Mercy, the atoning sacrifice, and the prodigal son
Continuing the grace discussion, a host connects the Beatitudes' 'be merciful' to how God looks at the repentant: like a wronged person whose only impulse is to relieve the offender's anguish. Romans 3:25-26 is read — God presented Christ as an atoning sacrifice 'to demonstrate his righteousness' — and the prodigal son is invoked: the father offers the ring, robe, and fattened calf, not the pig pen. Appropriate grief, they say, is like the tomb: it makes sense until Jesus walks out, and then mourning is done — freedom should be walked in so it can be shown to others, not just described from a 'mud pit.'
More on Beatitudes
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Critique 2: 'The ad didn't mention repentance'
The hosts grant repentance is a top-five gospel element but argue a thirty-second ad cannot carry all sixty-six books: none of the Beatitudes mention repentance, and repentance in…
From No. 521 · He Gets Us…Again
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'God is good' vs 'street real' — Timothy's circumcision
The room sharpens the point: what matters more, that people know God is good or that you are 'dope real'?
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"What is Jesus saying" — Matthew 5:11
- Is persecution a base-level expectation for all followers of Jesus?
- What does persecution look like in modern life?
Dave Herrick leads the recurring segment, reading Matthew 5:11 ("Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my…
From No. 216 · Do Dogs Go to Heaven?
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Opening gripe: 'you will be blessed' marketing
A host bristles at people promising 'you will be blessed' when selling something, prompted by a Facebook commenter pitching his book about children who die.
From No. 218 · Take Up Your Cross Daily