Church Quote by John Shelby Spong
“The church had to find a way to protect Jesus' perfection so that he could do the work of salvation which, in their frame of reference, only God could do, because God had to come into this world from outside this world to rescue the fallen creation.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Testament and the People of God, 1995
Christ’s perfection is protected so he can fulfill salvation, a role only God could perform, entering a fallen world.
In simple terms: Jesus’ perfection is preserved for his divine mission.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the theological purpose of Christ’s incarnation.
Themes
theology
salvation
incarnation
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
theological
explanatory
When to use this quote
- faith teaching
- interfaith dialogue
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
divine nature
human redemption
Questions to Reflect On
- What does protecting perfection mean for believers?
- How does this view affect modern faith?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations of divine intervention vary.
![“[All the ancient wisdom] tells us that work is necessary to us, as much a part of our condition as mortality; that good work is our salvation and our joy; that shoddy or dishonest or self-serving work is our curse and our doom. We have tried to escape the sweat and sorrow promised in Genesis…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c1/wendell-berry-236_america_all-the-ancient-wisdom-tells-us-that-wor_1212112.jpg)
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
