4 Mistaken Views of the Gospel - Don Carson

Many have commented on the fact that the Many have commented on the fact that the church in the western world is going church in the western world is going church in the western world is going through a time of remarkable through a time of remarkable through a time of remarkable fragmentation. fragmentation. fragmentation. This fragmentation extends to our This fragmentation extends to our This fragmentation extends to our understanding of the gospel itself. understanding of the gospel itself. understanding of the gospel itself. For some Christians, the gospel is a For some Christians, the gospel is a For some Christians, the gospel is a narrow set of teachings about Jesus and narrow set of teachings about Jesus and narrow set of teachings about Jesus and his death and resurrection which rightly his death and resurrection which rightly his death and resurrection which rightly believed tip people into the kingdom. believed tip people into the kingdom. believed tip people into the kingdom. And then after that all the real And then after that all the real And then after that all the real training and life transformation and training and life transformation and training and life transformation and disciplehip and maturity take place. disciplehip and maturity take place. disciplehip and maturity take place. This is a far cry from the emphases in This is a far cry from the emphases in This is a far cry from the emphases in the Bible which understands the gospel the Bible which understands the gospel the Bible which understands the gospel to be the embracing category that holds to be the embracing category that holds to be the embracing category that holds much of the whole Bible together and much of the whole Bible together and much of the whole Bible together and takes Christians from lossness, takes Christians from lossness, takes Christians from lossness, condemnation, alienation from God all condemnation, alienation from God all condemnation, alienation from God all the way through conversion and the way through conversion and the way through conversion and disciplehip to the consummation to disciplehip to the consummation to disciplehip to the consummation to resurrection bodies and a new heaven and resurrection bodies and a new heaven and resurrection bodies and a new heaven and a new earth. a new earth. a new earth. Other voices identify the gospel with Other voices identify the gospel with Other voices identify the gospel with the first and second commandments to the first and second commandments to the first and second commandments to love God with heart, soul, mind, and love God with heart, soul, mind, and love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.

strength, and your neighbor as yourself. strength, and your neighbor as yourself. Well, these commandments are so central Well, these commandments are so central Well, these commandments are so central that Jesus himself insists that all the that Jesus himself insists that all the that Jesus himself insists that all the prophets and the law hang on them, but prophets and the law hang on them, but prophets and the law hang on them, but they're not the gospel. they're not the gospel. they're not the gospel. A third option today is to treat the A third option today is to treat the A third option today is to treat the ethical teaching of Jesus found in the ethical teaching of Jesus found in the ethical teaching of Jesus found in the canonical gospels as the gospel. Yet it canonical gospels as the gospel. Yet it canonical gospels as the gospel. Yet it is often the ethical teaching of Jesus is often the ethical teaching of Jesus is often the ethical teaching of Jesus abstracted from his passion and abstracted from his passion and abstracted from his passion and resurrection. This approach depends on resurrection. This approach depends on resurrection. This approach depends on two disastrous mistakes. two disastrous mistakes. two disastrous mistakes. First, it overlooks the fact that in the First, it overlooks the fact that in the First, it overlooks the fact that in the first century, there was no Gospel of first century, there was no Gospel of first century, there was no Gospel of Matthew or Gospel of Mark or Gospel of Matthew or Gospel of Mark or Gospel of Matthew or Gospel of Mark or Gospel of Luke. Nobody used that terminology in Luke. Nobody used that terminology in Luke. Nobody used that terminology in the first century. In the first century, the first century. In the first century, the first century. In the first century, it was the gospel according to Matthew. it was the gospel according to Matthew. it was the gospel according to Matthew. The gospel according to Mark, the gospel The gospel according to Mark, the gospel The gospel according to Mark, the gospel according to Luke. That is there was according to Luke. That is there was according to Luke. That is there was just one gospel according to these just one gospel according to these just one gospel according to these various witnesses. various witnesses. various witnesses. And when you see then what is common in And when you see then what is common in And when you see then what is common in the canonical books we today call the canonical books we today call the canonical books we today call gospels, then you run from the beginning gospels, then you run from the beginning gospels, then you run from the beginning of Jesus of Jesus of Jesus right through his teaching and right through his teaching and right through his teaching and miraculous power, the shutting down of miraculous power, the shutting down of miraculous power, the shutting down of the powers of darkness through to his the powers of darkness through to his the powers of darkness through to his death and resurrection including his death and resurrection including his death and resurrection including his commission that constitutes the gospel.

