THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD

The Most Unqualified Man in Christendom Speaks

Let me be transparently clear about my credentials for writing what follows:

I have none.

Zero seminary degrees. No theological training. Poor pastoral experience. No published books. No speaking platform. No ministry empire. No impressive conversion story where I went from successful businessman to influential teacher.

I'm just an old guy who's been spectacularly disqualified in every measurable way.

If there were a competition for "Least Qualified Bible Teacher," I'd somehow manage to lose even that. I possess the rather dubious distinction of being the perfect example of what not to put on a ministry resume. My life story reads less like a testimony and more like a cautionary tale told at youth group to scare kids straight.

Think of me as the Apostle Paul's "chief of sinners" comment, except without the apostle credentials to balance it out.

But here's the hilarious twist that only God could orchestrate: my complete bankruptcy in the qualifications department has become the only qualification that matters.

When you have nothing to offer but empty hands, you finally have room to receive. When every credential has been stripped away, you stop trusting in credentials. When you're dismissed by everyone who matters in the Christian empire, you stop caring about empire approval and start seeking only His.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 suddenly makes sense: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness... for when I am weak, then I am strong."

I'm so weak I'm practically translucent. Which apparently makes me the perfect vessel for showing that this isn't about me—it never was. It's about Him. His Word. His Spirit. His transformation. His exceeding abundant power working in the most unlikely, unqualified, unsuitable candidate imaginable.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 describes me perfectly: "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise... so that no man may boast before God."

I'm the foolish thing. The weak thing. The base and despised thing. The nobody.

So when you read what follows, please understand: these aren't the insights of a scholar. They're the discoveries of a desperate man who had nowhere else to turn but Scripture, no one else to trust but the Holy Spirit, nothing left to lose but pride (and that was already gone), and nothing to gain but LIFE, and even that was given as a gift.

If you're looking for academic credentials, close this now. If you're looking for someone respectable whom the mainstream church endorses, you're in the wrong place. If you want safe, conventional teaching that doesn't challenge your comfort, this isn't it.

But if you're a fellow nobody—dismissed, downtrodden, crushed, mocked, bankrupt in every way that matters to the world—then maybe, just maybe, you'll recognize in these pages the same grace that found me in the wreckage.

The only thing I know with absolute certainty is this: I need more help than I could ever be aware of. And He is faithful to provide it.

Everything that follows came through a broken, unqualified, thoroughly disqualified vessel. Which means if there's anything of value in it, you'll know exactly where it came from—and it wasn't me.

Now, let the most unqualified Bible teacher you've ever encountered attempt to show you what the Word of God revealed to someone who had nothing to bring to the table except hunger, humility, and the Holy Spirit's patience with a slow learner.

From the Heart of One Made Free

THE WITNESS

I speak as one who knows the Romans chapter 7 struggle, the admission of the wretched man that I am. I hope to speak as a humble man not even worthy of the struggle.

I hope to reveal how the crushing weight of trying and failing over and over again was and still is the gift. Thank God for the Law, for it is perfect, and because of the perfect Law I know the depths of my depravity; it is too ugly and evil to bear.

The Law revealed SIN and SELF in me, and the reality that I was powerless to save myself–virtually impossible–because it is SELF who is being destroyed. “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24)

Thank God for Romans chapter 8! From the depravity of chapter 7 we find the explosion of Romans 8:1, “Therefore there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

This is where the story begins, not with our worthiness, but with His Divine rescue because we have no worthiness of our own.

DEAD MAN WALKING (Romans 7 → 8)

The Condition

Ephesians 2:1-3: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world… we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

Dead. Not sick. Not struggling. DEAD.

Walking corpses trying to earn life through religious performance. The Law exposed this death but couldn’t fix it. We couldn’t fix it. Self-improvement is a dead man trying to resurrect himself.

The Rescue

Romans 8:2-4: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

He did what we could not do.

We couldn’t keep the Law → He kept it perfectly
We couldn’t pay for sin → He paid it completely
We couldn’t defeat death → He rose triumphantly
We couldn’t transform ourselves → His Spirit indwells us

Colossians 1:13-14: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Rescued. Transferred. Redeemed. Forgiven.

Not because we earned it. Because He paid for it.

THE TRANSFORMATION (Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Note the order:

“Therefore”because of mercy already received (Romans 1-11)
“Present your bodies”response, not requirement for salvation
“Be transformed”passive voice; God does the transforming
“Renewing of your mind”ongoing Holy Spirit work

This is not self-improvement. This is Holy Spirit renovation from the inside out.

2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

The mechanism:

We behold Him (not ourselves)
He transforms us (not we transform ourselves)
Spirit does the work (not our effort)
From glory to glory (progressive, not instant perfection)

The result described in Colossians 1:9-12: “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”

He qualified us. He strengthens us. He fills us. He transforms us.

THE PRESENT REALITY (1 Peter 5, Ephesians 3)

The Humble Life

1 Peter 5:5-7: “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

This is where the downtrodden, dismissed, mocked servant discovers the secret:

God opposes the proud Christian empire builders.
God gives grace to the broken, humble seeker.

The world’s rejection becomes the Father’s acceptance.
The empire’s dismissal becomes the King’s invitation.
The crushing becomes the emptying.
The downtrodden position becomes the teachable posture.

James 4:6: “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.’”

Greater grace, the kind that transforms, that gives peace beyond understanding, that creates joy unspeakable, that brings freedom despite circumstances.

