December 7, 2022

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

If you ever hear someone say that the primary reason Jesus came was to show us how to love each other, then you know you have heard something that is at least heresy adjacent.  Or maybe a heresy sandwich, because that claim abuts two legit heresies.

The first is Gnosticism, which tells us that special knowledge will save us. In this case, if we just study how Jesus lived and what He taught, then we will have the key to being one big happy human family. And the second is Pelagianism, which assumes that humans are always improving and progressively capable of using that Gnostic key.  (See Dave Zahl’s Low Anthropology for more on that topic.)

The reason God sent His Son to be born in a manger(hello, it’s Christmastime) is to die for our sins and be raised for our justification and eternal life.  Don’t settle for anything less.

“Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.” (Third Sunday of Advent – BCP)