commission that constitutes the gospel. commission that constitutes the gospel. It is the one gospel according to It is the one gospel according to It is the one gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These elements are not independent pearls on a elements are not independent pearls on a elements are not independent pearls on a string that constitutes the life and string that constitutes the life and string that constitutes the life and times of Jesus the Messiah or something times of Jesus the Messiah or something times of Jesus the Messiah or something like that. Accounts of Jesus teaching like that. Accounts of Jesus teaching like that. Accounts of Jesus teaching cannot be rightly understood unless we cannot be rightly understood unless we cannot be rightly understood unless we discern how they flow and point forward discern how they flow and point forward discern how they flow and point forward toward Jesus death and resurrection. toward Jesus death and resurrection. toward Jesus death and resurrection. To study the teaching of Jesus without To study the teaching of Jesus without To study the teaching of Jesus without simultaneously reflecting on on his simultaneously reflecting on on his simultaneously reflecting on on his passion and resurrection is far worse passion and resurrection is far worse passion and resurrection is far worse than assessing the life of George than assessing the life of George than assessing the life of George Washington without reflecting on the Washington without reflecting on the Washington without reflecting on the American Revolution or trying to make American Revolution or trying to make American Revolution or trying to make sense of Hitler's mind comf without sense of Hitler's mind comf without sense of Hitler's mind comf without thinking about World War II. thinking about World War II. thinking about World War II. Second, we shall soon see that to focus Second, we shall soon see that to focus Second, we shall soon see that to focus on Jesus teaching while making the cross on Jesus teaching while making the cross on Jesus teaching while making the cross peripheral reduces the glorious good peripheral reduces the glorious good peripheral reduces the glorious good news of the gospel to mere religion, the news of the gospel to mere religion, the news of the gospel to mere religion, the joy of forgiveness, to mere ethical joy of forgiveness, to mere ethical joy of forgiveness, to mere ethical conformity, the highest motives for conformity, the highest motives for conformity, the highest motives for obedience, to mere duty. And the result obedience, to mere duty. And the result obedience, to mere duty. And the result is disastrous. It's catastrophic.

is disastrous. It's catastrophic. is disastrous. It's catastrophic. Perhaps more common yet today is the Perhaps more common yet today is the Perhaps more common yet today is the tendency to assume the gospel, whatever tendency to assume the gospel, whatever tendency to assume the gospel, whatever that is, while devoting creative energy that is, while devoting creative energy that is, while devoting creative energy and passion to other issues. Marriage, and passion to other issues. Marriage, and passion to other issues. Marriage, happiness, prosperity, evangelism, the happiness, prosperity, evangelism, the happiness, prosperity, evangelism, the poor, wrestling with Islam, bioeththics, poor, wrestling with Islam, bioeththics, poor, wrestling with Islam, bioeththics, pressures of secularization, dangers on pressures of secularization, dangers on pressures of secularization, dangers on the left, dangers on the right. The list the left, dangers on the right. The list the left, dangers on the right. The list is endless. is endless. is endless. But this overlooks the fact that our But this overlooks the fact that our But this overlooks the fact that our hearers inevitably are drawn toward that hearers inevitably are drawn toward that hearers inevitably are drawn toward that about which we are most passionate. about which we are most passionate. about which we are most passionate. Every teacher knows that my students are Every teacher knows that my students are Every teacher knows that my students are unlikely to learn all that I teach them. unlikely to learn all that I teach them. unlikely to learn all that I teach them. I've resigned myself to that for a long I've resigned myself to that for a long I've resigned myself to that for a long time. time. time. They are most likely to learn what I'm They are most likely to learn what I'm They are most likely to learn what I'm excited about. If the gospel is merely excited about. If the gospel is merely excited about. If the gospel is merely assumed, while relatively peripheral assumed, while relatively peripheral assumed, while relatively peripheral issues ignite our passion, we will train issues ignite our passion, we will train issues ignite our passion, we will train a new generation to downplay the gospel a new generation to downplay the gospel a new generation to downplay the gospel and focus zeal on the periphery. It is and focus zeal on the periphery. It is and focus zeal on the periphery. It is easy to sound prophetic from the easy to sound prophetic from the easy to sound prophetic from the margins. What is urgently needed is to margins. What is urgently needed is to margins. What is urgently needed is to be prophetic from the center. What is to be prophetic from the center. What is to be prophetic from the center. What is to be feared in the famous words of TS be feared in the famous words of TS be feared in the famous words of TS Elliott is that the center does not Elliott is that the center does not Elliott is that the center does not hold. Moreover, if in fact we do focus hold. Moreover, if in fact we do focus hold. Moreover, if in fact we do focus on the gospel and understand it a right, on the gospel and understand it a right, on the gospel and understand it a right, we shall soon see how this gospel we shall soon see how this gospel we shall soon see how this gospel rightly understood directs us how to rightly understood directs us how to rightly understood directs us how to think about and what to do about a vast think about and what to do about a vast think about and what to do about a vast array of other kinds of issues.

