25 Words or Less

Over at Ask the Priest where I am an occasional contributor, a reader sent in a challenging proposal. We were sent the following request:

Being an old man but a relatively new member of the Episcopal Church I would like to challenge the blog to answer this question in 25 words or less: Assuming that Christ died for our sins, past, present and future, why are we still guilty when we sin today and still face the loss of salvation?

Here were our three responses:

The site's creator and host, the Very Rev. David Simmons (the priest at St. John's Episcopal Church, Murray, KY and the Episcopal Chaplain at Murray State University) answered:

Loss of salvation" is not the issue, but "right relationship." Who is saved is God's perogative, right relationship is something we can effect. (23 words)

The Rev. Shannon Ferguson Kelly, chaplain at the University of Wisconsin wrote

Sin is anything that takes us away from God, therefore, we feel guilt & loss of salvation because we strain our relationship with God. (24 words)

And I said,

The Atonement Jesus offers is made real both in our hearts and in the coming Kingdom, when we by faith accept Jesus' sacrifice for us. (25 words)

It was a valiant effort, but somehow I feel that all our 25 words or less responses fell short of the glory of God. Perhaps because the topic can't be done justice in 25 words. But more likely because preachers are long winded.

What do y'all think (in 25 words or less)?

peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor

Here's a 21-word answer in cartoon form from www.cartoonstock.com: