What is the gospel? #4:

The vast amount of response to these posts (bit of self-deprecating sarcasm, there) has become so great that I can't keep up anymore.  So this will be my last post on this, at least for the foreseeable future.

On the question of whether the more traditional understanding of the gospel is correct or needs to be expanded, I land firmly on both sides of the fence.  (When I speak of "traditional," I am speaking of my tradition.  To be more clear, this definition by W. A. Criswell, taken from a list in a previous post, is a fair example of what I'm speaking of.  “The message from our Lord Himself is that Christ suffered and was raised from the dead and that remission of sins should be preached in His name to all people. That is the good news. That is the message. That is the gospel!”  - W.A. Criswell, from “The Remission of Sins” in Basic Bible Sermons on the Cross, 85.))  A perusal of the list in that previous post, or a survey of the more complete list, from which I took my list will give you an idea of what I mean by an expanded meaning of the "gospel."

Over the past few days I walked with the Apostle Paul through the book of Galatians.  In doing a word search in Galatians I find 11 times that the Apostle uses the word "Gospel."  It is clear from his opening salvo, 1:6-9, that Paul is very interested in preserving the integrity of the Gospel.  N. T. Wright also recognizes that Galatians is a gospel saturated book.  His article though it is not precisely along the lines of this discussion is worth reading.

A couple of quick points that I draw from Galatians.

• It appears that, in the sense in which he is using the word, Paul sees things in a bi-polar manner.  There is the true gospel, which he shared with the Galatians (and, I presume, with everyone else to whom he ministered) and there are all the other "heteros," "distorted," "contrary" inferior gospels, so-called.  They all suffer a basic flaw--they have no basis in reality (1:6-9, as well as the gist of the entire book).  Paul expresses amazement that they would so quickly desert the truth (1:6).  He sarcastically asks who has bewitched them (3:1).  He is perplexed (4:20).  To say the least, he regards their turn from the pure gospel that he presented as disastrous.
  We should be cautious in two directions.
  1)  We should be sure that we have an accurate, by a Biblical standard, understanding of the gospel, &
  2)  We should be wary of new definitions.
  
• I take it from Acts 15, as well as the argument of Galatians, bolstered by Hebrews that the error of the Galatian heretics was adding to the gospel.
  Apparently the defining concept of the Galatian heresy was they held that those who were coming to the Lord needed to be circumcised--the par-excellence mark of Judaism--in order to be saved or to fully progress in their walk with the Lord.  Note Paul's argument in 2:3, 2:11-21 (Paul regarded this behavior he confronted as a threat to the "truth of the gospel."), 5:2-12 (It would be difficult to imagine a more graphic rejection of their position than v. 12.), & 6:12-15.
  Adding to the gospel is dangerous.
  In this regard this message, more than half a century old, by Charles Ryrie is relevant.  
  
• Erring in regard to the gospel has dire consequences.  When one looks at 6:7-9 in the light of the tenor of the book & 6:12 it would seem that Paul may have had more than fleshly works in general in mind when he warned of the coming harvest.
  It doesn't take a great deal of reasoning to conclude that if one errs in regard to the foundation, the gospel, it will bring negative consequences later.

One can look in the book of Galatians for definitive statements about what constitutes the gospel.  N. T. Wright, in the article referenced above says, "4.1-7 states in one particular form the content of ‘the gospel’."  The vehemence with which Paul defends the gospel he proclaimed to the Galatians--in other places he speaks of "my gospel" (Rom. 2:16, 16:25, 2 Tim. 2:8)--would indicate that he had well-defined the gospel.  We can assume that he is consistent in his preaching.  Therefore we can look to passages like Romans 1:1-18 & 10:8-15, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 & 15:1-8, as definitive of the gospel Paul preached.  

Having said that, all of which can be construed as an argument in favor of the traditional definition of the gospel, and it is, I will now, switch to the other side--at least partly so.

I will repeat some questions I asked in my second post on this subject, and attempt to answer them based on my observations and thoughts:

1. Does the Gospel only result in a one-time change, or does it initiate changed life?
2. Is the result of the Gospel limited to the change in an individual’s life?
3. Is the goal of the Gospel a saved person or a redeemed church?
4. Does the message of the Gospel have any implications toward the non-human creation?
5. Does the presentation of the Gospel only include message of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord, and the implications of Christ's saving work to the lives of those to whom I am talking?

I begin to answer these questions, in general, with the observation that   εὐαγγέλιόν (gospel) is a word that was in wide use at the time of Christ's earthly ministry.  To assume that every mention of  gospel is 

referring to the same message is unwarranted.   The good news the angel shared with the shepherds could be different, or at least differently nuanced, from the good news defined in 1 Corinthians 15, both of which are likely different in some respects from the "eternal gospel proclaimed, or to be proclaimed, by the angel in Revelation 14:6-7.

It seems that attempts to redefine and expand the gospel often involve something like this:
"Sure it says in certain passages that the gospel is a presentation of these basic facts, the death, burial, resurrection, and need for faith in these events, for salvation.  But Jesus presentation of the gospel included healing and good works, the goal of the gospel is not a home in heaven for people, but a people of God for the Lord of heaven, the gospel is the fulcrum on which the whole story of God's plan and work pivots.  Without the gospel there would be no church, no redeemed earth, no people of God, living to the glory of God.  If we are going to define the gospel, we must include all of that."

