9. What does it mean to “the God of hope”?
10. What are the works of faith?

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How to Talk to Your Kids About Money

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How were you taught about money when you were a child?

I wasn’t taught much beyond pocket money and tithing. Most of my financial education came later through hard experience.

But there was one lesson I will never forget.

I was at a leadership conference many years ago. The speaker began by asking us if we knew the difference between fruit and trees.

Well, duh. Of course we did.

“You can’t eat trees, but you can eat fruit,” he continued. “And fruit grow on trees.”

Ookay. Thanks for that.

Having laid his horticultural foundation, the speaker began peppering us with questions:

“A nice pair of shoes. Are they fruit or trees?”

Huh?

“A romantic weekend away – fruit or tree?”

Um.

“An online business – fruit or tree?”

Eventually we got the picture. Trees were things that make money (eg: investments); fruit were things that cost money (eg: shoes and holidays).

Once we understood this, we were able to respond to his questions:

He would ask, “A nice restaurant dinner?” and we would shout back, “Fruit!”

Or he might say, “a lawn-mowing business” or “a rental property” or “shares” and we’d reply “Trees!”

Then the punchline: “If you want to eat fruit, you have to plant trees.”

Aha.

Trees before fruit

I have never forgotten the fruit and trees speech, and I have shared it many times over the years. It’s a simple picture of sowing and reaping that comes straight out of the Bible.

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground – trees that were good for food. (Gen. 2:8-9)

When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it was full of trees that were good for food.

Do you see?

If God had provided a few shopping trolleys of fruit, they would’ve eaten well for a week or two and then starved. But God planted all kinds of trees so they would have fruit for years to come, for themselves and their children.

Here’s another verse that says the same thing in a different way:

Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. (Pro. 24:27)

This makes perfect sense to anyone raised in a farming community. Fields earn money; houses cost money. So take care of your fields first.

I’m convinced that one of the reasons why many in the church have a poverty mindset is because we’ve been taught bad financial habits. Instead of hearing about planting trees and sowing fields, we’ve been told the offering basket is a magic wishing well. Throw your money in and you’ll receive back 30-, 60-, 100-fold or more.

And that’s just one of several bad habits we hear about in church.

This is not the place where I talk about giving, except to say you can’t give what you don’t have. Before you give you have to receive and one of the ways we do that is by planting trees.

Historically, the church has emphasized giving more than receiving and this may be why so many in the church are poor.

How do we change that mindset? It starts with our kids.

Here’s what we do in our house. Every fortnight, my children sit down in front of me and I pay them for doing their chores. It’s basically pocket money. The amount stays the same each time. But we want them to feel that they have earned it.

Three jars

Each kid has three jars labelled Give, Save, and Spend. After I hand them their money, they divide it up into the jars. They can divide their money anyway they like – it’s their money – but usually a third goes into each jar. It’s a tactile experience that is repeated every fortnight, 26 times a year.

What do they do with the money in their Save jar?

I don’t really expect them to buy shares or a lawn-mowing business, but I do want to instill into their young minds the principle of deferred gratification.

One of my daughters just bought herself an iPad, a purchase which would have been impossible without the diligence of saving. She’s a budding artist and she is using the iPad to develop her talent. I think that’s a great investment.

What do they do with the money in their Give jar?

We’re fairly loose on the rules but the deal is they have to give to those in need without any expectation of return. They can put the money in the offering basket or sponsor someone on the 40 Hour Famine. Sometimes they’ll go shopping with their Mum for food which goes into local food banks for the poor.

And what do they do with their Spend jar?

They’re kids. What do you think they do?

The God of trees

I want my children to think like farmers, because we are all farmers. It might surprise you to hear me say this but it’s true: We are all sowing and reaping all the time. It’s a fact of life.

Sidebar: How does this relate to grace? Grace says you get to reap what someone else sowed, but nobody ever reaps unless someone first sows.

The Give, Save, Spend concept has been around a while. The three jars were not my idea. But they serve as a good way of teaching our children about a giving God who created an earth filled with good things.

Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them.” (Gen 1:11)

Our God is a God of trees, by which I mean he filled the earth with fruit-bearing trees so that we might be fed and learn a few things about how to take care of ourselves. The trees came first.

But our world is a world obsessed with fruit, and the message we often hear is “fruit come first.” Buy now, pay later. No money down. Extend your credit limit.

Which comes first: fruit or trees? You decide.

The world’s way leads to debt and poverty, but God’s way leads to abundance and a rich inheritance for our children.

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I am thankful to patrons on Patreon for providing feedback on an earlier draft of this article. Patrons are sowers who have invested into this ministry. They keep this website free and enable me to give away thousands of books to leaders everywhere. Patrons rock!

In Marriage, Who Takes the Lead?

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If you have been raised with a traditional view of marriage, you’ve probably heard the husband is in charge. “In a marriage, the man is God’s delegated authority. He leads.”

It sounds Biblical, but it isn’t. It has more in common with those sexist advertisements of yesteryear than anything said by the Apostle Paul.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them (Col. 3:19)

The word for love (agapao) is a verb associated with the unconditional love (agape) of God. In other words, men, if you want to know what real love is like, look to Jesus who laid down his life for you. Do the same for your wife.

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord (Col. 3:18)

This should not be read as an invitation for the husband to dominate the wife like he’s lord of the manor. Instead, it’s an invitation for the wife to submit out of love, as is fitting in the Lord. In other words, if you want to know what submission is like, look to the One who has a gentle and humble heart.

We need to take a moment to reflect on what Paul is saying, because no one ever said anything like this before.

In ancient Israel you loved your wife for as long as she provided you with children and didn’t displease you. If she failed to perform, you could replace her for a better model.