The Exceeding Abundantly Power

Ephesians 3:16-21: “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

This is the story:

A nobody, dismissed and mocked, discovers:

Strengthened with power - not self-generated but Spirit-given
Christ dwelling in the heart - not visiting occasionally but living permanently
Rooted and grounded in LOVE - the foundation discovered
To know the love that surpasses knowledge - experiential, not academic
Filled to all the fullness of God - this old guy’s cup overflowing

And then the declaration that becomes the testimony:

“He is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above all we ask or think”

The transformation no one expected. The peace no one can explain. The joy that makes no sense given the circumstances. The freedom that came through crushing. The fullness that came through emptying.

According to the power that works WITHIN us.

Not through empire-building. Not through impressive credentials. Not through worldly success. Through the Holy Spirit working in a humble, broken, receptive vessel.

THE SUFFERING THAT LEADS TO GLORY (Romans 5, 8)

The Path Through Pain

Romans 5:1-5: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

The sequence that the crushed, downtrodden servant discovers:

Justified by faith - declared righteous, not earned
Peace with God - the war ended, reconciled
Access into grace - the door opened permanently
Hope of glory - future guaranteed
Exult in tribulations - the crushing has purpose
Tribulation → perseverance → character → hope - the refining process
Hope does not disappoint - guaranteed outcome
Love poured out in hearts - present experience through Holy Spirit

The crushing was the crucible. The rejection was the refining. The dismissal was the detachment from worldly approval.

Romans 8:18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

The old guy, owning nothing but gratitude, understands this now. The freedom, fullness, joy, and peace came through the crushing, not despite it.

The Groaning and the Glory

Romans 8:22-25: “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

Two groanings:

Creation groans - under curse, awaiting liberation
We groan - in these bodies, awaiting redemption

But the groaning is pregnant with hope. It’s labor pains, not death throes. Something is being born.

Romans 8:28-30: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

The golden chain:

Foreknew → Predestined → Called → Justified → Glorified

Notice the final link is past tense. From God’s perspective, it’s already done. The old guy waiting for the Wedding Feast is already glorified in God’s eternal plan.

THE WEDDING FEAST (Revelation 19-22)

The Bride Made Ready

Revelation 19:7-9: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, ‘Write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”’”

The Bride has made herself ready - but notice: “it was GIVEN to her to clothe herself.”

Even her readiness is grace. Even her righteous acts are gifts. Even her preparation is His work.

The nobody, the dismissed one, the mocked servant - invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Not because of credentials. Not because of empire. Not because of worldly success.

Because of grace. Because of His love. Because He chose. Because He called. Because He justified. Because He is faithful.

The Consummation

Revelation 21:1-5: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’

And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”

This is what the old guy is looking forward to:

No more tears - the crushing ended
No more death - the final enemy defeated
No more mourning - the suffering complete
No more crying - the pain finished
No more pain - the transformation finalized

“I am making all things new.”

Not renovating the old. Not improving what exists. Making all things new.

Revelation 21:6-7: “Then He said to me, ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.’”

Without cost. Grace to the end. Free water for the thirsty. Inheritance for the overcomer - who overcomes through faith in Him, not through personal strength.

The Eternal Home

Revelation 22:1-5: “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

The details that matter to the humble servant:

River of life from the throne - continuous sustenance
Tree of life - Eden restored
No more curse - Romans 8 fulfilled, creation liberated
See His face - the goal achieved
His name on foreheads - marked as His forever
No night - no more darkness, literal or spiritual
God illumines - He is the light source
Reign forever - the nobody becomes royalty in His kingdom

THE LOVE STORY COMPLETED

What God Did (Colossians 1:12-22)

Colossians 1:12-14: “…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:19-22: “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”

The Father’s plan:

Qualified us (we couldn’t qualify ourselves)
Rescued us (we couldn’t rescue ourselves)
Transferred us (we couldn’t transfer ourselves)
Redeemed us (we couldn’t redeem ourselves)
Reconciled us (we couldn’t reconcile ourselves)
Will present us (we couldn’t present ourselves)

Holy. Blameless. Beyond reproach.

Not through our effort. Through His blood. Through His cross. Through His death. Through His work.

The Testimony of the Humble Servant

From Romans 7: “Wretched man that I am!”

To Romans 8: “No condemnation! The Spirit of life has set me free!”

Through Romans 12: Being transformed by the renewing of my mind

Living 1 Peter 5: Humbled, cast down, yet receiving grace upon grace

Experiencing Ephesians 3:20: He’s doing exceeding abundantly beyond anything imagined

Walking Romans 5: From tribulation through perseverance to hope that doesn’t disappoint

Awaiting Revelation 19-22: The Wedding Feast, the wiping of tears, seeing His face, dwelling with Him forever

THE HEART OF IT ALL

This is the love story:

The Father loved so much He sent His Son

The Son loved so much He gave His life

The Spirit loves so much He indwells and transforms

The nobody - crushed, downtrodden, dismissed, mocked, owning nothing - discovered:

Freedom beyond circumstances
Fullness beyond possessions
Joy beyond understanding
Peace that surpasses comprehension

Not through climbing. Through descending.
Not through building empire. Through being broken.
Not through worldly success. Through spiritual poverty.
Not through self-effort. Through surrendered trust.

Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The humble servant, the old guy, the dismissed oneblessed. Kingdom-possessing. Invited to the feast.

THE INVITATION STANDS

Revelation 22:17: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

Without cost.

Not for the empire builders.
Not for the self-righteous.
Not for the proud.

For the thirsty. For the humble. For the broken. For the seeking. For the nobody who becomes somebody in Christ.

This is the greatest love story ever told.

Romans 11:33-36: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

To Him be the glory. Forever. Amen.