Presenting What 'Can't Possibly be True'

Ephesians 1:22-2:5

The Great Transition

DECONSTRUCTING DEFEATER BELIEFS: Leading the Secular to Christ

I understand Tim Keller on 'defeater beliefs' much better, I think, after looking at how Paul makes his presentation of 'But God …' in Ephesians 1:22-2:5. He spends much more time presenting man's natural state as being totally alienated from Christ's supremacy than he does presenting the supremacy of Christ itself but the presentation of supremacy is the first thing he does. Paul's initial presentation of Jesus Christ as one totally united with us who is both the utterly victorious conqueror and the ultimate perfect provider [Ephesians 1:22-23] is designed to appeal both to the one who feels his bondage and those who are tempted to fear that they are still alienated from God. If only it were possible that these things were true!

This is how we ought to live as well as how we ought to preach to postmodern humanity. We are presenting what man by nature will think to be too good to be true so we should do so succinctly, seductively and initially. There is more to come.