The Gospel of the Kingdom vs. the Gospel of Justification? Keller, Piper, Carson, DeYoung

Is there any sense at all Is there any sense at all in which it is helpful to talk about in which it is helpful to talk about in which it is helpful to talk about the gospel of Paul, the gospel of the gospel of Paul, the gospel of the gospel of Paul, the gospel of justification, the gospel of the justification, the gospel of the justification, the gospel of the kingdom? I mean, the expression the kingdom? I mean, the expression the kingdom? I mean, the expression the gospel of the kingdom is found, of gospel of the kingdom is found, of gospel of the kingdom is found, of course, in the synoptics. Um is it is it course, in the synoptics. Um is it is it course, in the synoptics. Um is it is it helpful for us to use those expressions helpful for us to use those expressions helpful for us to use those expressions today? The gospel of the kingdom, the today? The gospel of the kingdom, the today? The gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of Paul, the gospel of gospel of Paul, the gospel of gospel of Paul, the gospel of justification, or whatever. justification, or whatever. justification, or whatever. And if so, in what ways can we properly And if so, in what ways can we properly And if so, in what ways can we properly use them? In what ways must we not use use them? In what ways must we not use use them? In what ways must we not use them? >> You tweeted about this >> You tweeted about this yesterday yesterday yesterday >> Or today. >> Or today. >> Or today. >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> According to an of. >> According to an of. >> According to an of. >> That's right. >> That's right. >> That's right. >> That's relevant. >> That's relevant. >> That's relevant. >> Good. >> Good. >> Good. >> You want me to remind you what you said? >> You want me to remind you what you said? >> You want me to remind you what you said? >> do remember now. Well, Well, you look in in your Bible and it will you look in in your Bible and it will you look in in your Bible and it will say say say the gospel according to Mark. And you've the gospel according to Mark. And you've the gospel according to Mark. And you've talked about this a number of times, talked about this a number of times, talked about this a number of times, Don. The the gospel according to Don. The the gospel according to Don. The the gospel according to Matthew. Matthew. Matthew. That there's a reason it's not the That there's a reason it's not the That there's a reason it's not the gospel of gospel of gospel of Mark's Mark's got a gospel and John's Mark's Mark's got a gospel and John's Mark's Mark's got a gospel and John's got a gospel and got a gospel and got a gospel and well, maybe they they work together, who well, maybe they they work together, who well, maybe they they work together, who knows. It was uh a knows. It was uh a knows. It was uh a deliberate deliberate deliberate uh understanding of the early church uh understanding of the early church uh understanding of the early church that there was one story, there was one that there was one story, there was one that there was one story, there was one narrative, there was one story line of narrative, there was one story line of narrative, there was one story line of good news, and these four gospels are good news, and these four gospels are good news, and these four gospels are giving it according to Mark. So, he giving it according to Mark. So, he giving it according to Mark. So, he here's Mark's going to give his but it's here's Mark's going to give his but it's here's Mark's going to give his but it's the one gospel, it's the same gospel.

the one gospel, it's the same gospel. the one gospel, it's the same gospel. So, I I guess to your question, for that So, I I guess to your question, for that So, I I guess to your question, for that reason I'm reason I'm reason I'm I'm trying to think I'm trying to think I'm trying to think when or why I would want to say the when or why I would want to say the when or why I would want to say the gospel gospel gospel of Paul in contradistinction of Paul in contradistinction of Paul in contradistinction to to to some other kind of gospel because it some other kind of gospel because it some other kind of gospel because it seems to seems to seems to just just just work into this kind of Jesus versus work into this kind of Jesus versus work into this kind of Jesus versus Paul, kingdom versus justification, but Paul, kingdom versus justification, but Paul, kingdom versus justification, but maybe there's some helpful way I'm not maybe there's some helpful way I'm not maybe there's some helpful way I'm not thinking of. thinking of. thinking of. >> Um what what I was after was was was >> Um what what I was after was was was >> Um what what I was after was was was really two things and and you've really two things and and you've really two things and and you've mentioned one of them already. That is mentioned one of them already. That is mentioned one of them already. That is to say in the first century to say in the first century to say in the first century um without any doubt