I'm not sure, though I am open to further input.

It seems that the disagreement over the definition of the gospel is at least in part a semantic one.

Used in the sense that the word gospel was used in the popular culture--to announce victory, or the birth or ascension of a king, the good news the angel brought to the shepherds was absolutely cosmic.  It changed everything.

The central events of the gospel as defined in 1 Corinthians 15, not only result in the salvation of individuals, Acts 16:31, but in the formation of the church, 1 Cor. 3:16, & Titus 2:14, but the same gospel-power that saves those who trust the Lord, will someday redeem this earth, Romans 8:18-25.

Clearly the truth that makes up the gospel, if accepted by faith, results in a changed life, 2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 2:10, James 2:14-26, & 1 John.

So, yes, in our attempt to maintain the simplicity of gospel some of us may have pushed the pendulum too far, but if we make the gospel too complicated for someone to be able to share with a man who is about to commit suicide, Acts 16, we have pushed it too far the other way.

I'm really done at this point, but just to stay honest, I'll briefly answer the 5 questions above.

1. Does the Gospel only result in a one-time change, or does it initiate changed life?
   Beyond any doubt one of the great errors that has promulgated by the certain sectors of evangelicalism and fundamentalism is the idea that Jesus saves people without changing them.  Yes, the gospel not only saves people from hell, it saves them to good works.
2. Is the result of the Gospel limited to the change in an individual’s life?
3. Is the goal of the Gospel a saved person or a redeemed church?
   #3 is not an either or, though it is clear that many of us have overemphasized the individual aspect.  Christ purchased the church with His blood, Acts 19:28.  The impact of the gospel is clearly beyond the individual.
4. Does the message of the Gospel have any implications toward the non-human creation?
   As I said above the events which make up the gospel also will result in the redemption of this fallen world.  Just a personal concern:  While I'm not saying that gospel presentations like The Big Story are wrong, I wonder whether the move change from talking about sin to talking about a world out of balance has more to do with sin being uncool, and ecology being trendy, than with a clearer understanding of scripture.
5. Does the presentation of the Gospel only include message of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord, and the implications of Christ's saving work to the lives of those to whom I am talking?
   In the sense of doing evangelism, it would appear from Paul's ministry, in particular, that together with the context that defines these facts, the answer is yes.  I mean, if one understands the implications of these facts, and exercises true faith in Christ, who died, was buried, and rose again, he will be saved.

OK, your turn.

What is the Gospel?

If you don't like this post, blame my friend.  A couple of months ago we were riding in his car and we began the discussing the definition of the Gospel.  His voice is one of many that advocates for a broader definition of the Gospel than that which has traditionally been given.  As I say, "one of."  If you peruse the web you will find many advocating that the gospel is more than 1 Corinthians 15:1-6, that it produces more than our salvation from Hell, and that it is about more than individuals being born again. I've been thinking, and reading, actually thinking more than reading--I haven't read any books on the subject.  I'm open to suggestions.

I did look at a blog that is a collection of definitions and descriptions of the gospel.  I compiled a handout from some of the entries I found there.  I figure these selections from the many entries on the blog form a good introduction to the subject.  The blog address is there.  You can dig to your heart's content.

Definitions of the Gospel—except for the first one these definitions all come from an ongoing project by Trevin Wax: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/category/gospel/gospel-definitions/

“The Good News . . . I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.  He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.  After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers.”  (The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:1-6

“Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy… [This gospel is] all of Christ the right David, how that he hath fought with sin, with death, and the devil, and overcome them: whereby all men that were in bondage to sin, wounded with death, overcome of the devil are without their own merits or deservings loosed, justified, restored to life and saved, brought to liberty and reconciled unto the favor of God and set at one with him again: which tidings as many as believe laud, praise and thank God, are glad, sing and dance for joy.”  (William Tyndale, reformer, died 1536)

At its briefest, the gospel is a discourse about Christ, that he is the Son of God and became man for us, that he died and was raised, and that he has been established as Lord over all things.This much St. Paul takes in hand and spins out in his epistles. He bypasses all the miracles and incidents (in Christ’s ministry) which are set forth in the four Gospels, yet he includes the whole gospel adequately and abundantly. This may be seen clearly and well in his greeting to the Romans, where he says what the gospel is, and then declares:“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,” etc.There you have it. The gospel is a story about Christ, God’s and David’s son, who died and was raised, and is established as Lord. This is the gospel in a nutshell.  - Martin Luther, Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings, pg. 94

“The message from our Lord Himself is that Christ suffered and was raised from the dead and that remission of sins should be preached in His name to all people. That is the good news. That is the message. That is the gospel!”  - W.A. Criswell, from “The Remission of Sins” in Basic Bible Sermons on the Cross, 85.

