Today's episode is a continuation of George MacDonald's Salvation from Sin...

One of the things that seems to enjoy widespread acceptance among Christians is the idea that Jesus came to save people from sin, from the wrongness that is so much a part of the human race. What is not always agreed on is some of the key details in such a grand undertaking.

In the previous episode, I read the first half of the Introduction to Michael Phillips’ thought provoking book, Bold Thinking Christianity. Today’s episode is the second half of that Introduction in which Michael shares a clear distinction between his effort and that of C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.

As I made clear in my introductory episode to FatherBound, thinking is the hard work vital to both individuals and society as a whole—especially when it comes to God. I want to expand on this by taking a detour for the next episode or two. A detour that I hope will explain what I mean and elevate the importance of each of us taking on the hard work of really thinking through things.

In the last episode I spoke of Jesus being God’s Son, coming into human history because it was what his Father wanted and for the purpose of showing us what his Father was truly like: to reveal to us God’s identity in the most vivid manner. I also acknowledged that Jesus’ mission had great breadth of detail. For in revealing his Father’s heart to us we catch breathtaking glimpses of what God had in mind when he created humanity in his own image. But before we go on with our exploration of the scope of Jesus’ mission perhaps we ought to pause a moment and reflect on some of the words Jesus used to describe himself.

Just as important as it is to think through what makes up the good news of the gospel is the need to arrive at an answer as to who Jesus is and why he came. The question calls for thinking beyond any cliches we may have either heard or adopted without adequate evaluation. We need to get a firm handle on both what the good news is and the identity and motivation of the One proclaiming and embodying it to gain the needed appreciation for the expansive nature of God's Fatherhood.

It's hard to underscore the need to get a handle on just what makes up "the good news" that Jesus came to deliver to mankind, the core of his message. The conclusion each of us reaches has practical impact.

It is my belief that God is the Father of us all. And it is my earnest hope that each of us is on a journey back to where we began: the very heart of God. I am convinced we are, each one of us, Father bound.