" To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins" (Lu

From childhood, through school, and on into the work place, the message is drummed into our heads: 'behave yourself,’ ‘get your act together,' 'get a life,’ ‘the ball's in your court,’ ‘pull yourself up by your boot straps.' The idea is thus imparted that 'salvation', if such a thing exists, is something you have to create for yourself; a personal achievement. The gospel is better than that. At its heart, there is mercy for personal shortcomings; forgiveness for failure to achieve.