Scattered throughout the pages of the Bible are two small words that pop up in seemingly random places: “But God.” Lute carefully points out that these two words actually convey the very center of the Bible’s message—that God acts on behalf of those who would not and could not help themselves. Tracing this theme through both testaments, Lute skillfully crafts a helpful lens for viewing an overarching theme of Scripture. A very readable, enjoyable book.

“But God” marks God’s relentless, merciful interventions in human history. It teaches us that God does not wait for us to bring ourselves to Him, but that He acts first to bring about our good. It also teaches us of the potential consequences if God were not to act. Scripture shows over and over that without God’s intervening grace, without the “But God” statements in the Bible, the world would be completely lost in sin and under judgment. [6]

Tribes of nomadic shepherds do not grow into a nation of poor, oppressed slaves and then simply decide to walk out on their slave masters. But God’s work on Israel’s behalf causes this story to make sense. God did not choose some powerful nation to advance His plan of salvation. He chose slaves instead of masters, and He did all the work for them. He showed them that He is the one true God, and that He had made them into a nation by His might, not their own. [28]

The Bible is about God, and He never sins. He never fails. He never does anything wrong or shameful. He is only ever just, holy, loving, and good. He keeps all of His promises to His people, because it is His nature to do so. He shows His great love throughout the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures by never straying from His promises to His people. The people sin against Him, doubt Him, and turn away from Him—but God remains ever faithful. [40]

On the cross, Jesus performed the ultimate act of love, and that act genuinely accomplished something—the Son of God absorbed the wrath of God on our behalf, taking our guilt away and enabling us to receive Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to us, so that we might be presented before Him as righteous. [57]

The resurrection of Jesus leaves no doubt that God retained control the entire time. The cross did not derail God’s plan, for if God can overcome death itself, He certainly could have prevented the crucifixion to begin with. The resurrection shows God’s supreme ability to take a situation intended by mankind for evil and turn it into the ultimate good. [64] 

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