God, through Jesus Christ, welcomes you anyhow
What's the gospel in seven words? We asked theologians, pastors and others both to answer this question and to
expand on this in a few sentences. To see all the responses together as they're posted, bookmark this page. Add your own version here. --Ed.
God, through
Jesus Christ, welcomes you anyhow.
The gospel begins
and ends with God. Jesus makes God's action good news. But the word
"Jesus" alone doesn't help me; such Jesus is a nice guy, but I need
Jesus Christ, God's anointed. God
welcomes (or "accepts," etc.) you.
According to Luther, the words "for you" are the most important in
the sacraments (and preaching). "Anyhow"--fill in sin, guilt, pride, the
misfires of "spirituality"--implies that you weren't welcome without this
transaction, and that you bring nothing to it.