“That’s not love,” Paul would have said. “Loving your wife has nothing to do with her appearance or ability to prepare tasty meals. Nor does it have anything to do with your feelings. True love is intentional. It is choosing to love an imperfect person with the perfect love God has shown you.”

It takes two to tango and it takes two loving people to make a good marriage. It’s not always easy, but when the husband and wife both respect and prefer one another, the result is a blessed and fruitful partnership.

Love in la-la land

If you have been raised in a culture where the men rule and women do what they’re told, a marriage of equals can seem like something out of la-la land.

How can a marriage work when there are two chiefs?

It works when each chief is totally committed to the success of the other. He plays the supportive husband, and she plays the supportive wife, because both want the best for each other.

Equality in role relationships does not mean both partners take turns doing every household chore. Equality means the husband and wife are equally willing to work hard and make adjustments in their marriage. Decisions are made jointly, and the division of tasks is based on preferences rather than gender stereotypes.

But what if the two chiefs can’t agree? What then? When push comes to shove, who gets the final call?

Speaking about her relartionship with her husband, the late Rachel Held Evans offered this answer:

We never really know how to respond to this question because, frankly we don’t do a lot of “pushing and shoving” in our relationship. We’ve never reached the great hypothetical impasse that folks seem so curious about. Even when we disagree, we find compromises based on multiple factors, not a gender-based trump card.

I couldn’t agree more. Camilla and I have been married for more than 20 years and in that time, I can only think of a few occasions when we didn’t see eye to eye. Major disagreements just don’t come up that often, and when they do, they are usually no match for our mutual love and respect.

I’m not saying we’re the Von Trapp family singing away our problems…

That would be cuckoo. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

But love conquers all.

Except when it doesn’t.

It’s a sad fact of life that some marriages break, and people get hurt. Those who promote traditional or patriarchal marriages believe marriages fail when partners are unwilling to accept the roles for which they are designed. “Problems arise when the men don’t lead and the women don’t submit.”

If that were true, hierarchical marriages would be the happiest and longest lasting. They are not. Research shows that the divorce rates of Christians are little different from atheists and agnostics.

Unhappy hierarchical marriages

Marriages fail because the people in them are unhappy, and the unhappiest marriages are the traditional ones.

A large study of 50,000 couples found that role relationships have a tremendous impact on marital satisfaction. Most couples in egalitarian marriages (81 percent) are happy, while most couples (82 percent) in traditional marriages are unhappy.

It’s no surprise to learn that marriages characterized by mutual respect and equality are happier. What is surprising is that many Christian marriages are intentionally unequal. They are more Athenian than Ephesian, and perhaps this is why our divorce rates are so high.

But who’s in charge?

We have been discussing love and submission, but we have skirted around the issue of who takes the lead in a marriage.

Jesus does.

He leads and guides us and shows us how to love our partners through thick and thin, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. And Jesus teaches us how to forgive, which is key to success in any relationship.

In a traditional marriage, forgiveness, like submission, is coerced from the woman. “Forgive his failings because he’s your husband.”

But true forgiveness, like submission, is something we give in response to love. We don’t forgive because we’re supposed to or because we fear divine wrath. We forgive one other as Christ forgave us.

Your partner will make mistakes, disappoint you, and let you down. When that happens, be quick to forgive. Dispense the patience and compassion that you have received from Jesus.

Let his grace heal both your wounds.

Extracted and adapted from The Silent Queen.

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More articles on marriage.

Escape to Reality is entirely free thanks to the support of our readers. Patrons gets bonus articles like these:

Beware the muckraker

Who promped David to count the Israelites?

We’re not playing tiddlywinks

You have a sword

What is the hour of testing coming on the whole world?

Sowing in a time of famine

Should we thank God for our suffering?

Who overcomes and gets to eat from the Tree of Life?

Who’s Your Daddy?

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When our first child was born, there were some complications and she had to spend a few days in a special care ward.

She was kept in an incubator and the only way I could touch her was by putting my hands through holes in the side of the incubator wall. She was only a few hours old when I came to her, stroked her, and asked her a question.

“Who’s your daddy?”

I didn’t expect her to answer, so I answered for her.

“I’m your daddy, and I love you.”

It thrilled me to tell her this again and again.

“Who’s your daddy? I am. It’s me. I’m that guy. I’m your father, you’re my baby, and I love you.”

The communication was all one-way but that was fine with me. I couldn’t shut up. I had just become a father and my heart was fit to burst.

This little girl belonged to me and I belonged to her.

There were many things I wanted to tell her, but the first and most important thing she needed to hear was that I was her daddy and I loved her.

The most important question

The most important question you will ever ask is, “Who is my father?” Your answer to this question will influence every other question of life.

Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here?

Get the father question wrong and you will miss it on every other issue. Your identity will be muddled, and you will have no lasting security.

In your legitimate desire to define yourself, you may settle for inferior choices such as career or ministry. “I am a doctor.” “I am a pastor.”

But the truth is you are much more than what you do. You are your father’s child.

But who is your father?

Jesus answers the most important question: “Who’s your Father? God is your Father!”

Our Father in heaven … (Matt. 6:9)

What is God’s name?

The saints of the Old Testament had many names for God, but Jesus gave us the best name of all:

Abba, Father. (Mark 14:36)

Abba is not the name of a distant and mysterious God. Abba is a word of familial intimacy, not unlike Papa (which is how the Message Bible translates it). Abba is your heavenly Father who cares for you and longs for you to know him.

Why did Jesus come?

Jesus came to reveal God the Father to you. He came so that you might know who you truly are. He came that you might experience the abundant life of living as the apple of your Father’s eye.

Your heavenly Father is for you. He has tilted the universe in your favor.