at all. This has um without any doubt at all. This has um without any doubt at all. This has been very clearly shown by many people been very clearly shown by many people been very clearly shown by many people especially a chap called Martin Hengel. especially a chap called Martin Hengel. especially a chap called Martin Hengel. What what was understood was that it was What what was understood was that it was What what was understood was that it was the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew, the gospel of Jesus Christ Matthew, the gospel of Jesus Christ Matthew, the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark, the gospel of of according to Mark, the gospel of of according to Mark, the gospel of of Jesus Christ according to Luke and so Jesus Christ according to Luke and so Jesus Christ according to Luke and so on. So they were the witnesses bearing on. So they were the witnesses bearing on. So they were the witnesses bearing witness to the one true gospel. That's witness to the one true gospel. That's witness to the one true gospel. That's why for all of us who have taken first why for all of us who have taken first why for all of us who have taken first year baby Greek and get our first year baby Greek and get our first year baby Greek and get our first our first uh feel of a New Testament in our first uh feel of a New Testament in our first uh feel of a New Testament in our hands and we open it up and you see our hands and we open it up and you see our hands and we open it up and you see the first word on on the page of the New the first word on on the page of the New the first word on on the page of the New Testament is kata Matthaion, according Testament is kata Matthaion, according Testament is kata Matthaion, according to Matthew. It's not it's not the gospel to Matthew. It's not it's not the gospel to Matthew. It's not it's not the gospel of Matthew. It's it's the gospel of of Matthew. It's it's the gospel of of Matthew. It's it's the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew. And Jesus Christ according to Matthew. And Jesus Christ according to Matthew. And eventually the term gospel became later eventually the term gospel became later eventually the term gospel became later on in the second and third century came on in the second and third century came on in the second and third century came to refer to a genre of literature. So to refer to a genre of literature. So to refer to a genre of literature. So gospels as opposed to epistles. But in gospels as opposed to epistles. But in gospels as opposed to epistles. But in the first century nobody used the term the first century nobody used the term the first century nobody used the term that way. There was no such thing as a that way. There was no such thing as a that way. There was no such thing as a gospel in a in a literary sense. It was

gospel in a in a literary sense. It was gospel in a in a literary sense. It was the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And and it Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And and it Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. And and it was only later that that the term came was only later that that the term came was only later that that the term came to be associated with a literary genre. to be associated with a literary genre. to be associated with a literary genre. But then the second element is what do But then the second element is what do But then the second element is what do you do with an expression like the you do with an expression like the you do with an expression like the gospel of the kingdom? Is that is that Is that is that a sub- a sub- a sub- an equivalent? An alternative? an equivalent? An alternative? an equivalent? An alternative? I mean that is that is after all a I mean that is that is after all a I mean that is that is after all a biblical category. What does it mean? biblical category. What does it mean? biblical category. What does it mean? >> To to intensify the question, >> To to intensify the question, >> To to intensify the question, Jesus came preaching the gospel of the Jesus came preaching the gospel of the Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom. kingdom. kingdom. That's Matthew and here's Matthew 24:14. That's Matthew and here's Matthew 24:14. That's Matthew and here's Matthew 24:14. This gospel of the kingdom will be This gospel of the kingdom will be This gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout all the world as a preached throughout all the world as a preached throughout all the world as a testimony to all the nations and then testimony to all the nations and then testimony to all the nations and then the end will come which means in Jesus' the end will come which means in Jesus' the end will come which means in Jesus' mind what he was preaching would be mind what he was preaching would be mind what he was preaching would be preached to the end. preached to the end. preached to the end. And my And my And my take on that is take on that is take on that is he looked at what Paul did and said, he looked at what Paul did and said, he looked at what Paul did and said, "That's exactly what I mean."

