We get pretty easily fired up about things, don’t we? In the midst of our fury, it’s so easy to fumble the beauty and simplicity of the gospel. The gospel isn’t:
_Jesus + Homeschooling
_Jesus + Social Justice
_Jesus + Regular Devotional Times
_Jesus + Republicans / Democrats
_Jesus + My Style of Worship
_Jesus + ESV Study Bible
_Jesus + Calvinism
_Jesus + Going Green
_Jesus + Faith and Repentance
What is the gospel?
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…1 Cor 15:3-4
Isn’t it beautiful?
Not Jesus + ESV Study Bible?
Phew! I was getting a little worried about you sovereign grace guys there for a while.
I must admit, in reading this post, I wanted to defend the gospel as being: Jesus + ESV Study Bible
and/or Calvinism. But 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4 shut my mouth pretty quickly.
Thanks for the timely reminder of the centrality of Christ in the gospel.
Hey there Stephen,
It is beautiful and frustrating all at the same time. In our flesh we want to do something to please or earn God’s love, when in reality God never looks away from us in disgust or disapproval if we are in Christ.
It’s Jesus plus nothing, a very beautiful thing indeed!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
I love it!
Just the other day I saw a message by Josh Harris that was similar to this… something we all need to be reminded of often.
So in short…
The Gospel = Jesus (period)
Matt – As much as I love the ESV Study Bible, it certainly isn’t the gospel!
Josh – Yeah, I can relate to wanting to add something to the gospel…particularly some sort of theological position. But the gospel just won’t allow it!
Ron – I’m right with you man. In the flesh we always want to add something to the gospel.
Megan – Glad you found it helpful.
Marshall – Yep. To be more specific, the life, death, and resurrection. Nothing about me. I love it.
God is the Gospel! I am learning that from reading John Piper’s book that is called God is the Gospel. I haven’t finish reading his book yet.
I have so much to be thankful for Christ Alone.
Hungry to eat His Word,
‘Guerite ~ BoldLion
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power Col 2:10
Jesus = Me completed
Nothing more is required but faith in Christ alone from a heart of contrition reconizing the error of our sinful ways.
He is the one that set me free!