With a Father like this, how can you fail?

Jesus said, “Father, glorify your name!” (John 12:28). What is the name of God that Jesus wants to glorify? He just told us. It’s Father. He has other names, but this is the name he wants us to use when we talk to him.

Near the end of his life, Jesus prayed,

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known … (John 17:25–26)

Jesus is in the business of making the Father known. Yet many don’t know God as their Father. Like the saints of old, they see him as Lord but not Abba.

It’s as if Jesus never came.

What is God like?

A.W. Tozer once said:

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

Your picture of God is the single greatest influence on your life. Define God and you define yourself.

For instance, if you imagine God as a terrifying punisher, you’ll be fearful and guilt-ridden. If you see him as a semi-deaf sky-Santa, you’ll be a superstitious worrier. And if you believe God to be distant or dead, chances are you’ll act as a little god of your own little world.

Your view of God matters, but what is God the Father like?

He is exactly like the Son. Or the Son is exactly like the Father (Heb. 1:3). God is like Jesus. Not roughly so, but exactly so.

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). If you ran into God the Father at a party you might mistake him for Jesus or vice versa. That’s how similar they are.

This similarity makes it easy for us to dismiss the silly caricatures of manmade religion. Since Jesus is not a semi-deaf sky-Santa, then neither is God. And since Jesus is not a terrifying punisher, neither is God. Your heavenly Father is exactly like Jesus.

A Father like the Son

God the Father and God the Son don’t have separate agendas. God is not in heaven recording your sins while Jesus is forgiving them. Nor is he giving you sicknesses so Jesus can heal you.

The Father and the Son are exactly alike, they’re on the same page, and they have the same heart.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

The bad news of the orphaned life says, “You are on your own and nobody cares.” But the good news Jesus proclaimed says, “You are not alone and your heavenly Father cares about even the smallest details of your life” (see Matt. 6:31–32).

Perhaps you are asking questions like these: Who am I? Why am I here? Is God angry with me? Good fathers love it when their children ask questions, but you will never get good answers unless you see God as your good Father.

Who am I? You are your Father’s dearly-loved child.

Why am I here? Because your Father loved you into existence. You are his dream come true.

Is God mad at me? Nope. He rejoices over you with singing.

Can he forgive me for the things I’ve done? He already did.

Does he love me for who I am? He thinks you’re great! You’re a one-of-a-kind special and he delights in you.

Will he disown me if I sin? Never. Would you disown your own children?

What does he expect from me? He expects you to settle in his love and flourish in his grace.

Whether you are in the pigpen of dead works or the special care ward for broken people, you need to know that your heavenly Father loves you like crazy. He reaches down with love in his eyes and healing in his hands to ask you one question:

Who’s your Daddy? I’m your Daddy, you’re my child, and I love you.

This is the good news an orphaned world most needs to hear.

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Extracted from Paul’s book Who’s Your Daddy which you can get for free by signing up as a subscriber.

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What We Need is a New Covenant Dictionary

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Words mean different things to different people.

Consider the word obedience. What does this word mean to you?

If you have an old covenant mindset, obedience means keeping the Ten Commandments. But if you have a new covenant mindset, obedience means heeding Jesus.

It’s the same for the word repentance. Under the old covenant, repentance means turning from sin, but in the new covenant, repentance means changing your mind and turning to God.

We could say something similar about the words confess, faith, and righteousness. What do these words mean to you? Your answer depends on whether you have an old- or new covenant mindset.

In nearly 12 years of writing Escape to Reality, I have learned that there is enormous confusion about the covenants. Because many people don’t know what makes the new covenant new, they are stuck with the inferior definitions of the old.

Think of it as the difference between two languages. Those who speak old covenant speak a language of petition and longing, while those who speak new covenant speak a language of thanksgiving and praise.

Introducing the Grace Glossary

If you want to enjoy the superior realities of the new covenant, you need to learn to speak the new covenant language of Jesus.

To help you do that, I have started working on something called the Grace Glossary. (A glossary is a dictionary of words limited to one subject, in this case, the new covenant.)

The beginnings of the new Grace Glossary can be found on my commentary website here:

www.thegracecommentary.com/glossary

If you find the Grace Glossary useful, you may want to sign up for occasional updates.

Grace and peace,

Paul



What are Works of Faith?

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What is the relationship between faith and works? And are we saved by faith or faith plus works? Many people are confused about these things, and it’s not hard to see why:

Paul: “We are justified by faith apart from works” (Gal. 2:16, Eph. 2:8-9)
James: “We are justified by works and not faith alone” (Jas. 2:24)

So who’s right, Paul or James? Are justified by faith? Or faith plus works? And if works, what are the works that count?

At first glance, it seems that Paul and James are not on the same page. This has led some to say they preached different gospels.

“Paul preached grace while James preached works.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Both Paul and James understood that we are saved and made righteous by faith alone, and without regard to anything we have done. And both spoke of works that accompany faith:

Paul: “We remember your work produced by faith” (1 Th. 1:3)
James: “Faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:17)

We are saved by faith and not our works, but faith without works is dead and useless. So…

What are the works of faith?

The Bible has a lot to say about this subject and most of what it says can be found in the many imperative statements involving faith.

What’s an imperative statement? It’s one that sounds like an order or a command or an instruction. For example:

The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

This statement has two imperative verbs or action words; repent (change your unbelieving mind) and believe the gospel. Repenting and believing are things you do. They are works of faith.

In the New Testament alone there are more than 200 imperative statements connected with faith. (I counted them.) Some of these statements exhort us to receive Jesus (e.g., John 5:43), heed the good news of Jesus (Rom. 10:16) and turn to God in repentance (Acts 26:20).