You're doing it. You're doing it. You're doing it. You're doing it. You're doing it. He did not mean He did not mean He did not mean mimic my phraseology, which is being s- mimic my phraseology, which is being s- mimic my phraseology, which is being s- >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> formulated carefully to get me to the >> formulated carefully to get me to the >> formulated carefully to get me to the cross cross cross at the appointed hour and not an hour at the appointed hour and not an hour at the appointed hour and not an hour sooner by the people that are trying to sooner by the people that are trying to sooner by the people that are trying to make me king because I fed their make me king because I fed their make me king because I fed their bellies. bellies. bellies. I need to get to the cross and show you I need to get to the cross and show you I need to get to the cross and show you what king is, what kings are like in the what king is, what kings are like in the what king is, what kings are like in the kingdom, so that you can preach the kingdom, so that you can preach the kingdom, so that you can preach the gospel of the crucified kingdom forever, gospel of the crucified kingdom forever, gospel of the crucified kingdom forever, which is what Paul and and the apostles which is what Paul and and the apostles which is what Paul and and the apostles helped us do. >> You know, you had a you referred earlier >> You know, you had a you referred earlier when we were having supper to um an when we were having supper to um an when we were having supper to um an essay by a young scholar at Cambridge in essay by a young scholar at Cambridge in essay by a young scholar at Cambridge in which he works out um three patterns of which he works out um three patterns of which he works out um three patterns of of understanding the relationship of understanding the relationship of understanding the relationship between us and and God in the Gospels between us and and God in the Gospels between us and and God in the Gospels and in Paul. Do you want to just outline and in Paul. Do you want to just outline and in Paul. Do you want to just outline that? I I thought that was pretty that? I I thought that was pretty that? I I thought that was pretty helpful. helpful. helpful. >> Well, it's Simon Gathercole, who's now >> Well, it's Simon Gathercole, who's now >> Well, it's Simon Gathercole, who's now at Cambridge, right? at Cambridge, right? at Cambridge, right? >> Yeah, he's at Cambridge. Yeah.

>> Yeah, he's at Cambridge. Yeah. >> Yeah, he's at Cambridge. Yeah. >> Um >> Um >> Um wrote an article about the Gospel of wrote an article about the Gospel of wrote an article about the Gospel of Paul and the Gospel of Jesus or the Paul and the Gospel of Jesus or the Paul and the Gospel of Jesus or the supposed Gospel of Paul Jesus. supposed Gospel of Paul Jesus. supposed Gospel of Paul Jesus. He he felt that uh when Paul talked He he felt that uh when Paul talked He he felt that uh when Paul talked about the Gospel, the three elements in about the Gospel, the three elements in about the Gospel, the three elements in Paul's Gospel were um who Jesus is, he's Paul's Gospel were um who Jesus is, he's Paul's Gospel were um who Jesus is, he's the incarnate Son of David, beginning of the incarnate Son of David, beginning of the incarnate Son of David, beginning of Romans, Romans 1. Romans, Romans 1. Romans, Romans 1. Secondly, he died for atonement and Secondly, he died for atonement and Secondly, he died for atonement and justification. justification. justification. And then thirdly, Jesus brings the new And then thirdly, Jesus brings the new And then thirdly, Jesus brings the new creation. I mean, Paul is very creation. I mean, Paul is very creation. I mean, Paul is very eschatological. If you read Romans 8, um eschatological. If you read Romans 8, um eschatological. If you read Romans 8, um and and even um what uh Dick Gaffin and and even um what uh Dick Gaffin and and even um what uh Dick Gaffin always points out with Titus, where always points out with Titus, where always points out with Titus, where Paul's talking about the the essentially Paul's talking about the the essentially Paul's talking about the the essentially the future renewal of all things is the future renewal of all things is the future renewal of all things is coming into my life now through the new coming into my life now through the new coming into my life now through the new birth. Um and so the third thing is Paul birth. Um and so the third thing is Paul birth. Um and so the third thing is Paul talks about, you know, after who Jesus talks about, you know, after who Jesus talks about, you know, after who Jesus is and his death for atonement and is and his death for atonement and is and his death for atonement and justification. And then he brings in the justification. And then he brings in the justification. And then he brings in the new creation, which is seen, yes, more new creation, which is seen, yes, more new creation, which is seen, yes, more in terms in Paul of how individually we in terms in Paul of how individually we in terms in Paul of how individually we are freed from the dominion of sin.