array of other kinds of issues. array of other kinds of issues. Now there are many biblical texts and Now there are many biblical texts and Now there are many biblical texts and themes we could usefully explore to themes we could usefully explore to themes we could usefully explore to think more clearly about the gospel but think more clearly about the gospel but think more clearly about the gospel but for our purposes I want to read 1 for our purposes I want to read 1 for our purposes I want to read 1 Corinthians 15 1-19. Now brothers I want to remind you of the Now brothers I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you which you gospel I preached to you which you gospel I preached to you which you received and on which you have taken received and on which you have taken received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved your stand. By this gospel you are saved your stand. By this gospel you are saved if you hold firmly to the word I if you hold firmly to the word I if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have preached to you. Otherwise, you have preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. believed in vain. believed in vain. For what I received, I passed on to you For what I received, I passed on to you For what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance, that Christ died as of first importance, that Christ died as of first importance, that Christ died for our sins, according to the for our sins, according to the for our sins, according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he scriptures, that he was buried, that he scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according was raised on the third day, according was raised on the third day, according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to the scriptures, and that he appeared to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the 12. After that, to Peter and then to the 12. After that, to Peter and then to the 12. After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the he appeared to more than 500 of the he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom brothers at the same time, most of whom brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have are still living, though some have are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to fallen asleep. Then he appeared to fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and James, then to all the apostles, and James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as last of all he appeared to me also, as last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

to one abnormally born. to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles, and For I am the least of the apostles, and For I am the least of the apostles, and do not even deserve to be called an do not even deserve to be called an do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church apostle, because I persecuted the church apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. of God. of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace to me was not without And his grace to me was not without And his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of effect. No, I worked harder than all of effect. No, I worked harder than all of them. Yet not I, but the grace of God them. Yet not I, but the grace of God them. Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether then it was I that was with me. Whether then it was I that was with me. Whether then it was I or they, this is what we preach and this or they, this is what we preach and this or they, this is what we preach and this is what you believed. But if it is is what you believed. But if it is is what you believed. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised preached that Christ has been raised preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say from the dead, how can some of you say from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the that there is no resurrection of the that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been dead, then not even Christ has been dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so raised, our preaching is useless, and so raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. More than that, we are is your faith. More than that, we are is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about then found to be false witnesses about then found to be false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God God. For we have testified about God God. For we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. that he raised Christ from the dead. that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him. If in fact the But he did not raise him. If in fact the But he did not raise him. If in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are dead are not raised. For if the dead are dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been not raised, then Christ has not been not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not raised either. And if Christ has not raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You been raised, your faith is futile. You been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Then those also are still in your sins. Then those also are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are who have fallen asleep in Christ are who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope lost. If only for this life we have hope lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pied more than in Christ, we are to be pied more than in Christ, we are to be pied more than all men.

