1. 1

2. Introduction
We have all heard the standard Sunday school explanation of the Gospel.
1. People were so wicked that God could have nothing to do with them.
2. God was holy and he hated sin so much that he had to punish the sinner.
3. Instead of punishing us for what we deserve, he decided to punish his own son
instead.
4. Once Jesus "took the rap" God could forgive us,
5. Believe that and the problem is solved: the gulf between me and God now had a
bridge.
My divorce
Not much.
a God who would kill his own son?
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3. For 25 years professional life,
addiction issues,
abused children,
battered wives,
shattered men.
lost their marriages children.
Victims lost property, health dignity.
no idea how to apply the Gospel
tangled web of evil forces: controlled by outside forces.
ask pastors for advice. –uncomfortable--“I don’t know how you can do that work.”
pity.
people who had it all together?
I thought Jesus came to save the lost! --The sick who needed a physician.
25 years in the CJS, shortcomings
punishing people makes worse!
GOD was Just and merciful, why punish?
Restorative Justice, power of forgiveness change lives
CJS is too awkward and clumsy
effective in serious cases like murder.
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4. Then I discovered that
B.C.'s attorney-general $102.8-million since April 2001
Robert Picton, the Port Coquitlam farmer, pictured, behind bars.
Picton admitted 49 murders
An additional 20 murder charges stayed.
Additional RCMP services, which is about $30-million.
Taxpayers ¾ million Picton in jail.
Something is seriously wrong with what we call justice in Canada.
magistrates governed the Church as representatives of Divinely appointed kings.
Prespect for the Law Courts
But today, disillusioned with Justice
There has to be a better way.
forgive people seventy times seven
I have to turn the other cheek when they slap me around,
then why does there have to be torture and murder before God can forgive me?
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5. Prodigal son was
the Father rejoices at the return of wayward sinners,
Desn’t seem to fit
why didn’t the old man sacrifice the grumpy older brother?
I searched for answers and rediscovered an old way of understanding the gospel
My conclusions may sound novel to you, but believe me:
1. They are taken directly from the Bible
2. I began to learn a this original understanding of the gospel from a Professor at the
Mennonite Brethren Biblical Sem
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6. 3. Early Church fathers understood the Gospel. For the first 1000 years of Christianity,
this is what all Christians believed and what many Christians still believe, so it is
nothing new.
1000s Martyrs Were they totally wrong?
4. It is going back to the ROOTS of the Early church
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7. The Listener's Question
If God is a God of love, why would he arrange to have his own son murdered?
Why does he have to punish?
take responsibility for my actions,
forced and tricked bad choices.
I am an unmarried single parent and I am a divorced parent.
Is that a bad sin? I
s that so bad that God had to allow his son to be tortured and crucified so I could be
forgiven?
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8. 1. The WORD is Jesus and Jesus is GOD.
It was NOT GOD who killed his son.
It was GOD HIMSELF on the cross.
GOD did not kill himself,
Evil, wicked humans killed Jesus Christ, GOD Almighty.
So why did Jesus say when he died:
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so
far from the words of my groaning?
David’s Psalm 22
READ THE REST OF THE CHAPTER.
NOT take the verse out of context.
The Jews knew their scriptures so well that I am SURE they understood he was
starting to quote PSALM 22.
LET’s read the whole chapter together:
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9. 1-2God, God...my God! Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.
3-5
And you! Are you indifferent, above it all,
leaning back on the cushions of Israel's praise?
We know you were there for our parents:
they cried for your help and you gave it;
they trusted and lived a good life.
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10. 6-8 Andhere I am, a nothing—an earthworm,
something to step on, to squash.
Everyone pokes fun at me;
they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
"Let's see how God handles this one;
since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
9-11And to think you were midwife at my birth,
setting me at my mother's breasts!
When I left the womb you cradled me;
since the moment of birth you've been my God.
Then you moved far away
and trouble moved in next door.
I need a neighbor.
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11. 12-13 Herdsof bulls come at me,
the raging bulls stampede,
Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,
like a herd of buffalo on the move.
14-15 I'ma bucket kicked over and spilled,
every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob
of melted wax in my gut.
I'm dry as a bone,
my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial
in the dirt.
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12. 16-18 Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
and lock me in a cage—a bag
Of bones in a cage, stared at
by every passerby.
