Jesus tangles with the beliefs of the most scrupulous scripture readers, the Pharisees. He argues that Scripture is divine testimony but that it is still possible to believe this testimony as true and be as deaf to what God is saying as if you had no faith at all. The purpose of the entire Bible is to point us to Jesus. Each story is not an end in itself but the means to illuminate the Son.

Jesus not only saves us from our sins, he weaves us into a new human community. That community is characterized by a reversal of values. When we realize that we are both sinners and saved by grace, we will have freedom from the values that previously defined us, and yet a regard and love for those who don't share our values.

Why do we sin — even when we know right from wrong? Sin is a power that enslaves us, but we can be freed from its power by encountering God through worship.

The definition of a Christian is an honored failure, a justified sinner, both righteous and fallen. Righteousness is not something we gain by working for it; we receive it because Jesus died on the cross. Only when we see that we are still sinners, but sinners who are justified by Him, can we understand and experience the dynamite love of Christ.