all men. all men. This is the word of the Lord. This is the word of the Lord. This is the word of the Lord. >> We're from different traditions here, >> We're from different traditions here, >> We're from different traditions here, but the lurggical tradition that but the lurggical tradition that but the lurggical tradition that responds to the reading of scripture responds to the reading of scripture responds to the reading of scripture with thanks be to God is a wonderful with thanks be to God is a wonderful with thanks be to God is a wonderful one. Don't you think? So when scripture one. Don't you think? So when scripture one. Don't you think? So when scripture is read here again, perhaps we can is read here again, perhaps we can is read here again, perhaps we can encourage that someone will say this is encourage that someone will say this is encourage that someone will say this is the word of the Lord and everyone will the word of the Lord and everyone will the word of the Lord and everyone will reply reply reply to God. to God. to God. >> Yes. I shall try to bring things to >> Yes. I shall try to bring things to >> Yes. I shall try to bring things to clarity by focusing on eight summarizing clarity by focusing on eight summarizing clarity by focusing on eight summarizing words. words. words. Five clarifying sentences Five clarifying sentences Five clarifying sentences and one evocative summary. and one evocative summary. and one evocative summary. Now you've got my outline. First the eight the eight summarizing First the eight the eight summarizing words. words. words. What Paul is going to talk about in What Paul is going to talk about in What Paul is going to talk about in these verses he says is the gospel. Now these verses he says is the gospel. Now these verses he says is the gospel. Now brothers I want to remind you of the brothers I want to remind you of the brothers I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you. Verse one. And gospel I preached to you. Verse one. And gospel I preached to you. Verse one. And again verse two, by this gospel you were again verse two, by this gospel you were again verse two, by this gospel you were saved if you hold firmly to the word I saved if you hold firmly to the word I saved if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. And then these preached to you. And then these preached to you. And then these preparatory remarks completed the very preparatory remarks completed the very preparatory remarks completed the very first word that appears is Christ. I first word that appears is Christ. I first word that appears is Christ. I passed on to you as of first importance passed on to you as of first importance passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins and so that Christ died for our sins and so that Christ died for our sins and so forth. So number one, the gospel is forth. So number one, the gospel is forth. So number one, the gospel is christoologgical. It is Christ centered.

christoologgical. It is Christ centered. christoologgical. It is Christ centered. The gospel is not a bland theism. The gospel is not a bland theism. The gospel is not a bland theism. still less an impersonal pantheism. The still less an impersonal pantheism. The still less an impersonal pantheism. The gospel is irrevocably Christ centered. gospel is irrevocably Christ centered. gospel is irrevocably Christ centered. The point is powerfully articulated in The point is powerfully articulated in The point is powerfully articulated in every major New Testament book and every major New Testament book and every major New Testament book and corpus. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus is corpus. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus is corpus. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the long Emmanuel, God with us. He is the long Emmanuel, God with us. He is the long promised Davidic king who will bring in promised Davidic king who will bring in promised Davidic king who will bring in the kingdom of God. By his death and the kingdom of God. By his death and the kingdom of God. By his death and resurrection, he becomes the mediatorial resurrection, he becomes the mediatorial resurrection, he becomes the mediatorial monarch who insists that all authority monarch who insists that all authority monarch who insists that all authority in heaven and on earth is his, his in heaven and on earth is his, his in heaven and on earth is his, his alone. In John, Jesus alone is the way, alone. In John, Jesus alone is the way, alone. In John, Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the truth, and the life. No one comes to the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through him. In the the father except through him. In the the father except through him. In the sermons reported in Acts, there is no sermons reported in Acts, there is no sermons reported in Acts, there is no name but Jesus given under heaven by name but Jesus given under heaven by name but Jesus given under heaven by which we must be saved. In Romans and which we must be saved. In Romans and which we must be saved. In Romans and Galatians and Ephesians, Jesus is the Galatians and Ephesians, Jesus is the Galatians and Ephesians, Jesus is the last Adam, the one to whom the law and last Adam, the one to whom the law and last Adam, the one to whom the law and the prophets bear witness. The one who the prophets bear witness. The one who the prophets bear witness. The one who by God's own design propitiates God's by God's own design propitiates God's by God's own design propitiates God's wroth and reconciles Jews and Gentiles wroth and reconciles Jews and Gentiles wroth and reconciles Jews and Gentiles to his heavenly father. In the great to his heavenly father. In the great to his heavenly father. In the great vision of Revelation 4 and5, the son vision of Revelation 4 and5, the son vision of Revelation 4 and5, the son alone is worthy to take the scroll from alone is worthy to take the scroll from alone is worthy to take the scroll from his father's hand and break open the his father's hand and break open the his father's hand and break open the seals and bring to pass all of God's seals and bring to pass all of God's seals and bring to pass all of God's purposes for blessing and judgment.

