The Gospel story unfolds as a series of contrasts and resolutions—“buts” and “therefores.” The “buts” remind us of the tension: our sin, God’s holiness, and the struggles of life in a broken world. Yet the story never ends there. Every “therefore” reveals God’s answer—His love in Christ, His saving power, His Spirit within us, and His promise of hope. In our humanity, we tend to stop at the “but,” getting caught up in what feels broken or impossible.
But...the Gospel always carries us forward to the “therefore”—God’s good and glorious purposes fulfilled in Christ.
As you read through the Gospel story below, told through the very words of Scripture, reflect on the greatness of God’s plan—from the depths of our brokenness to the heights of His eternal hope.
But...the Gospel always carries us forward to the “therefore”—God’s good and glorious purposes fulfilled in Christ.
As you read through the Gospel story below, told through the very words of Scripture, reflect on the greatness of God’s plan—from the depths of our brokenness to the heights of His eternal hope.
God created and designed everything good and perfect and made mankind in His image with a purpose to worship and walk with Him. [Genesis 1:31]
BUT
Man chose against God’s good design for what was “good in His own eyes.” [Genesis 3:6] “They traded the truth about God for a lie.” So, “they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!” [Romans 1:25]
THEREFORE
Everyone has sin and is separated from God by our sinful thoughts and actions. [Romans 3:23]
The effects of sin are all around us—brokenness, disease, sickness, pain and suffering, death and loss—loss of harmony between man and God, each other, creation, and within man himself.
BUT
“God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil; He cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” [Habakkuk 1:13]
THEREFORE
“God showed His great love for us by sending His son, Jesus, to die for us while we were still sinners.” [Romans 5:8] “God made Jesus who had never sinned (knew no sin), to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” [2 Corinthians 5:21]
“It is our weaknesses Jesus carried; it was our sorrow that weighed Him down. He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be made whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Jesus the sins of us all.” [Isaiah 53:4-7]
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.” [1 Peter 3:18a]
BUT
“Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day.” [1 Corinthians 15:3-4] “He was raised to life in the Spirit.” [1 Peter 3:18]
THEREFORE
“Christ has now gone to Heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept His authority.” [1 Peter 3:22]
By this God made peace with everything in Heaven and on earth this includes you. Because of Jesus you are no longer far away from God. You are no longer His enemy, separated from Him by your sinful thoughts and actions. The death of Jesus brought you into right standing into God’s own presence, and God only sees you as holy and blameless as you stand before Him with not a single fault” [Colossians 1:20-22]
BUT
“If any of you wants to be Jesus’ follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross and follow Him. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for His sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” [Matthew 16:24, 26]
THEREFORE
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” [Romans 10:9]
“You are made right with God by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.” [Romans 3:22]
BUT
No one can ever be made right with God by things they do. It’s only through God’s unfailing love and faithfulness that
came through Jesus Christ. [Romans 3:20]
THEREFORE
“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”
[2 Corinthians 5:17]
“To all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. You are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from a human plan, but a birth that comes from God.” [John 1:12-13]
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.” [Romans 8:11]
BUT
Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33]
The Lord is always with you. Because He is at your side, you don’t need to be shaken. [Psalm 16:8]
THEREFORE
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” [Romans 15:13]
Jesus promises, “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” [John 14:2–3]
BUT
Man chose against God’s good design for what was “good in His own eyes.” [Genesis 3:6] “They traded the truth about God for a lie.” So, “they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise!” [Romans 1:25]
THEREFORE
Everyone has sin and is separated from God by our sinful thoughts and actions. [Romans 3:23]
The effects of sin are all around us—brokenness, disease, sickness, pain and suffering, death and loss—loss of harmony between man and God, each other, creation, and within man himself.
BUT
“God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil; He cannot tolerate wrongdoing.” [Habakkuk 1:13]
THEREFORE
“God showed His great love for us by sending His son, Jesus, to die for us while we were still sinners.” [Romans 5:8] “God made Jesus who had never sinned (knew no sin), to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” [2 Corinthians 5:21]
“It is our weaknesses Jesus carried; it was our sorrow that weighed Him down. He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be made whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Jesus the sins of us all.” [Isaiah 53:4-7]
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.” [1 Peter 3:18a]
BUT
“Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day.” [1 Corinthians 15:3-4] “He was raised to life in the Spirit.” [1 Peter 3:18]
THEREFORE
“Christ has now gone to Heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept His authority.” [1 Peter 3:22]
By this God made peace with everything in Heaven and on earth this includes you. Because of Jesus you are no longer far away from God. You are no longer His enemy, separated from Him by your sinful thoughts and actions. The death of Jesus brought you into right standing into God’s own presence, and God only sees you as holy and blameless as you stand before Him with not a single fault” [Colossians 1:20-22]
BUT
“If any of you wants to be Jesus’ follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross and follow Him. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for His sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” [Matthew 16:24, 26]
THEREFORE
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” [Romans 10:9]
“You are made right with God by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.” [Romans 3:22]
BUT
No one can ever be made right with God by things they do. It’s only through God’s unfailing love and faithfulness that
came through Jesus Christ. [Romans 3:20]
THEREFORE
“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.”
[2 Corinthians 5:17]
“To all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. You are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from a human plan, but a birth that comes from God.” [John 1:12-13]
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.” [Romans 8:11]
BUT
Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33]
The Lord is always with you. Because He is at your side, you don’t need to be shaken. [Psalm 16:8]
THEREFORE
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” [Romans 15:13]
Jesus promises, “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” [John 14:2–3]