Your entire approach to God and your faith will depend on whether you primarily see the Bible as the story of a judge and courtroom (the legal gospel) or the story of a dad and His family (The Gospel of the Kingdom).

In the former it’s about a race of people separated from their God because of a crime (sin) that requires retribution. God wants to love them but cannot because of their sin. So He sends His son to suffer the punishment He would have had to inflict on the people. It’s a story of separation and brutality.

In the latter it’s about a race of people who have lost their way and become infected with a disease. They have believed a lie about who they are. They have come to hate the one who loves them. So God sends His son so they can pour out their wrath on Him. In this way He demonstrates His love towards man in that even though they killed God’s Son, he does not retaliate, but rather reaches out and includes and loves them. Not only includes them all but becomes one with them. He reconciled man to Himself. It’s a story of love and restoration.

The Legal Gospel is the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the Tree of life.

Choose you this day.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15