purposes for blessing and judgment. purposes for blessing and judgment. So also here the gospel is So also here the gospel is So also here the gospel is christoologgical. John Sto has rightly christoologgical. John Sto has rightly christoologgical. John Sto has rightly said the gospel is not preached if said the gospel is not preached if said the gospel is not preached if Christ is not preached. Christ is not preached. Christ is not preached. And yet this christoologgical stance And yet this christoologgical stance And yet this christoologgical stance does not focus exclusively on Christ's does not focus exclusively on Christ's does not focus exclusively on Christ's person. person. person. It embraces with equal fervor his death It embraces with equal fervor his death It embraces with equal fervor his death and resurrection. As a matter of first and resurrection. As a matter of first and resurrection. As a matter of first importance, Paul writes, "Christ died importance, Paul writes, "Christ died importance, Paul writes, "Christ died for our sins." for our sins." for our sins." Earlier in this letter, Paul does not Earlier in this letter, Paul does not Earlier in this letter, Paul does not tell his readers in chapter 2, "I tell his readers in chapter 2, "I tell his readers in chapter 2, "I resolved to know nothing while I was resolved to know nothing while I was resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ." with you except Jesus Christ." with you except Jesus Christ." He says, "Rather, I resolved to know He says, "Rather, I resolved to know He says, "Rather, I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except nothing while I was with you except nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." So also Jesus Christ and him crucified." So also Jesus Christ and him crucified." So also here here here as a matter of first importance Christ as a matter of first importance Christ as a matter of first importance Christ died for our sins. This is the gospel of died for our sins. This is the gospel of died for our sins. This is the gospel of Christ crucified and risen again. Christ crucified and risen again. Christ crucified and risen again. In other words, it is not enough to make In other words, it is not enough to make In other words, it is not enough to make a splash of Christmas and downplay Good a splash of Christmas and downplay Good a splash of Christmas and downplay Good Friday and Easter. When we insist that Friday and Easter. When we insist that Friday and Easter. When we insist that as a matter of first importance the as a matter of first importance the as a matter of first importance the gospel is christoologgical, we are not gospel is christoologgical, we are not gospel is christoologgical, we are not thinking of Christ as a cipher or simply thinking of Christ as a cipher or simply thinking of Christ as a cipher or simply as the God man who comes along and helps as the God man who comes along and helps as the God man who comes along and helps us like a nice insurance agent. Jesus is us like a nice insurance agent. Jesus is us like a nice insurance agent. Jesus is a nice God man. He's a very, very nice a nice God man. He's a very, very nice a nice God man. He's a very, very nice God man. And when you break down, he God man. And when you break down, he God man. And when you break down, he comes along and fixes you. There is no comes along and fixes you. There is no comes along and fixes you. There is no content to that kind of Christ. The content to that kind of Christ. The content to that kind of Christ. The gospel is christoologgical in a more gospel is christoologgical in a more gospel is christoologgical in a more robust sense. Jesus is the promised robust sense. Jesus is the promised robust sense. Jesus is the promised Messiah who died and rose again.