Jul
18
2009
The Gospel For Everyday Life
As I’ve said before, I once assumed (along with the vast majority of professing Christians) that the gospel was simply what non-Christians must believe in order to be saved, while afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But I’ve come to realize that “the gospel isn’t the first step in a stairway of truths, but more like the hub in a wheel of truth.” As Tim Keller explains it, the gospel isn’t simply the ABCs of Christianity, but the A-through-Z. The gospel doesn’t just ignite the Christian life; it’s the fuel that keeps Christians going every day. Once God rescues sinners, his plan isn’t to steer them beyond the gospel, but to move them more deeply into it. After all, the only antidote to sin is the gospel—and since Christians remain sinners even after they’re converted, the gospel must be the medicine a Christian takes every day. Since we never leave off sinning, we can never leave the gospel.
This idea that the gospel is just as much for Christians as it is for non-Christians may seem like a new idea to many but in fact it is really a very old idea.
In his letter to the Christians of Colossae, the apostle Paul quickly portrays the gospel as the instrument of all continued growth and spiritual progress for believers after conversion: “All over the world,” he writes, “this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” (Colossians 1:6, NIV).
Martin Luther understood this as well. He often employed the phrase simul justus et peccator to describe his condition as a Christian. It means “simultaneously justified and sinful.” He understood that while he’d already been saved (through justification) from sin’s penalty, he was in daily need of salvation from sin’s power. And since the gospel is the “power of God for salvation,” he knew that even for the most saintly of saints the gospel is wholly relevant and vitally necessary—day in and day out. This means that heralded preachers need the gospel just as much as hardened pagans.
Well, I’ve had some great help along the way as I’ve wrestled with this “new idea.” There have been some books (beneath the Bible) which have helped me better understand that God intends the reality of the gospel to mold and shape us at every point and in every way–that it should define the way we think, feel, and live. The following list of books is not exhaustive, but if you read them they will get you moving in the right direction toward a better, more Biblical understanding of the Christian’s need for the gospel. If this idea is as “new” to you as it once was to me, these reliable teachers will serve you well (these books are in no particular order):
1. Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges
2. The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
3. The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
4. Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
5. The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
6. The Reign of Grace by Scotty Smith
7. The Jesus Story Book Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
8. How People Change by Tim Lane
9. Broken Down House by Paul Tripp
10. The Enemy Within by Kris Lungaard
Begin with these. It will do your soul good. I promise.
I pray that as you come to a better understanding of the length and breadth of the gospel you will be recaptured by the “God of great expenditure” who gave everything that we might possess all.
20 Comments
Top of the list could be Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell. Amazing book
z
Zach, how could I have forgot about Chapell’s book? You are right. It should be on there.
Tullian,
When I read the list, one book really stood out to me, The Enemy Within. You are so right in directing us, time and time again, to the gospel (we are notoriously needy, He is beautifully bountiful in His character and provision). We are like the helpless woman in the silent movie who has been tied to the tracks of sin while the train of destruction plows our way, ever closer with each ticking moment. But wait, our Knight in shining armor, our Hero, King Jesus comes at just the right time to free us from our bondage and rescue us from destruction. All too often though, we think to ourselves we are free, and fail to see that we need to be rescued again and again, a thousand times a day. We say to ourselves, thank you Jesus, I can take care of things from here. How insidious is our enemy within, our sinful nature, which deceives us into thinking that we are “good Christian people”. Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” May we see how needy we really are! We need the Royal Physician!
I also wanted to add a powerful reality of the gospel in play at the church picnic. As you know, my wife and I have a son, Josiah, who has special needs (he is deaf and on the autism spectrum). I really hesitated to bring my family (especially with my wife being ill and me being the one who would have to manage them both, knowing that they might not be in the same place). We’ve never brought our kids to the picnics in the past, especially when swimming is involved because it means that I have to remove his hearing device (cochlear implant processor), and he can be much more difficult to manage. Also, it is also hard enough trying to keep kids from segregating him because they think he’s “weird” (not like them; “aren’t we all weird in our own way?”). What I saw blessed me because I saw a reality of the gospel in the way he was treated this afternoon. First, there were children in the swimming pool playing with him even though he really couldn’t communicate verbally with them. Secondly, two children and two adults incorporated Josiah into a game they were playing called “corn hole”. There’s the gospel, people sacrificing what they would normally do to accommodate this “different needy child”, by reaching out to one who was hard to communicate with, severely lacks in social graces, who most just tolerate, and who might not have given anything in return.