They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,
and then throw dice for my clothes.
19-21 You, GOD—don't put off my rescue!
Hurry and help me!
Don't let them cut my throat;
don't let those mongrels devour me.
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13. If you don't show up soon,
I'm done for—gored by the bulls, meat for the lions.
22-24 Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it
with Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
give glory, you sons of Jacob;
adore him, you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
he has been right there, listening.
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14. 25-26 Here in this great gathering for worship
I have discovered this praise-life.
And I'll do what I promised right here
in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at GOD's table
and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him.
"Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!"
27-28 From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to GOD.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
GOD has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.
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15. 29All the power-mongers are before him
—worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
—worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
—worshiping!
30-31 Ourchildren and their children
will get in on this
As the word is passed along
from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived
will hear the good news—
that God does what he says.
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16. 2. Jesus was there in the beginning of time
Jesus is both DIVINE and human.
there in the beginning in two ways:
GOD ALMIGHTY,
"Seed of David"
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of
David according to the flesh;
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17. 3. Jesus was with GOD
No contrary purposes here between GOD and Jesus.
Jesus united GOD when the world began:
Creator.
Jesus was still with GOD
he died
rose again.
John 1:1-4 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All
things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not
even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the
Light of men. (Amplified Bible)
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18. 4. Humans did not recognize that Jesus was GOD
not recognize
didn’t want him to be GOD,
so uncomfortable.
John 1:10 He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the
world did not recognize Him [did not know Him].
11He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own--His domain, creation, things,
world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.
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19. Answer to the Listener's Question
NOT abandon his SON on the cross.
HE was on the Cross
Proof HE was experiencing what we all feel
hard times ---abandoned by friends --- troubled by enemies.
GOD fully identified
squished out a very tight birth canal bones bent out of shape..
fear of child abuse? kill them and their family?
Herod -- wise men --- soldiers Bethlehem murder innocent babies.
flee to Egypt for safety. YOU? Criticize?.
GOD incarnate – weariness – hunger -- loneliness --faithless friends.
…DEATH Everyone experience death. Not looking looking forward
family or friends approach death. Not experience No idea
BUT GOD did. ALL of human life
final chapter writing
celebration ceremony all planned.
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20. Application of Insights Gained
Abandoned -- spouse or lover
Challenge -- a single parent, -- weekend parent, -- devastating.
gossiped -- Christians: David Psalm 22.
"Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads: "Let’s see how God
handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
Have you ever felt that way?
GOD did!
GOD abandoned friends, -- tortured by his enemies.
GOD understands: He said on the cross: I’ve been there, done that.
We --had it rough – no one understands victims.
Gut GOD went all the way:
give me your best shot, your hardest blow: I can take it
Crucifixion – cruelest But GOD endured --didn’t stop -- triumphed -- came back.
Fixed death: destroyed forever – captain -- winning team.
big party celebrate.
Read to the end of the chapter! Verse 27-28:
From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-
lost families are falling on their faces before him. God has taken charge; from now on he has the last
word. (Msg)
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21. 27-28 From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to GOD.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
GOD has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.
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22. Conclusion
Many Christians are rediscovering the original way of looking at Gospel.
God the Father in a different light.
a diamond under a different angle of light. --dazzled by new images of beauty.
Instead of angry and punishment , -- Loving father prodigal son.
Ultimate victim – human cruelty.
excruciating pain and the dizziness of loss of blood. to your pain.
He understand you — He identifies with you.
GOD has abandoned us? He understands
Friends have deserted us. Jesus was deserted too.
Some times we feel like dying, not sure what happens afterward.
By taking the worst GOD destroyed power of death forever.
He rose again and that resurrection power is now available to you. Because of Jesus, you too
will conquer death and live forever.
GOD never abandoned his SON and he won’t abandon you.
So why delay? Turn to him now.
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23. Psalm 22 declares: When people really begin to grasp how faithful and dependable
God is , they will turn to Him.
No place theme of punishment by GOD.
Jesus was innocent:
It was just senseless cruelty.
self righteous Jews and the power hungry Romans who killed GOD’s own son.
If anyone is still holding a "smoking gun" at Calvary it is me, not God.
I am so like Jews and Romans.
GOD wants you to be at the victory celebration at the end of time:
"He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked
around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there,
listening to you."
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