Gospel Reaction

It is a well-known fact here in the Bible belt that Jesus died on the cross. That he was crucified, dead, buried, and raised again on the third day. But I want to ask the question, “So what?” What good does this do any of us today? What is it worth that a relatively obscure, poor, homeless man was murdered by the government in a relatively obscure part of the world on a relatively obscure hill outside of Jerusalem because he claimed that he was the Savior of the world? What effect, if any, does this have on the lives of 21^st century, sophisticated (whatever that means), technologically advanced, post-Enlightenment Americans who are by far the wealthiest people ever to walk the planet? Assuming that his life and death were all that he claimed they were, how can this have any relevance for our lives today? Is his death just a static event that is good for everyone? Does something further have to happen for us to be included in its benefits? The answer to all of these questions is found in a two-word phrase that floods the New Testament, with over 85 occurrences, a phrase that makes all the difference in the world for you and me: “in Christ.” [Read more...]