Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Tullian Tchividjian wrote a book entitled Jesus + Nothing = Everything. I must admit I have never read the book, but the phrase has become something that I have taken to heart. It is also the phrase that started me in my attempt to write faith based statements in math terms. This is a field that has never been attempted before. No one has attempted to convey statements of faith in the cold, often emotionless, language of math. Statements of faith are often believed to be emotion-filled statements that analytical people cannot, and often should not, take seriously. In reality, analytical people would do well to mind these statements and to take them to heart, as they can offer hope in an otherwise, dreary and lifeless world. 

Cross union null set yields infinity is Jesus plus nothing equals everything translated. The statement "Cross union null set yields infinity," displays a very important truth, and a truth that generations have struggled to grasp. It means that Jesus plus nothing is everything. It does not mean that Jesus plus my obedience, or serving the poor, or endless devotion, or anything is everything. It means that Jesus's sacrifice upon the cross was enough. Nothing that I do can make God love me more, and nothing that I do can make God love me less. God has chosen to love me, and you -- and Christ's death is the proof.

Romans 3:23 is perhaps one of the most famous verses. It states that, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of The Lord." However, if you continue to read on you learn in verses 24-26 that Christ came so that through grace, sinners might be found righteous before God. It is through Jesus's death upon a cross that grace is offered. Grace is a word that exemplifies the statement that cross union null set yields infinity. Grace is receiving what one does not deserve. 

In fact, not only does Cross union null set yield infinity, but for any x, Cross union x yields null set. Translated this means that Jesus plus anything equals nothing. Galatians 2:21 states that "I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing." This is such a power phrase, and so convicting. It means that every time that someone attempt to add their own righteousness onto the completed work of Christ, they are actually saying that Jesus's death was not enough. As a result they invalidate Christ's sacrifice in their life. That is not to say that Christ's death no longer has power, but they refuse to believe in the power that does exist.