Preface:  My simple goal here is our greater joy in Jesus, even in our complex struggles intellectually, emotionally, relationally, physically, etc.  So, I will be bringing you specific details of the Gospel (good news) in 8 “P”s via these articles and a buffet of videos each week.  Chew and savor whatever most helps your joy in Jesus.  “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1) 

You might wonder, “why is this intro in four parts with multiple videos?!”  Because we’re looking at the meaning of Life.  And if you are to have real confidence and joy that the 8 “P”s of the Gospel (good news) is truly what the Bible say from cover-to-cover, you need to see it for yourself.  That’s also why the last article included separate and unique video intros.  Some may resonate with you more clearly.

And you may remember that last time we looked at the 8 “P”s as a paradigm of Life: a lens through which we see the world.  I’m not saying we should create an understanding of reality like putting on rose-colored glasses.  I’m proposing the 8 “P”s as the reality of Life.  Thus, viewing life through that paradigm is like putting on the right prescription lenses to bring reality into focus.  Yes, that’s bold.  So we’re taking our time for details, clarity, practicality, and to center on Jesus throughout the process.

Why Jesus?  Good question.  Jesus is the key to Life’s paradigm.  Understanding Him and His work is crucial to seeing how the pieces fit.  Do you remember the last article’s reference to paradigms of a basketball court, musical score, and highway?  People may have different reasons for playing ball, playing in a band, or driving down a road:  enjoying comradery, trying to be superior, killing time until another better event, appeasing someone who’s pushed them to be there, etc.  And all of those may be mostly okay with other participants and everyone watching the game, concert, or road trip.  As long as they play by the rules, enjoy themselves, and no one gets hurt, why they’re there is up to the individual and is no one else’ business, right?  Maybe.  But God is over all of Life.  That’s different.

Yes, God is concerned with how people live just as the Commissioner of the NBA, the composer of a song, or designer of a highway is concerned with how the people live their paradigms.  But God is much more than one who designed the model a long time ago.  He’s more than one who watches the participants now.  He’s even more than the judge to whom we will one day report.  He is completely glorious because He’s perfect in every way.  A quid pro quo relationship is impossible.  “For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever!  Amen!” (Romans 11:36)

So where’s the joy in that?  God’s design is for our relationship with Him as our Father (Matthew 6:9, John 16:27, Hebrews 12:7, etc.), through resting in the perfect work of His Son (John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 2:13-15, etc.), and living by the power of His Holy Spirit (John 6:63, 2 Corinthians 3:6, Galatians 5:16-25, etc.).

Watch these brief videos starting with the one at the top and consider the following.

• God’s Son, the second Person of the Trinity, has always been God’s key to Life.
• Jesus as “Christ” refers to 3 offices He fulfills for our Life in Him now and forever.

You can see other articles and the embedded videos in this series here.

If you’d like to know more about who publishes the articles, videos, and other materials on tools4trenches, you can click on the picture of me and my wife.