Other scriptures encourage us to accept the word (Mark 4:20), confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), call on the name of the Lord (Act 2:21), eat the bread of life (John 6:50-51), be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20), submit to God’s righteousness (Rom. 10:3), and be born again (John 3:3, 7).

But the one imperative that appears far more than any other, is the instruction to believe.

Again and again we are told to believe in Jesus (John 3:15), believe that he is the Son of God (1 John 5:13), and believe that he has been raised from the dead (Rom. 10:9). In fact, this is more than an instruction – it’s a command:

This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ… (1 John 3:23)

What are we supposed to do? We are supposed to believe the good news of Jesus (Mark 1:15, 16:16). As Jesus said to the doubter:

Do not be unbelieving, but believing. (John 20:27)

The work of God

If faith is the noun – the state of being persuaded that God loves you – then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that conviction. It’s a work of faith. Indeed, believing in Jesus is the work of God:

This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent. (John 6:29)

We do not believe to create faith; rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).

Which brings us back to James.

Why did James talk about having faith plus works? Because he was speaking to religious Jews (see Jas. 1:1) who had faith in God (Jas. 2:19) but who did not believe in the One he had sent.

Like religious people everywhere, the Jews wanted to do things for God, but they didn’t do the work of God – the one thing that God requires of all of us – which is believe in Jesus.

What you believe determines everything

You may say, “Is that it? I just have to believe? That’s easy. It’s nothing at all.”

Only it’s not nothing; it’s everything.

Don’t you see? The course of your life is not determined by what you do as much as what you believe.

What you believe defines everything about you – who you marry, what you do, where you live, and how you live. Everything, really.

Believing in Jesus is so much more than a single decision or prayer. Believing in Jesus is a bit like migrating to a new country and learning a new language, only moreso. It’s like getting adopted into a new family or getting married.

Believing in Jesus is like being born again into to a brand new life.

There are 1001 things we might do for God, but all of them count for nought if we fail to do the one thing that matters; believe in Jesus.

Just as Adam lost his life through unbelief, we receive and enjoy divine life every day by believing that Jesus is risen and we are seated with him on the throne.

Image:  “The Hand of God” by Yongsung Kim

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Should Women Remain Silent in Church? What Does the Bible Really Say?

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Should women stay silent in church?

Hmm. Tough question. What does the Bible say?

NO

Act 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the WOMEN.

NO

Act 2:4 ALL of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.

NO

Act 2:17 I will pour out my Spirit on ALL people and your sons and DAUGHTERS will prophesy.

NO

Act 4:31 They were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

NO

Rom 12:6-7 If YOUR GIFT is prophesying, then prophesy; if it is teaching, then teach.

NO

1 Cor 12:7 Now to EACH ONE the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

NO

1 Cor 14:5 Now I wish that you ALL spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy.

NO

1 Cor 14:31 For you can ALL prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

NO

1 Cor 14:39 Therefore, my brothers and SISTERS, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

NO

1 Pet 4:10 EACH OF YOU should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

NO

1 Pet 4:11 If ANYONE speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.

Selah.

If that doesn’t settle the issue for you, check out Acts 21:9, Romans 12:6, 16:1, 3, 12, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 27, 14: 27, 29, 39, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:28, and 1 Peter 2:9.

You should have no doubt about the Bible’s position on this subject: Women are NOT to remain silent in the church. For the sake of the body, let every part function as God intended.

But wait – what about 1 Cor. 14:35?

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.

These are not Paul’s words; he is repeating a question put to him by the Corinthians. In the Greek and Jewish communities, women were expected to keep silent in the assemblies. They even had laws about it.

“Shouldn’t we follow their example and have the women stay silent in the church?” asked the Corinthians.

“Absolutely not,” thundered the apostle.

What then shall we say, brothers and SISTERS? When you come together, EACH OF YOU has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

1 Cor. 14:26

One more time for emphasis: Women should NOT stay silent in church but should be encouraged to speak, sing, teach, pray, prophesy, and yes, even preach and lead, as the Spirit guides.

But can women really do all these things?

Enough already. Don’t you know we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who marvel to think that we would even ask such an unbiblical question? That we have bought into an idea so far removed from scripture, testifies to the perverse power of tradition and patriarchy.

It is time for us to renew our minds and stop muzzling half of the body of Christ.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

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Other articles about women in the church. Share them if you dare:

Are women permitted to teach?

Are women more easily deceived?

Do you have a Biblical view of women?

How did Jesus empower women?

If a women can’t be a husband, she can’t be a pastor, right?

Is the church too feminine?

Is the Bible sexist?

Jesus listened to women, why don’t we?

Jesus, pioneer of women’s education

Jesus stands with the accused

Should women be silent in church?

Submission doesn’t mean what you think it means

What does the Bible say about women pastors?

Who submits in marriage?

Women preachers? Where’s that in the Bible?!

Women pastors in the Bible

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Find out what readers saying about Paul’s book The Silent Queen: Why the Church Needs Women to Find their Voice?

Six Signs of a Self-Righteous Mindset

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Self-righteousness is the worst disease to ever afflict the human race. Self-righteousness will keep you from grace and lock you out of the kingdom.

For this reason, great preachers like Martin Luther and Charles Spurgeon made a habit of preaching against self-righteousness.

But do you know what self-righteousness is? Do you recognize its symptoms?

What is self-righteousness?

Self-righteousness is trusting in your own righteousness (Luke 18:9). It is believing there are things you can do to make yourself right with God.

Self-righteousness is sometimes manifested in feelings of superiority towards others. “I am right, you are wrong. My way is better than your way.”

But self-righteousness can also be reflected in a low sense of self-worth (“God can’t possibly love me”), an inflated sense of self-importance (“I need to do more for God”), and outright unbelief (“I am beyond the reach of his grace”).

