History has brought us to the point where the Christian message is is thought to be
essentially concerned only with how to deal with sin: with wrong-doing or wrong-being and its effects. Life, our actual existence, is not included in what is now presented as the heart of the Christian message, or it is included only marginally. -- Dallas Willard, 'The Divine Conspiracy'
The Gospel is not primarily about rescue from sin. It is a rescue from death:
- Rescued from deadness of heart [spirit/will],
- Rescued from deadness of disconnection,
- Rescued from deadness of disorientation,
- Rescued from deadly and demeaning desires that are less than us.
The Gospel is about a life-giving-life:
- A life-giving heart,
- A life-giving connection with God and others,
- A life-giving re-orientation around the Incarnate Life himself
- A new set of life-giving desires.
Jesus' primary offer is not forgiveness of sins [although he does forgive our sins]. Rather, his offer is a great restoration: returning to us the things that Death has stolen from us.