Thank you, family in Christ, for showing me the gospel in the way you treated our son!!
[...] The Gospel For Everyday Life [...]
You said “Since we never leave off sinning, we can never leave the gospel.” My question is – What is the difference between justification and sanctification? Further, where do “good works” fit in?
Is it possible that people can be so into the “gospel way of life” that they can slip right over “the Gospel” and thereby never become saved because they are deceived into thinking that their works righteousness will save them? Is the Gospel something we do?
Sorry, I guess that is several questions, but they kinda all came out as one in my thoughts. Thanks for answering.
Greg, instead of taking much space here to answer your excellent questions, I would strongly suggest that you begin with C.J. Mahaney’s little book “Living the Cross-Centered Life.” Also, I wrote a little book entitled “Do I Know God?” which answers your questions as well. You can find both on http://www.amazon.com.
Well, I guess the heart of my question was about failing to properly distinguish between the “genesis” of all spiritual growth, and the growth process. I have always thought it is important to make that distinction that you seem to say is unimportant, namely that the Gospel IS the beginning or Genesis(justification) and that the process that ensues has another name – sanctification. The Gospel good news, once implanted in a newly regenerate heart is the seed that bears the fruit, I think we would agree there. However, the Bible warns us about false fruit which stems from unregenerate hearts who are *acting* like they are saved.
Matt 7:22-23
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This is a terrifying passage, so making that distinction is worth taking the space. Thanks for allowing me to make it. I think Luther did, too.
Might I suggest, that the ingredients in the gospel cause the seed not only to open but sprout, grow, blossom and bloom, and then to drop more seeds. The gospel is foundational in, not only faith, but repentance. This is an ongoing process for a life time, and the essence of the Christian life, not only as an individual, but also a community. You’re right, no repentance, no salvation. Let us all examine ourselves, and run (not walk, skip, or jog) to Christ.
testing
123
speaking of Luther…how ’bout his commentary on Galatians? Gold in this regard, I’d say.
talk about the need for the gospel in living the Christian life…those folks were jumpin ship from Him who called them in the grace of Christ…for another gospel that wasn’t even one. what!?
We must beware, that even if Peter, after decades of apolostic ministry, can be on the brink of disaster by moving away from Jesus…how easy is it for me, for you, for us – along with those throughout the region of galatia back in the day to depart from grace to the only other option available: law-keeping? result? death for time and eternity!
Galatians 2:12-14 ESV For before certain men came from James, he (Cephas, Peter) was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. (13) And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. (14) But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV (30) He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (31) Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
peace.
Hi David,
I agree the seed has within it the potential to be the full grown plant. Once planted, however, the farmer moves on to the nurturing process of growth. Water, cultivation, Miracle Grow and so on. The farmer would not waste his time watering and cultivating soil that he never properly planted.
However, as far as God is concerned, once the seed is implanted in a regenerate heart by the Holy Spirit, justification is accomplished. Done. It is no longer I that live, but Christ within me. When God looks at us now, sinful though we still are in our unglorified flesh, he sees the perfection of Christ. We are clothed in His perfection that has been imputed to us as righteousness. We put on His white robe at the point of our conversion, right? That is justification as I have always been taught. The Gospel has been fruitful. That is good news – that despite our continued bondage to the flesh, as Paul laments in Romans 7, we stand justified before God on the basis of Christ’s finished work on the cross and our Eternal Security is in intact.
Even so, the Holy Spirit now takes over and moves to sanctify us through His outworking in our lives because we are not yet(and can not be) glorified as we will be in Heaven. We will continually be called to repentance as we learn more about our fallen state as it compares to God’s Holiness. When we feel the guilt that comes from the accuser when we fail, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are one with Christ and can therefore carry on.