The defining ingredient of self-righteousness is that you are providing your own standard of righteousness.

When you decide what is good and right, perhaps on the basis of your own moral judgment or the law, you are eating from the wrong tree and usurping God’s role as the Righteous Judge. True righteousness comes from trusting in Jesus, the Righteous One (2 Cor. 5:21).

If you wanted to scan yourself for the symptoms of self-righteousness, here are six markers to look for:

1. The self-righteous mindset is sin conscious

The self-righteous man boasts in his sinless state. “You will not find in me any iniquity or sin” (Hos. 12:8). He is convinced that he is without sin (1 John 1:8) or that others are responsible for his mistakes. “It was the woman you gave me” (Gen. 3:12).

In contrast with Jesus, the self-righteous man avoids sinners lest they contaminate him with their sinfulness. “Do not come near me, for I am holier than you!” (Is. 65:5).

He is quick to defend himself – “Can anyone bring charges against me?” (Job 13:19) – but in claiming to be sinless, he is effectively calling God a liar (see Rom. 3:10). By claiming to be good, he is contradicting Jesus who said “There is none good but God” (Mark 10:18).

2. The self-righteous mindset is legalistic

The self-righteous man boasts about his religious performance – “I fast twice a week and give a tithe of all I get” (Luke 18:12) – and he loves God’s laws. “I have kept the commands of God from my youth” (Luke 18:21). He does not realize that he is an idolater glorifying in himself.

The self-righteous man can never admit weakness and he never says sorry. Because he has zero tolerance for failure (“No excuses!”) he takes few risks.

While he thinks of himself as blameless in terms of the law (Php. 3:6), he is quick to condemn those who break the rules. He thinks sinners must be punished because “the rules need to be protected.”

3. The self-righteous mindset feeds on comparisons with others

The self-righteous man justifies himself by comparing his performance with others. “Thank God I’m not like other men” (Luke 18:11). He is proud of his reputation and pedigree and eager to draw attention to his good deeds (Matt. 6:2).

Quick to judge others, the self-righteous man lacks compassion (“I would never do that”), and he derives a perverse pleasure from fault-finding (“Look at what you did”). Putting others down reinforces his own inflated sense of importance.

4. The self-righteous mindset is hypocritical

The self-righteous man sees himself as a rule-keeper, but in truth he only obeys those rules which are easy (Matt. 23:23). The hard laws he dismisses. “They was for another time and place.” Thus the self-righteous man is a lawbreaker and a hypocrite (Jas. 2:10). Being lukewarm, he is further from grace than the sinners he despises.

5. The self-righteous mindset is independent

Jesus said “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5), but the self-righteous man didn’t get the memo. “I am rich and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17).

Since the goal of the self-made life is to stand on one’s own feet, the self-righteous man has trouble receiving from God. “If I didn’t earn it, I won’t want it.” He cannot receive the free gift of God’s righteousness because he is too busy establishing his own (Rom. 10:3).

The self-righteous man is more than happy to do things for God, but he will never ask for anything from God. By his self-reliance he is effectively saying, “I don’t need a thing from you Jesus. You died for nothing.”

6. The self-righteous mindset is hostile to grace

Since he is not a wretched sinner, the self-righteous man has no need for grace. Indeed, he detests grace for it undermines everything he has worked for. Like the elder brother, he thinks grace is unfair (Luke 15:28-30).

Unacquainted with grace, self-righteous people are the most stressed-out people around. They carry heavy loads and don’t know the meaning of rest. They hear the happy sounds of a grace party thrown for prodigals, but their pride won’t let them join in.

The remedy for self-righteousness

Self-righteousness is the deadliest sin of all. In a classic sermon on self-righteousness, Spurgeon explained the problem:

A self-righteous man does not and cannot trust Christ, and therefore he cannot see the face of God. None but the naked man will ever go to Christ for clothing; none but the hungry man will ever take Christ to be his food; none but thirsty souls will ever come to this well of Bethlehem to drink. The thirsty are welcome; but those who think they are good, are welcome neither to Sinai nor to Calvary. They have no hope of heaven, no peace in this world, nor in that which is to come.

Self-righteousness is a grave deception. To be disabused of such a powerful lie, we need a stronger truth, and Jesus provides it.

“You are dead,” said Jesus to the self-righteous Sardians (Rev. 3:1).

“You make me sick,” said Jesus to the self-righteous Laodiceans (Rev. 3:16).

“You are naked and wretched!” (Rev. 3:17) Jesus spoke like this to wake the self-righteous from their stupor.

If you think you need nothing from God, hear the hard words of Jesus. Then take a good look into the mirror of the law and allow those righteous commands to plow the self-righteousness out of your heart.

Then once the law has revealed your true state—wretched, naked, blind and desperately in need—run to the Lord and receive from the rich supply of his grace.

—

Want to learn more about the subtlties of self-righteousness? Check out Spurgeon’s sermon, “A Blow at Self-righteousness,” rewritten in modern English and available now on Patreon.

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I Will Come Like a Thief

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Once upon a time, in the iron-age kingdom of Lydia, there was a river of gold called the Pactolus River. Whoever controlled the river was rich, and this explains why Croesus was one of the richest kings who ever lived.

Croesus, who lived about 550 years before Christ, built a citadel called Sardis to protect his wealth. The citadel sat atop sheer cliffs and was impregnable – or so Croesus thought.

But one night while the guards were dozing, a Persian soldier scaled the cliffs, opened the gate, and Sardis fell. Thus ended the reign of King Croesus.

The fall of Sardis was a pivot point in history for it brought the fearsome Persians to Ionia and the shores of Greece.

