This new fifth question provides the "Final Act" to the story, transforming our current efforts from a temporary struggle into a journey toward a definitive home. If the Gospel story begins with our Creation  and moves through the tragedy of our Capture  to our climactic Rescue  and our free Response , the ultimate question remains: Where is all this heading?  The answer is found in the word Raised . The story of the Bible does not end with us escaping the world; it ends with God returning to...

If someone saves your life, what is the appropriate response?  Suppose you are about to be run over by an oncoming car and at the last moment a bystander pushes you out of the way and absorbs the blow. Severely injured and paralyzed, how would you thank that man or woman for saving your life? If you went to their hospital room, said thanks, and gave the person a $20 bill, wouldn’t that be so inadequate? Wouldn’t your $20 bill be more ingratitude than gratitude? Similarly, what if you came...

What, if anything, has God done about it? (Rescued) Has God intervened in our hopeless predicament? Yes! He didn't merely observe from heaven. He, the King of Creation, willingly abandoned His throne, descending into the battle like a front-line soldier to personally rescue us from capture and secure our freedom. This was foretold by the prophet Isaiah: Can prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? Surely, thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall...