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.

We live by grace.

By grace we're created in
the image of God. When we corrupt our lives with sin, the grace of God in Jesus
Christ forgives us and makes us fully alive again. By grace the Holy Spirit
binds us to this savior, includes us in the church, moves our chaos over to
create beauty, and interrupts our plans with God's dream that we too become
gracious.  Along the way the holy image re-emerges in our lives.

M. Craig Barnes

M. Craig Barnes is president of Princeton Theological Seminary and author of The Pastor as Minor Poet.

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