One of the changes made by the Persians was they populated Sardis with Jews. The Jews in Sardis thrived which meant that whoever brought the gospel to Sardis had a ready audience in the synagogue.

Fast forward to the end of first century and we find that Sardis had a church – one of seven mentioned in the opening chapters of Revelation. Jesus sent this church a letter and in it he said this:

If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. (Rev. 3:3b)

Telling the Sardians that he would come like a thief was a clever nod to their history. “Remember how your city fell because you weren’t paying attention? That’s what will happen to you, if you don’t wake up.”

Slumbering Sardians

The amazing thing is that Sardis fell twice; first to the Persians in 546BC, then to Seleucid armies of Antiochus the Great in 213BC. On both occasions the city fell because a brave soldier scaled the cliffs like a thief. (You can read the full story in my book, Letters from Jesus.)

Just as the British are famous for their orderly queues and their love of tea, the Sardians were famous for not paying attention. They would have understood that when Jesus said, “I will come like a thief,” he meant that he would come unexpectedly:

Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake. (Rev. 16:15a)

What does it mean to say the Lord will come like a thief? It means his return will be sudden. People won’t expect it.

How then should we live? Those slumbering in the stupor of sin need to wake up.

Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. (Matt. 24:42-43)

No one knows when the Lord will return, but we can be ready. We “wake up” by turning to God in faith. We stay alert by having a hopeful and confident expectation of his return.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief (1 Thess. 5:4)

The meaning is plain: be ready for the Master’s return. But you won’t be ready if you think Jesus is never coming or that he has already come.

The Lord’s return is future, not past.

Since I have written a book about the fall of Jerusalem, some people have concluded that I am a preterist. “Paul teaches that Jesus came in AD70.” Nothing could be further from the truth. I don’t know when Jesus is coming but I can assure you it wasn’t then.

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. (1 Thess. 5:2–3)

The Lord’s return will not happen during a time of war but in a time of peace and safety. No one was saying “peace and safety” before the siege of Jerusalem, and there was nothing unexpected or thief-like about the fall of Judea.

When is Jesus coming?

Not in AD70, 1000, 1984, 1988, 1999, 2012, 2017, 2020, or any year that has so far been claimed. No one knows the hour or day the Son is coming, not even him.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (Matt. 24:36)

We don’t know when, but we do know how: the Lord will return unexpectedly like a thief. But his return won’t be a secret event. Everyone will know about it.

There are more than 90 scriptures discussing the Lord’s return, and every one of them encourages us to look forward to that great and glorious day.

The takeaway: Don’t get caught napping like King Croesus and the slumbering Sardians, and don’t let the day of the Lord overtake you like a thief.

Get ready, live ready, and look forward to the glorious return of the King.

—

With more than 1000 scriptures indexed, the Grace Commentary is a great place to find answers to questions, like these:

1. What is the reward we get for our labor?
2. What did Jesus mean when he said, you are alive but dead?
3. What does it mean to deliver someone to Satan?
4. How do we examine ourselves before partaking of communion?
5. How do we believe in vain?
6. What is the meaning of sowing sparingly or bountifully?
7. How do we overcome?
8. Was Abraham really justified by works?
9. Was woman really created for the sake of the man?
10. Did Jesus preach conditional forgiveness?

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When Jesus Speaks Harshly

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Since I preach grace, I am often hit with the accusation that I have not read the harsh words of Jesus. The argument seems to be that because Jesus spoke harshly to the Laodiceans, Sardians, etc., he’s not as gracious and loving as I make him out to be.

Like the Hulk, Jesus has an angry side that grace peeps seem to miss.

It’s true that Jesus rebukes the Laodiceans (“You are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked”) and some of the Sardians (“You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead”). But it’s important to ask why?

Jesus does not rebuke them because they are under-performing Christians failing to meet their outreach quotas.

Nor does he rebuke them because the church finances are low and his job is in peril.

So why does Jesus speak harshly to the Laodiceans, et al.? Because they are lost and he loves them.

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (Rev 3:17)

Look carefully at Jesus’ words. “You do not know.” The Laodiceans had no idea they were spiritually destitute.

Like the rich man with his barns (Luke 12:18), they were stockpiling their good works, but they were not rich toward God. They had not taken hold of the Lord’s righteousness because they were full of their own.

Stinky self-righteousness

Self-righteousness is the hardest sin to dislodge. God help us, but we trust ourselves like we trust the laws of nature, and success only serves to cement our deception.

“I did it. I made it. I came, I saw, I conquered.” To be disabused of such a powerful lie, we need a stronger truth. Enter the Faithful and True Witness: “You are wretched.”

Why does Jesus say they are wretched? Because only the wretched cry out for rescue. And why does Jesus say they are naked? Because none but the naked will ever go to him for clothing.

Some say Jesus spoke harshly because he hates the Laodiceans. In truth, he loves them.

Others say his harsh words connote anger and condemnation. But Jesus cares for the Laodiceans and wants them to turn around.

Jesus didn’t speak to condemn them but to save them. If his words sound harsh it’s because the truth is sometimes hard to hear. It takes a hard truth to dislodge a deep deception.

In speaking harshly to the Laodiceans, the faithful and true Witness reveals their true condition. He lets them know that they have fallen short and lost their way.

Of the seven churches Jesus addresses in Revelation 2 and 3, the Laodicean church is the only one where he has nothing positive to say. This highlights the seriousness of the Laodiceans’ problem.

They are not told to remember, like the Ephesians, because there is nothing to remember.

Nor are they exhorted to hold fast, like the Philadelphians, because they haven’t taken hold. Trusting in their own performance, they are truly lost.

I advise you to buy from me… (Rev. 3:18a)

Why does Jesus advise? The law drives us, but Jesus draws us. The law whips, but the Lord woos. The law commands, but Christ counsels us like the true friend he is.

