I don't understand why ESPN is suffering revenue loss. I honestly thought American dads wanted to watch WWE and bald chicks getting political instead of baseball, football, and men's basketball. Make it make sense!
Religion: “Don’t let your father find out.”
Gospel: “Run to your Father.”
Religion: “Hide your sin.”
Gospel: “Confess your sin.”
Religion: “Perform better so God will love you.”
Gospel: “God loved you while you were still a sinner.”
Religion: “You failed. Try harder.”
Gospel: “You failed. Trust Christ.”
Religion: “Earn God’s approval.”
Gospel: “Receive God’s grace.”
Religion: “Your mistakes define you.”
Gospel: “Christ defines you.”
Religion: “Fix yourself, then come to God.”
Gospel: “Come to God, and He’ll begin changing you.”
Religion: “God is waiting to punish you.”
Gospel: “God is waiting for you to come home.”
Religion: “Your worst day disqualifies you.”
Gospel: “Jesus qualified you by His finished work.”
Religion: “Fear keeps you in line.”
Gospel: “Love transforms your heart.”
Religion: “God is your judge first.”
Gospel: “In Christ, God is your Father.”
Religion: “You have to clean yourself up.”
Gospel: “Jesus is the One who cleanses you.”
Religion: “I’ve gone too far.”
Gospel: “His grace goes further.”
Religion: “I hope God accepts me.”
Gospel: “In Christ, I am accepted.”
Religion: “I need to impress God.”
Gospel: “Jesus already pleased the Father on my behalf.”
This image confronts us with two of the greatest scandals of Christianity.
The first scandal is that none of us are good enough for heaven.
Most people compare themselves to serial killers, dictators, rapists, and criminals and conclude, "At least I'm not that bad." But God does not compare us to Jeffrey Dahmer. He compares us to His own perfect holiness. Scripture says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The proud businessman, the moral neighbor, the avid atheist, the faithful churchgoer, and the murderer all stand guilty before a holy God apart from Christ.
The second scandal is that God saves anyone at all.
The real question is not, "How could God save someone like Dahmer if he truly repented and believed?" The real question is, "How could God save any of us?" Every person deserves judgment. Every person deserves separation from God. Salvation is never owed. It is never earned. It is pure grace from beginning to end.
That is what makes the gospel so offensive to human pride. It tells the worst sinner that he can be forgiven through Christ, and it tells the best-looking sinner that he cannot save himself.
The cross levels everyone. We are all condemned in Adam, and the only hope for any of us is Jesus Christ.