What I Believe

With all the ding-a-ling controversy; in case anyone cares, here is a summation of what I believe is the gospel. A couple years ago Thabiti Anyabwile wrote a great book, and this is directly from the book, as it sums up, with clarity, my conviction:

"The gospel, or good news of Jesus Christ, is that God the Father, who is holy and righteous in all His ways, is angry with sinners and will punish sin.

"Man, who disobeys the rule of God, is alienated from the love of God and is in danger of an eternal and agonizing condemnation at the hands of God.

"But God, who is also rich in mercy, because of His great love, sent His eternal Son, born by the Virgin Mary, to die as a ransom and a substitute for the sins of rebellious people.

"And now, through the perfect obedience of the Son of God and His willing death on the cross as payment for our sins, all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ, following Him as Savior and Lord, will be saved from the wrath of God to come, be declared just in His sight, have eternal life, and receive the Spirit of God as a foretaste of the glories of heaven with God Himself." (emphasis added)

I understand that belief, in the words of the President of Fuller Seminary, labels me "misguided and toxic," but there I stand.