"The Gospel in All its Forms"

One of the ways we are to extend our mission as a church is by reaching out into our neighborhoods, and communities, and schools with the mercy and compassion of Christ. I want to continue to help us think about how the gospel informs our ministries of mercy as a church.

"The Gospel in All its Forms"

In his article, “The Gospel in All its Forms,” Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City argues that “there must be one gospel, yet there are clearly different forms in which that one gospel can be expressed.” Keller gives an example from 1Corinthians of how the gospel can be presented in different forms.

When Paul spoke to Greeks, he confronted their culture’s idol of speculation and philosophy with the “foolishness” of the cross, and then presented Christ’s salvation as true wisdom. When he spoke to Jews, he confronted their culture’s idol of power and accomplishment with the “weakness” of the cross, and then presented the gospel as true power (1 Cor. 1:22-25).

Keller encouraged this Pauline approach of confronting idols when he spoke on “The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry” at The Gospel Coalition 2009 National Conference.

The Classic Gospel and Eschatological Implications

In “The Gospel in All its Forms,” Keller goes on to differentiate between the “classic gospel of ‘grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone’” and what he calls the “eschatological implications of the gospel;” namely, when Christ returns God will restore “the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.” I completely agree with Keller’s understanding of the “classic gospel” and the “eschatological implications of the gospel.”

The "One Gospel"

However, Keller then goes on to define the “one gospel” as comprising three components:

1. In Christ God emptied himself and became a man.
2. In Christ God atoned for our sins, substituted himself for us and died and rose again in our place.
3. In Christ, God will return to destroy death, disease, and decay [and establish the] new heavens and new earth.

Implications are Not the Gospel

What is confusing to me is that an “eschatological implication of the gospel” has been elevated to one of three components of the “one gospel.” I am very comfortable with this implication and agree when Keller writes, “Generosity to the poor will flow from those who are holding fast to the gospel as their profession (2 Cor. 9:13).”

Mercy, compassion, and justice are definitely implications of the gospel but they are not the gospel. Eternal rewards, new heavenly bodies, no more pain, suffering, death, or sin are all eschatological implications of the gospel, but they are not the gospel.

Three Implications for the Church

I agree with much of what Keller says, I just don’t agree with including the eschatological implications of the gospel as a necessary component of the “one gospel.” In fact, I agree with his three implications for the church.

1. Our values should be about service and loving others, not power, popularity, or money. This emphasizes point 1 of the gospel.
2. Our preaching ought to be substitutionary atonement. The repentance of sin and conversion to God through Jesus death and resurrection for us. This emphasizes point 2.
3. We ought to hate and attack and make war on poverty, death, disease, racial injustice, and other social ills in hope of Christ’s return. This emphasizes point 3.

How does the Gospel speak to Mercy?

On number 3, though, I would say this is an implication of the gospel and not a form of the gospel itself. So, how does the gospel inform our reaching out to our neighborhoods, communities, and schools with the mercy and compassion of Christ? The gospel tells us that we showed be showing to the world the same mercy and compassion that God showed to us. Of course, these are just my humble views - from the cheap seats!

See also:
The Gospel – “What God Has Done!”
What Is The Gospel?
The Gospel is the Fountain