I saw this video today that shares the gospel. The structure is 3.2.1. And the first part starts with 3: the trinity. It struck me because that is not how we often hear a gospel presentation start because it seems like this complex theological truth for after you get the Jesus part. But it is profoundly important and critical to any understanding of the gospel. If the trinity is compromised, the gospel is compromised because we have a wrong understanding of who God is and how we can be in relationship with him. Also, the reality of the trinity is an incredible apologetic for the love displayed in the gospel. God has always been a God of love before he ever created the world, meaning he did not create it for something to love but out of his own self-existent love he created it. This means that God is merciful from the start and does not owe us anything, rather we owe him all worship and glory and relationship. It is a great video and I encourage you to check it out and watch it with a friend who doesn't know Jesus (and talk to them, not just post it to their facebook).

A great video to contemplate the amazing grace of God in Christ Jesus!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to preach at our church, New Life Presbyterian. It was a great blessing and the Lord used it greatly in my own heart. I looked at what the unashamed Gospel life looks like from Romans 1:16-17. It is the life that is lived in unshakeable confidence in the righteousness of Jesus for salvation. So, I looked at how the gospel reveals Christ's righteousness and saves us past, present and future. We are saved by Jesus' righteousness as we are credited with it, conformed to it, and confirmed in it.
I will attach the link to the sermon if you are interested in listening to it, but if you just want to get the point of it, here are my concluding points at what the unashamed Gospel life looks like.
The Unashamed Gospel Life...

1. refuses to establish a righteousness of its own, but leans on the credited righteousness of Jesus.


2. is honest about sin.


3. relentlessly pursues gospel holiness.


4. sets its hope in the life to come.


5. unashamedly proclaims Christ Jesus.


6. always remembers the cost of the righteousness of God that has been so freely given.

The Unashamed Gospel Life

-In Christ alone,

Josh

Happy Baby and Happy Mommy!




Finnigan Jason: 7 lbs. 1 oz. 19.5" born at 11:53 pm on Friday July 13th (don't worry, we are not superstitious, in fact we are anti-stitious).




Tyko got to meet his new baby brother!




Finnigan Jason with his middle namesake Jason (we love them both so much)!




Tyko sleeping with his new Woody doll that he got from Finn (such a good little brother)!




Super sweet and cute!


Today, one of our best friend's and Finnigan's middle namesake Jason preached from Col. 1, one of my favorite passages. We obviously were not able to make the message, but I got an advanced look at the manuscript and I pondered the text a little and the birth of our second son. The Lord says through the Apostle Paul, speaking about Jesus:
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Finnigan was created by God (through us of course) but by Him and most importantly for Him! So many voices will tell him that he was made for us, or for someone else, or most likely for himself, meaning he gets to be and do whatever he wants. But God's word corrects that and shows us that he was created for Him and His glory! And this is our prayer for little Finn. That he would gaze for all eternity at the beauty and majesty of God the Father through Jesus the Son by the Holy Spirit! That he would know deeply the love of God in Christ Jesus, repent of his sins, and trust in the finished work of Christ on his behalf and spend the fullness of time in a constant joy of the glory and majesty of God and his character. That he would use all of his life to reflect the glory of God through his creativity, work, marriage God-willing, play, fun, and joy. And that the world would look at his life and not primarily say "aww, he's cute" or "he's so great" or "he's such a tall athlete" (probably not- dad's dreams) but that they would say those, but primarily people will look at the fullness of Finnigan's life and say "Jesus is wonderful!" Would you all pray with us that God would grant this by his sovereign grace and mercy?

-In Christ alone,
Josh

Here is a great article with 10 things that supporting Cru this year has accomplished in the world! Thanks so much for all you do in supporting God's work in the world.

10 Things Your Support of Cru has Accomplished This Year