Gospel Theology

Without the gospel, our self-image is based on living up to some standards — either our own or someone else’s imposed on us

Loving God supremely is the only way to truly love anything else and become your true self, to become truly free (2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15)

In the same way, if God created us and we owe him everything and we do not live for him but we “live a good life,” it is not enough. We all owe a debt that must be paid

yet because theological vision is largely invisible, people inevitably (and unfortunately) conclude that the differences are doctrinal

Therefore, if you think of your doctrinal foundation as “hardware” and of ministry programs as “software,” it is important to understand the existence of something called “middleware

But its overemphasis on technique and results can put too much pressure on ministers because it underemphasizes the importance of godly character and the sovereignty of God

“fruit” when he desired to preach in Rome: “that I might have some fruit among you

simul justus et peccator, both perfect and sinner

We don’t have to push or coerce them, for it is only God’s grace that opens hearts, not our eloquence or persistence or even their openness

We are hopeful about everyone, even the “hard cases,” because we were saved only because of grace, not because we were people likely to become Christians