are freed from the dominion of sin. are freed from the dominion of sin. We're freed from the the the the kingdom We're freed from the the the the kingdom We're freed from the the the the kingdom of sin and brought into the kingdom of of sin and brought into the kingdom of of sin and brought into the kingdom of of our his dear son. So it's a little of our his dear son. So it's a little of our his dear son. So it's a little more more more got to do with uh got to do with uh got to do with uh freedom from the dominion of sin and the freedom from the dominion of sin and the freedom from the dominion of sin and the new creation. Then he says, you go to new creation. Then he says, you go to new creation. Then he says, you go to the synoptics and what you have is Jesus the synoptics and what you have is Jesus the synoptics and what you have is Jesus is the Messiah. is the Messiah. is the Messiah. So he's the prophesied Messiah. You have So he's the prophesied Messiah. You have So he's the prophesied Messiah. You have Jesus' death for many. He gave his life Jesus' death for many. He gave his life Jesus' death for many. He gave his life a ransom for many. That's a a Paul a a ransom for many. That's a a Paul a a ransom for many. That's a a Paul a little Pauline bomb right in the middle little Pauline bomb right in the middle little Pauline bomb right in the middle of uh you know, Mark and Matthew. of uh you know, Mark and Matthew. of uh you know, Mark and Matthew. Uh but then of course there's the uh the Uh but then of course there's the uh the Uh but then of course there's the uh the the reign of God over the demons. He he the reign of God over the demons. He he the reign of God over the demons. He he would say that in the synoptics there's would say that in the synoptics there's would say that in the synoptics there's more talk about more talk about more talk about um you know, Jesus overcoming the um you know, Jesus overcoming the um you know, Jesus overcoming the demonic in the world and uh delivering demonic in the world and uh delivering demonic in the world and uh delivering us from the the demonic. Paul would talk us from the the demonic. Paul would talk us from the the demonic. Paul would talk more about deliverance from indwelling more about deliverance from indwelling more about deliverance from indwelling sin. But he says those same three sin. But he says those same three sin. But he says those same three elements, which is who is Jesus, death elements, which is who is Jesus, death elements, which is who is Jesus, death for many, and the um the new creation, for many, and the um the new creation, for many, and the um the new creation, the reign of God, are really there in the reign of God, are really there in the reign of God, are really there in all three. They're uh all three. They're uh all three. They're uh the thing that I think we have to make the thing that I think we have to make the thing that I think we have to make sure before we're done is talk about in sure before we're done is talk about in sure before we're done is talk about in what way the term kingdom, the way the what way the term kingdom, the way the what way the term kingdom, the way the synoptic preaching of Jesus goes, how in synoptic preaching of Jesus goes, how in synoptic preaching of Jesus goes, how in what value does that add? Because I what value does that add? Because I what value does that add? Because I don't believe it would be in the canon don't believe it would be in the canon don't believe it would be in the canon unless God wanted us to say when you unless God wanted us to say when you unless God wanted us to say when you when you preach it like this, here's when you preach it like this, here's when you preach it like this, here's here's the John way, eternal life.

here's the John way, eternal life. here's the John way, eternal life. Here's the synoptics way, kingdom of Here's the synoptics way, kingdom of Here's the synoptics way, kingdom of God. Here's the Paul way, more on God. Here's the Paul way, more on God. Here's the Paul way, more on justification and dominion from sin. justification and dominion from sin. justification and dominion from sin. What What do Are they not mutually uh What What do Are they not mutually uh What What do Are they not mutually uh Don't don't they basically inform each Don't don't they basically inform each Don't don't they basically inform each other? Don't they actually give us a a other? Don't they actually give us a a other? Don't they actually give us a a fuller and richer understanding of our fuller and richer understanding of our fuller and richer understanding of our salvation. I think so, but that that salvation. I think so, but that that salvation. I think so, but that that essay is in essay is in essay is in a compendium of a compendium of a compendium of it was a one it's called God's power to it was a one it's called God's power to it was a one it's called God's power to save. save. save. That's where Simon Gathercole's article That's where Simon Gathercole's article That's where Simon Gathercole's article and there's in fact the whole thing is and there's in fact the whole thing is and there's in fact the whole thing is about that. It's a about that. It's a about that. It's a >> Edited by Chris Green. >> Edited by Chris Green. >> Edited by Chris Green. >> Yeah, edited by Chris Green, Oakhill >> Yeah, edited by Chris Green, Oakhill >> Yeah, edited by Chris Green, Oakhill Annual School of Theology, God's power Annual School of Theology, God's power Annual School of Theology, God's power to save. Really basically on the subject to save. Really basically on the subject to save. Really basically on the subject we're talking about here tonight. we're talking about here