The Gospel is...

See my response to the insightful discussion under the previous entry "What is the Gospel?" Perhaps summarizing the discussion rather nicely are Tim Keller's comments on the gospel. Keller perceives three main perspectives or facets to the gospel"

1) Normative Aspect (Gospel of Christ) - stresses objective, historic work of Christ

2) Existential Aspect (Gospel of sonship) - stresses our new identity in Christ

3) Situational Aspect (Gospel of the kingdom) - stresses the reversal of values in the new creation.

He writes: "WE need all three perspectives, though each perspective is not simply a 'part' of the gospel. For example, the 'kingdom' perspective contains the other two. If God is king, then salvation must be by grace, for if we are saved by works, something else will be our Lord an Savior. Or if we have a new identiy in Christ by sheer grace, then we must not look down at anyone else, and self-justification is the basis of racism and injustice. If you go deep enough into any one perspective you will find the other two."

Taken from his handout "Unintentional Preaching Models" at the Gordon-Conwell Ockenga Pastor's Forum 2006, which will form part of his forthcoming book.

What Is The Gospel?

It has always been popular in Christian circles to tout "the gospel" as the answer to all our problems. For Jesus, it created problems. Jesus announced the good news of his fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah while reading the scroll in the temple (Luke 4). (There is a gospel goldmine sitting under this text. I might comment on it later.) Shortly thereafter the Jews tried to run him off a cliff. The gospel is persecution and Jesus.

This past week I was sitting next to a teenager on a plane and we were talking about music. When he found out I was a pastor, he said that Gospel music is cool. He then asked me what a pastor does. (It was a very interesting and disturbing conversation.) The gospel has become associated with a genre of music, a genre which sometimes truncates the gospel of Christ. Negro spirituals and bluegrass musicians frequently look to the gospel as a one-way ticket out of this world-to heaven. The gospel is fire insurance and earth escape.

A resurgence of gospel language--Tim Keller fame--is making its way into Christian vocabulary. Churches and people talk about being "gospel-centered." I don't think very many of them know what Keller or more importantly, Jesus, really meant.

N. T. Wright talks about the gospel being an announcement that the God of Israel has arrived in and through the person and work of Jesus. Some people use him to say that the gospel is about the reign of God (which is only part of Wright's fourfold gospel). These people say that the gospel focuses on the community of God, reconciliation between races, genders and social groups. The gospel is communal and cultural transformation.

What is the gospel? I recently asked the guys I disciple this question. I got some disheartening answers at first, but the more we talked about it, the more they qualified. About mid-way through our discussion, Dave arrived at John 3.16 (man, is that text misunderstood). We spend the rest of the time understanding John 3.16 in the context of Jesus' description of eternal life as obtaining a rebirth by Spirit and water (cf Ezek 36.25-7). But before I post our thoughts, what are yours? What is the gospel?

From Eden to Heaven

Our aim in this blog is to share thoughts that contribute to the redemptive movement from Eden to Heaven. As we participate in Adam's creation mandate, we hope that our unpolished thoughts on theology, literature, politics, culture and discipleship will be polished by one another as we comment and critique. We invite you to participate in this movement from Eden to Heaven, a movement which, by God's grace will produce lasting thoughts, works and affections that bring honor to the Triune Creator.