The Ruler of all does not demand obedience from the Laodiceans. He does not threaten them with hellfire or damnation. Instead, he draws them aside like a trader in the marketplace with the deal of a lifetime. With unexpected generosity, he makes them an offer that’s too good to pass up.

“Buy from me”

Why is Jesus talking like a businessman? Perhaps it is because this was a church of merchants and business people. They understood the art of the deal. “You want to do business?” Jesus said. “Then do business with me.”

Is Jesus saying we can buy our salvation? In a manner of speaking, yes.

To buy something is to exchange something we have for something we value more. You might say we buy salvation by exchanging our sins for his forgiveness, but the real exchange is Jesus for us. Christianity is a divine exchange, our life for his. It’s the best deal you’ll ever make.

But Jesus said they were poor. How can the poor buy anything? Because grace pays for all.

A Jewish listener hearing this invitation to buy from Jesus would have been reminded of an old prophecy:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. (Isaiah 55:1)

The true riches that Christ offers come without cost, or rather, they come with a great cost that he has paid on our behalf. This deal makes no economic sense. We come to him poor and empty-handed, and receive everything in return.

We come naked and are clothed.

We come hungry and are filled.

We come thirsty and are satisfied.

—

Book News

Paul’s most picturesque book, Stuff Jesus Never Said, is now – finally! – available in paperback.

“A critical and essential masterpiece for our generation.” That’s what readers are saying about Paul’s new book, The Silent Queen: Why the Church Needs Women to Find their Voice.

Got friends who are not native English speakers? Here are all the foreign-language versions of Paul’s books.

No Grace for Michael Corleone

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I recently watched all the Godfather movies again.

I started with Godfather 2, because it’s the best, then I watched Godfather 1, because it’s even better then best. Then I had a long break where I debated the merits of watching Godfather 3 and then I watched it, because hey, it’s still the Godfather.

Everyone says number 3 is inferior to 1 and 2, and it is. But Godfather 3 is still a good film with some memorable scenes – like the one where Michael confesses his sins.

[Spoilers ahead.]

For those who came in late: Michael Corleone is the Godfather who wants to get out of the crime business. For the sake of his children, he wants to go straight. He sells his casinos. He gives huge sums of money to the Church. He make every effort to become legitimate, but it doesn’t work out because his old friends and enemies won’t let him go.

“Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in.”

One of the best scenes in the movie is the one where Michael visits Cardinal Lamberto looking for help rescuing a bad business deal.

During their conversation, the Cardinal picks up a stone from a fountain. He notes that the stone is wet on the outside but dry on the inside. Like Christianity in Europe, he says, the water has not penetrated the stone.

Just as the light of the gospel has failed to penetrate Michael’s stony heart.

Suddenly, Michael collapses on a bench.

He’s experiencing diabetic shock and struggling to breathe. Some orange juice is brought out and Michael drinks like a desperate man.

“When I’m under stress sometimes this happens.”

Yet perhaps there is more going on than meets the eye. Maybe Michael is being crushed under the weight of his guilt. The good Cardinal seems to sense this when he says, “The mind suffers…and the body cries out.”

Michael seems to have shrunk inside his clothes. The powerful man has become weak and frail, more a child than a mafia don. The Cardinal seizes the moment.

“Would you like to make your confession?”

Michael is flabbergasted. Confess? What is the point? He is beyond redemption. His sins are too great.

But the Cardinal is not giving up. He realizes this sinner has come to a sacred crossroads.

“I hear you are a practical man. What have you got to lose?”

And so, amongst the flowers and in the privacy of the courtyard, Michael bares his soul.

“I betrayed my wife.”

“Go on, my son.” A church bell tolls.

“I betrayed myself. I killed men.” The church bell tolls again.

“And I ordered men to be killed.”

“Go on, my son, go on.”

There is a long pause. We know there is one more sin to confess. It’s the Big Secret that has been gnawing at Michael for years.

“I killed … I ordered the death of my brother.”

Michael looks down.

“I killed my mother’s son…

“I killed my father’s son!” Michael weeps.

There is no doubt that Michael is the worst of the worst, and he knows it. He is a broken man, undone by his sin.

The Cardinal, towering over the shamed man says this:

“Your sins are terrible, and it is just that you suffer. Your life could be redeemed. But I know you don’t believe that. You will not change.”

What?!

The Cardinal’s damning judgment extinguishes any glimmer of hope and leaves Michael hanging over the abyss. Michael remains lost, and it’s all downhill from here.

In the end, it’s bullets and oranges and he loses everything.

But wait. Rewind. Let us consider the Cardinal’s judgment: “You will not change.”

These are faithless and hopeless words from the man of God. How does he know Michael won’t change? Has he not read the story of Saul of Tarsus or Moses the murderer? Has he not himself experienced the transforming power of God’s grace?

It has become a cliché to say that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. So how can the Cardinal say that Michael Corleone was beyond redemption?

Michael confessed his sins and instead of getting grace, he got damnation. Instead of hearing the good news of 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – he was written off.

It’s as if the Cardinal had said, “To hell with you. You will never change.”

Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but the movie reminded me how important it is to give grace to sinners, because only grace can change us.

We encounter people every day who carry heavy burdens like Michael. They may not be mafia dons, but they are prisoners nonetheless.

If we don’t give them grace, who will?

If we don’t tell them about the unconditional love of God, who will?

To me, the most dangerous man in that scene is not the Godfather but the Cardinal, because he withheld grace from a desperate sinner. Sure, he got Michael to acknowledge his wretched state, but like a doctor withholding medicine, he failed to administer the grace that turns sinners into saints.

