Jumpstarter 3 of 10

Direct Answer Dean’s argument pushes against a view of grace that mainly means “Jesus died so I can live as I like,” and instead ties grace to Jesus’ embodied example and enabling power for obedience—his flesh-and-blood life shows the kingdom can be lived “as one of us,” and his coming gives a “guarantee” that this life is possible.

Support from Transcript:

• Dean asks directly: “Is it important that Jesus Christ came in the flesh?… Why is it important?”
• Answer affirmed in class: “In the flesh, he lived out the life of the kingdom… He gave us a guarantee to be able to live that life.”
• Dean reinforces: “He showed us that that kingdom life could be lived out as one of us.”
• He calls the incarnation “one of the most precious teachings… to show us an example, and to die for us.”
• He links incarnation and atonement: “When he takes upon our human flesh and then he dies for us… makes that salvation possible.”
• Earlier Tolstoy quote mocks a version of grace that permits unchanged living; Dean’s incarnation emphasis counters that.