In Christ, God's "yes" defeats our "no"

What's the gospel in seven words? We asked theologians, pastors and others both to answer this question and to expand on this in a few sentences. To see all the responses together as they're posted, bookmark this page. Add your own version here. --Ed.

In Christ, God's "yes" defeats our "no."

Our "no" is a human rejection of God's claim on us as our creator, sustainer and lord, a rejection that produces alienation and isolation, even from ourselves. In Jesus Christ, God unmasks and defeats that "no" and signals that we are not our own. We belong to God's love, from which we cannot finally flee. Grasped by that love, we are enabled to love God and one another.