How I wish I could have been in the Cardinal’s shoes. This is what I would have said:

God loves you, Michael, more than you love your own kids. You have done wicked things, but while your enemies may hold a grudge, God keeps no record of your wrongs. All your sins were carried by Jesus who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. On account of his great love, he has forgiven you. Receive his grace. Turn to God and be set free from your prison of sin.

(I would resist the temptation to say something clever like, “Your heavenly Father is making you an offer you can’t refuse.”)

The tragedy of The Godfather is that Michael is never shown grace – at least not by anyone in the church – and consequently he is unable to change. He tries to change, but he remains a prisoner of sin to the bitter end.

Every time he thinks he’s out, they him back in.

As a father who loves his kids, I have some sympathy for Michael Corleone. He wants nothing more than to spare his children from the consequences of sin. His desire is good, but good intentions and good deeds and all the money in the world can’t save anyone.

The Godfather is a story about the wages of sin, but it’s also a story about our inability to deliver ourselves from sin’s clutches. The bad news is we cannot save ourselves no matter how hard we try. The good news is that we can be saved no matter how bad we’ve been.

No matter what you have done, there is hope. God’s grace is greater than your sin.

Even if you have whacked the heads of the five families, betrayed your wife, and murdered your brother.

Are you a Godfather fan? Do you think grace would have made a difference or was Michael a truly lost cause? Let me know in the comments below.

5 Myths about God’s Forgiveness

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No religion preaches the complete forgiveness of sins like Christianity. You might say it’s one of our unique selling points.

So why do we do such a bad job with it?

We tell people God may forgive them if they say the right words and keep on the straight and narrow, and then we try and pass off this awful message as though it were good news.

Newsflash: telling people they have to work for divine favor is neither news nor good. In fact, it’s bad news because there is nothing you can do to atone for your sins. Happily, the good news is so much better.

Here are five things the Bible says about forgiveness, and five things it doesn’t.

Myth 1: God may forgive you

Manmade religion manipulates people with carrots (God might forgive you) and sticks (he might not). It’s an ancient racket that leaves people anxious and susceptible to extortion (give us your money and service). But if we preached the true meaning of forgiveness, we would disarm religious bullies and liberate those whom Jesus loves.

Here are two related questions: When were you forgiven? And when were your sins carried away? The answer to one is the answer to the other because forgiveness has to do with the removal of sins.

On the cross your sins were carried away by the Lamb of God. This is Christianity 101, yet most Christians don’t know it. Instead of thanking Jesus for carrying all their sins – past, present, and future – they’re begging him to do what he’s already done. They need to hear the good news:

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

God may forgive you? Look to the cross. He already did!

Myth 2: God’s forgiveness comes with price tags

Prior to the cross, Jesus preached conditional forgiveness to people living under the old law-keeping covenant. “If you forgive, God will forgive” (Matt. 6:14). But on the cross Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law so that we might live under a new and better covenant of grace.

Instead of preaching a law that never applied to us in the first place, we ought to tell people what Jesus said after he rose from the dead: “The forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to all nations!” (Luke 24:47). Do you see? Your forgiveness is a done deal. This is the good news the apostles proclaimed all around the world:

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. (Acts 13:38)

Forgiveness is not a reward to be earned but a gift we receive by faith (Acts 10:43). You can’t work for it because Jesus did it all.

Myth 3: God forgives in instalments

The standard maintenance myth goes like this: “God forgave some of your sins, but now it’s up to you to keep the ledger clean.” How do you do that? You have to be good and faithful. You have to give and serve. You have to repent and confess.

Now those are all good things, but if you think doing them earns you forgiveness, you’re captive to superstition and unbelief. You need to repent from your dead works and agree with God’s Word.

The Lord “pardons all your iniquities” (Ps. 103:3). All means all. Before he died, Jesus prophesied that all sins would be forgiven (Mark 3:28), and on the cross his prophecy was fulfilled (Heb. 9:16). Here’s the good news:

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. (Eph. 1:7)

You have been completely and eternally forgiven through the blood of the Lamb (Heb. 9:12). God doesn’t forgive on the instalment plan. In Christ, you are as forgiven as forgiven can be.

Myth 4: God only forgives some people

The Catholics say only those who confess are forgiven and the Protestants say the same thing! What does the Bible say?

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). To forgive means to carry or take away sins and Jesus carried all our sin. There’s no sin he did not bear. “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Heb. 7:27).

Some people hold onto their sins as though they were unforgiven, but as far God is concerned, all our sins were dealt with at the cross (Heb. 9:26). Here’s the good news:

He himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

Propitiation means satisfied. Because of Jesus, the demands of justice have been fully satisfied. Once upon a time the world was under the condemnation of sin, but God has forgiven all sin and there is nothing left to forgive. If God is satisfied with the sacrifice of the Son, let us be satisfied too.

Myth 5: God forgives but never forgets

Ah, the ol’ videotape chestnut. You know the one. “One day God will play a tape showing all your secret sins.” Yeah, that’s great news. Just terrific.

Beware this fake news! There are no videotapes because love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5). You may have regrets that keep you awake at night, but God remembers your sins no more (Heb. 8:12, 10:17).

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. (2 Cor. 5:19)

Here’s the good news: Your heavenly Father loves you more than you know. The only tapes he has on you are highlight reels!

During his time on earth, Jesus went around forgiving people who had done nothing to deserve it, and while he hung on the cross he forgave those who put him there. The Son of God did this to give us a picture of what true forgiveness looks like; it looks like love.

This is the good news the Church ought to be preaching to a world condemned by sin and guilt. “God holds nothing against you! He loves you and wants you to enjoy his love.”

What can we say in response to this happy news? There is only one thing:

“Thank you, Jesus.”

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