What is the one, the changeless New Testament gospel? The first and the best answer would be to say that the whole Bible is God’s good news in all its astonishing relevance. Bible andgospel are almost alternative terms, for the major function of the Bible in all its length and breadth is to bear witness to Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, God’s revelation recorded in Scripture.What is [the gospel]? God’s good news is Jesus.How did the apostles present Jesus? Their good news contained at least five elements.

·        The gospel events, as saving events.

·        The gospel witnesses, by which I mean the evidence to which they appealed for its authentication.

·        The gospel affirmations. (They concern not simply what he did more than nineteen centuries ago, however, but what he is today in consequence. “Jesus is Lord.”)

·        The gospel promises (what Christ now offers and indeed promises to those who come to him – a new life in the present through the regeneration and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is also the guarantee of our future inheritance in heaven).

·        The gospel demands (repentance and faith – and (in public) baptism.

What is the Good News?
The good news is Jesus. And the good news about Jesus which we announce is that he died for our sins and was raised from death. In consequence he reigns as Lord and Savior at God’s right hand and has authority both to command repentance and faith, and to bestow forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit on all those who repent, believe and are baptized. And all this is according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. It is more than that. It is precisely what is meant by “proclaiming the kingdom of God.” For in fulfillment of Scripture God’s reign has broken into the life of men through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This reign or rule of God is exercised from the throne by Jesus, who bestows salvation and requires obedience. These are the blessing and the demand of the kingdom.
John Stott - adapted from Christian Mission in the Modern World

Here’s the gospel in a phrase. Because Christ died for us, those who trust in him may know that their guilt has been pardoned once and for all. What will we have to say before the bar of God’s judgment? Only one thing. Christ died in my place. That’s the gospel.  - Alistair Begg, from Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter

The ‘gospel’ is the good news that through Christ the power of God’s kingdom has entered history to renew the whole world. When we believe and rely on Jesus’ work and record (rather than ours) for our relationship to God, that kingdom power comes upon us and begins to work through us.”
“Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.”  - Tim Keller, from Christianity Today

The Gospel is “good news.” It is good news only to the degree that the bad news can be understood first.
The world is a messed-up place. It is not just our generation that is notices this, but every generation has had to deal with their share of problems. Today is not really any worse than it was 100 years ago or 1000 years ago.
The good news is that God is fixing what is broken in every generation. This is called redemption. Redemption means to “buy back” or restore to a previous condition.
God is in the process of putting his messed up creation back in order. The Gospel is the good news that that which was broken is being fixed.
But the brokenness had its genesis in us, mankind. God is different. He is perfect and demands perfection because of his character. In other words, as the Bible puts it, God is righteous. Our brokenness is due to choices that we have made. All of us have messed things up. This is called “sin.”
We have sinned through our selfishness, pride, hatred, and perversion of his creation. It is not the way it was supposed to be.
God allows us to reject him and suffer the consequences, but he also offers us hope. This hope is the Good news. It is the hope that God has not abandoned us. It is the hope for redemption.
God loves us in spite of our perversion of good. God loves us in spite of our rejection of him. …  Michael Patton

“The term has recently been translated as ‘good news.’ That sounds attractive, but it falls far short of the order of magnitude of what is actually meant by the word evangelion. This term figures in the vocabulary of the Roman emperors, who understood themselves as lords, saviors, and redeemers of the world…. The idea was that what comes from the emperor is a saving message, that it is not just a piece of news, but a changing of the world for the better.
“When the Evangelists adopt this word, and it thereby becomes the generic name for their writings, what they mean to tell us is this: What the emperors, who pretend to be gods, illegitimately claim, really occurs here – a message endowed with plenary authority, a message that is not just talk but reality…. the Gospel is not just informative speech, but performative speech – not just the imparting of information, but action, efficacious power that enters into the world to save and transform. Mark speaks of the ‘Gospel of God,’ the point being that it is not the emperors who can save the world, but God. And it is here that God’s word, which is at once word and deed, appears; it is here that what the emperors merely assert, but cannot actually perform, truly takes place. For here it is the real Lord of the world – the Living God – who goes into action.“The core of the Gospel is this: The Kingdom of God is at hand.”  - Pope Benedict XVI, from Jesus of Nazareth, pgs. 46-47. 

I welcome your involvement in the discussion.  I shared a lesson/sermon on the subject last night.  I plan to reproduce, on this blog, some of the thoughts contained in that message, but if you want to hear them before I put them here you can find the message at http://www.truthcasting.com/player.aspx#showSermon=100963.

See you later.

Christianity is about faith in Christ

From the message this morning at Covington Bible Church, from Acts 24:24-26. The rich, powerful, and beautiful Felix and Drusilla, heard Paul on faith in Christ Jesus.

In our day of pluralism and tolerance gone amok, we need to be very clear.  Christianity is about faith in Christ.  Not just faith in a generic Supreme power kind of a God, the great Architect of the Universe, or the Higher Power however you define she, he or it.  We are talking faith in Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, Who was born as a man, lived a sinless life, died as our substitute, came forth from Grave in victory and lives today to intercede for and save forever all who put their trust in him.We need to be kind and polite and respectful to Jews and Muslims and believers in the gold mega-ball, but we cannot back off one inch from the reality that there is “one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  We must not compromise from the absolute conviction that there “is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”