Karl Ihfe continues the "Expectation Gap" series by exploring why we believe God is loving but don't always feel loved. Drawing from Steve Cuss's insights, Karl explains that every "gospel" has three elements: a path, a promise, and a payment. While worldly gospels make us pay for empty promises, Jesus's gospel reverses this - God pays the price and we receive the benefit.
Karl identifies how our "inner critic" preaches false gospels, telling us we're frauds, disappointments, or incapable. This voice condemns our identity rather than convicting our behavior like the Holy Spirit does. Using 1 John 3 and Romans 8, he emphasizes that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Karl shares personal stories, including his experience with an elder's harsh criticism and his obsession with painting a perfect red wall, to illustrate how we often condemn ourselves before others can. He concludes by challenging listeners to let God have both the first and last word in their lives, silencing the inner critic with the truth of God's unconditional love.
