1 QUOTE

“Sick people receive blessings on the basis of faith in their physician, obediently submitting to the prescribed health regimen.”

- Dan Fuller, The Unity of the Bible

1 NOTE

This week’s 1-1-1 is a follow-up to last week’s issue, ‘The Most Heretical Song in the History of the World.’ Big shout to many who sent feedback. My friend, Pastor Carl (the man who brought me perspective when the elderly woman was drowning at Silverado Park) shared about a conflict he had with a funeral director, “I remember refusing to let the funeral home play that song. I told the director, “That's the theme song of hell.” Carl is filled with the Spirit and bold for the Kingdom. I love it! I also laughed at the comment wondering Dan Fuller’s theological take on hip hop beef. I bet Dan would definitely be Team Kendrick. LOL.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a theological masterpiece. The poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge called Ephesians, “the most divine composition of man.” The Apostle Paul teaches that we were dead in our trespasses, but God made us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). What can a dead person do to become alive again? Once the line is flat and the machine no longer beeps, it is truly game over. But God is rich in mercy. A dead person can do nothing to impress God. But he makes dead people alive in his glorious Son! Grace is undeserved blessing. Grace is entirely unmerited. Ephesians teaches God gives eternal life based on no human merit, but simply because he wants to.

Dan Fuller had a close runner-up on his heresy playlist. No, it was not a banger that got the club jumping. The second most heretical song in the history of the world is ‘Something Good.’ This song is from the 1965 classic film ‘The Sound of Music.’ The song is a confession of love between Captain Von Trapp and Maria. Maria sings the song when it becomes clear that the Austrian captain has fallen in love with her. Her wildest dreams are becoming reality. So she sings…

For here you are, standing there, loving me

Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood

I must have done something good

I believe Dan Fuller to be the greatest theologian of the last one hundred years. Dan emphasized over and over again that grace is unmerited. To believe we have done something good in our past to warrant God’s favor is blasphemy. To believe we did something in our childhood to merit his fellowship and forgiveness is an assault on his glory. Jesus is the Great Physician. Sinners are dead in their sin. What other doctor brings people back from death? Jesus did not come to make good people better. Jesus came to make dead people alive. Grace upon grace.

1 QUESTION

In what area of your life are you tempted to sing ‘Something Good?

Until Next Tuesday,

John