tonight. we're talking about here tonight. >> Can I start to answer that and then I'll >> Can I start to answer that and then I'll >> Can I start to answer that and then I'll let you guys clean it up, but why why let you guys clean it up, but why why let you guys clean it up, but why why the kingdom language and what value the kingdom language and what value the kingdom language and what value obviously you know Jesus speaks that way obviously you know Jesus speaks that way obviously you know Jesus speaks that way so often. so often. so often. I think what you said is exactly right. I think what you said is exactly right. I think what you said is exactly right. It the kingdom is the the heavenly rule It the kingdom is the the heavenly rule It the kingdom is the the heavenly rule and reign. It's this eternal life and reign. It's this eternal life and reign. It's this eternal life breaking in here. So I I think of it as breaking in here. So I I think of it as breaking in here. So I I think of it as the sun that that is and it breaks the sun that that is and it breaks the sun that that is and it breaks through the clouds with greater through the clouds with greater through the clouds with greater intensity and that way it's not there's intensity and that way it's not there's intensity and that way it's not there's not more or less, but it comes into our not more or less, but it comes into our not more or less, but it comes into our world in increasing amounts. That world in increasing amounts. That world in increasing amounts. That kingdom comes in that way and I think of kingdom comes in that way and I think of kingdom comes in that way and I think of it as it as it as so what is this this heavenly world so what is this this heavenly world so what is this this heavenly world going to be? Well, there's there's not going to be? Well, there's there's not going to be? Well, there's there's not going to be any want or scarcity or going to be any want or scarcity or going to be any want or scarcity or poverty. Well, that has something to say poverty. Well, that has something to say poverty. Well, that has something to say about the kingdom here and now. Well, about the kingdom here and now. Well, about the kingdom here and now. Well, what what is this kingdom to come this what what is this kingdom to come this what what is this kingdom to come this heavenly realm? Well, everyone bows the

heavenly realm? Well, everyone bows the heavenly realm? Well, everyone bows the knee to Christ. That's why I think you knee to Christ. That's why I think you knee to Christ. That's why I think you have to acknowledge the king, repent and have to acknowledge the king, repent and have to acknowledge the king, repent and believe in the king to be a part of the believe in the king to be a part of the believe in the king to be a part of the kingdom. There are no wicked. That's why kingdom. There are no wicked. That's why kingdom. There are no wicked. That's why there's an over-realized eschatology there's an over-realized eschatology there's an over-realized eschatology sometimes people say we have to sometimes people say we have to sometimes people say we have to we have to do all these things to affect we have to do all these things to affect we have to do all these things to affect the kingdom in our world. the kingdom in our world. the kingdom in our world. And And And yes and no. Before we go too far with yes and no. Before we go too far with yes and no. Before we go too far with that we say, well, you know in the that we say, well, you know in the that we say, well, you know in the kingdom there's also no wicked people. kingdom there's also no wicked people. kingdom there's also no wicked people. So is that part of we go and punish all So is that part of we go and punish all So is that part of we go and punish all the throw them into the lake of fire the throw them into the lake of fire the throw them into the lake of fire now? Well, no because the church is a now? Well, no because the church is a now? Well, no because the church is a kind of outpost of the kingdom where kind of outpost of the kingdom where kind of outpost of the kingdom where where those heavenly realities and where those heavenly realities and where those heavenly realities and virtues and values come to bear so that virtues and values come to bear so that virtues and values come to bear so that church discipline is that kind of church discipline is that kind of church discipline is that kind of precursor to that kingdom ethic. The The precursor to that kingdom ethic. The The precursor to that kingdom ethic. The The church having everything in common so church having everything in common so church having everything in common so that no one was in want was that that no one was in want was that that no one was in want was that heavenly heavenly heavenly ethic coming down into the context of ethic coming down into the context of ethic coming down into the context of the church. We might say it it not the church. We might say it it not the church. We might say it it not completely circumscribed by those completely circumscribed by those completely circumscribed by those boundaries, but I think that's where the boundaries, but I think that's where the boundaries, but I think that's where the kingdom becomes incredibly helpful for kingdom becomes incredibly helpful for kingdom becomes incredibly helpful for what it is God is doing right now what it is God is doing right now what it is God is doing right now establishing his rule and reign and some establishing his rule and reign and some establishing his rule and reign and some of that heavenly reality that we can of that heavenly reality that we can of that heavenly reality that we can enjoy is breaking in right now.