Chapter 8: Risen and Remaining

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Written By Ryan Wassell
“What do you really believe about God, about purpose, and about hope, and what do you believe about how our bodies fit into your perspective on these things” (101)? Far too often, we (Christians) only think about how suffering and trouble affects us spiritually. For example, we wrestle with losing trust in Christ. We experience the coldness of love both for the church and for the Savior. These are real struggles, but spiritual struggles are not our only struggles.
“Yes, pain is real, but it is not the only reality.” 
The curse of sin has found a way to torment the body and soul. Nothing in this world of modern medicine has been able to or will be able to make us whole. That work is reserved for Christ and Christ alone. Which is why true Christian hope is not based merely on the immortality of the soul but on the promised bodily resurrection. Yes, one day Nyla will walk. She will sing and rejoice! She will stand with each one of us in the great heavenly court and feast, work, play, and delight in her God. “Jesus is not merely interested in saving some part of a person but saving the whole person, and saving them completely” (113). Yes, pain is real, but it is not the only reality. “The resurrection is a great comfort to us when we feel like our bodies betray us, when the aches never leave, and when mourning threatens to overwhelm our souls” (117).
Ryan Wassell

"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. 4:5).

A native of Vacaville, California, Ryan was saved by grace at the age of nineteen under the preaching of the gospel. He graduated from Westmont College with a B.A. in Religious Studies, and four years later, he received his Master of Divinity from The Master's Seminary. In 2014, Ryan helped plant Redeeming Grace Church in Denver, Colorado where he currently serves as Lead Pastor.

Ryan enjoys reading and studying theology with a special emphasis on Puritan, Reformed Spirituality. He is married to his lovely wife Jamie. They have four wonderful children, Leighton, Halle, Ryken, and Londyn.

https://www.redeeminggrace.thecalvary.org/ryan-wassell
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Chapter 9: Faith, Hope, and Love
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Chapter 7: One for Us: Cross