"God, to redeem us at the deepest portion of our nature - the urge to love and be loved - must reveal His nature in an incredible and impossible way. He must reveal it at a cross"
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E. Stanley Jones, a prominent 20th-century Methodist Christian missionary and theologian, explores extensive theological and existential styles in this quote. The essence of the declaration focuses on the depths of humanity and the need of magnificent discovery in redemption. To unload this, let's break down the crucial parts of the quote.
Firstly, Jones begins with the premise that one of the inmost aspects of humanity is the "urge to enjoy and be enjoyed". This speaks with the universal human experience and longing for connection, approval, and affection. Love, as explained here, is fundamental. It's linked with our identity and purpose, directing much of our actions and decisions.
For redemption to be significant and overall, it needs to reach this core characteristic of love, which Jones recommends needs a divine act. Redemption is not just about forgiveness but improvement and fulfillment of our inherent yearning for love. Subsequently, God's revelation must be effective and transformative sufficient to resonate with this ingrained desire.
Jones posits that for God to redeem mankind effectively, He should manifest His nature in an "extraordinary and difficult way". This immediacy and impossibility are caught in the image of the cross. The cross is traditionally and theologically substantial in Christianity, signifying both the depth of human sin and the degree of divine love. It's the ultimate paradox-- where defeat becomes success, and suffering changes into salvation.
At the cross, God's nature-- embodied in sacrifice and unconditional love-- is exposed in a way that transcends typical human understanding. The cross is not simply a sign of suffering but one of profound discovery. It's here that God demonstrates his desire to reach into the depths of human experience, using redemption and drawing mankind closer to Himself. Therefore, for Jones, the cross is the ultimate expression of divine love fulfilling the intrinsic human desire to love and be loved, making redemption both possible and deeply individual.
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