Good food, good friends, and good discussion were on the menu at 10 George Street tonight. Much chat about the gospel, how we present, do we present it the whole gospel in a fair balance. Here’s a brilliant quote from Marcus H that I found as I was pondering it all – kinda spun our discussion the other way round for me…

“The real shock is not that God punishes, but that he provides any way out at all. The unfairness is not that he doesn’t rescue everyone, regardless of their deeds, but that he rescues anyone, in spite of our rebellion… Postmodernism has turned the offense of the gospel upside down. It says that Christians are offensive in proclaiming only one way of salvation. The reality of the situation is that we should be offended that there is any way of salvation. We should be offended by the cross, offended by our sin and guilt, and then immensely grateful, from the depths of our souls, for such a great and magnificent Saviour” (Marcus Honeysett, Meltdown p191)

Also, some words from the big J himself…

“…whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believe in the name of God’s one and
only Son…. whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but
whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath
remains on him” (John 3v18, 36).

What an exciting promise from Daniel 7.18 – it’s been really exciting to get stuck into the first seven chapters of Daniel this term. As the series drew to a close last night it’s incredible to look back on so much fulfilled prophecy, and looking forward to it’s total fulfilling when the Lord Jesus returns!

It’s been sad to say, or avoid saying, ‘goodbye’ to so many leavers this week – the old classic ‘See you in Heaven if not before’ couldn’t be more true, and it certainly helps to cement the fact that we are a people who have a hope. One day we shall share in the kingdom of the Most High – ‘the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High’ (7.27).

I was reading an article about a burglary at Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek’s house, and how so much of his medals, football shirts, and other memorabilia had been stolen. A Liverpool FC spokesperson made some remark about it being the “memorabilia of someone’s career and also a lifetime”. But the reality is that nothing on this old earth can match the treasure of being in Jesus, of possessing the new heaven and earth. No CD collection, no hoard of KCB’s (keen Christian books), no nothing!

“I’ve thrown it all away, that I may gain a life in you. I’ve found all else is loss, compared to the joys of knowing you. Your beauty and your majesty are far beyond compare, you’ve won my heart, now this will be my prayer: Take the world but give me Jesus – you’re the treasure in this life. Now I’ve seen you as the Saviour, I will leave the rest behind…”

Matt Redman, with a little help from Fanny Crosby and Paul and Mark and Jesus.