I do not believe you can correctly call this process the Gospel, else you are opening up the potential for a misunderstanding that leads to a “social gospel” that is the scourge of the church today and throughout the ages. It is a works based system that leads to death while all the time pretending to be the real deal. Does that make sense? On the church website at CRPC.org under Our Church > Beliefs > Santification you will see what I am talking about. You will notice that the word Gospel does not appear there because it does not belong there.
Forgive me if you think I am splitting hairs, but I feel it is important to be as precise as we can in our doctrinal stance – as sloppy doctrine will surely lead to heresy. If I have misrepresented anything in anyway, I apologize in advance.
Tullian – I’m so pleased to see your understanding of the gospel, and so if you didn’t already know, I’d give you a little history on that perspective. Tim Keller, Scotty Smith, Jerry Bridges et al, all owe their views to Dr. Jack Miller, of Jenkintown PA. Jack was a pastor and professor at Westminster seminary (PA) at that time, and was very dissatisfied with his own experience and with the testimony of others around him. He left for a sabbatical to study the promises of God, and experienced a tremendous revival in his life in 1971. All of the things you now appreciate came from that time. Eventually he put together a missionary / pastor training course entitled “Sonship” in 1983, and founded a missions organization called “Word Harvest Mission.” You can purchase the Sonship course, and varieties of it, like “Gospel Transformation.” You can also attend a week “Sonship” course in the fall. When I was a pastor, we used the Sonship course to great profit and fruit in our church, and I’d strongly encourage you to do the same, so that you can transfer the understanding you know have more effectively.
Blessings,
Jim
So true, – that is, needing the Gospel for sanctification. I think too often we fall into a theoretical “justification by faith alone” but are practicing “sanctification by law alone.” The grace of the Lord Jesus is also the fuel and motive for following the map (the Bible). Too often individuals, and even congregations, fall into a joyless-ness because we seem to go “back to the law” in strange ways.
Does our faith nullify the law? May it never be. Just as it is written. However, we must experience continual conversions (so to speak) in the gospel of Jesus – all the way to glory.
Tullian, love the book Unfashionable. I am discussing it with a pastor friend of mine in the OPC (I go to Bethany Community Church, Laurel Maryland). Anyway, I have a somewhat lengthy question I posed to him related to culture and fashion. I guess I needed some clarification. May I send it here?
Matt
Jim,
I remember the Sonship course being offered here in South Florida at St. Andrew, I believe. A great friend of mine, Mike Proko, who promoted “gospel thinking” to me many years ago had encouraged my attendance. I actually have a book about evangelism for the powerless by Jack Miller sitting on my bedside table. I guess I should probably read it.
Greg,
What I’m saying, regarding the gospel, is not that we need to be saved from the wrath of God regarding our sins, over and over again, but that sanctification is also by grace, not by the law. The power and wisdom of God is the Gospel, says Romans 1. For instance, lets take my selfish heart. I’ve become a Christian and now hear that I need to help my brothers in need. I’ve worked hard to arrive at my financial position. I’m selfish and am resistant to sharing it. I like to live according to my own financial interests, and that may include giving something here and there but nothing too seriously. But, as I see the command in Scripture, my heart is pricked. God’s holiness shows me my utter sinfulness in my selfishness. The command, however, gives me no power to obey. On the contrary, it exacerbates my stinginess and my selfish desires which is at war with what I know God wants. When I come to the Gospel (Christ’s love), I see Christ having been punished for my selfishness, and resurrected. I can cry out to Him in my desperation and weakness, and then in faith and repentance, trusting that He is now working through me to accomplish His will. His power changes my desires and empower me to do what I could not do before.
Does that make sense? I know there’s been a lot of talk of the phrase, “the gospel”. I thought it would be helpful to take it apart and see how it is implemented. I’m sure Tullian could give you a better illustration. I tried.
Jim,
Thanks for that info – now I really have lots of reading to do.
David,
I understand, I guess I just have trouble with the way it is stated because of a potential misunderstanding it could cause for a non believer. What you are calling an extension of the Gospel, I am calling sanctification and I do agree we are saved, justified, sanctified and ultimately glorified all by grace, nothing of ourselves.
If we are having this discussion as believers, awed by the love and grace of our Lord, we can speak a certain way to one another and we probably understand what we mean. If we are speaking to a non believer, a first time visitor, we can not make the assumption that they are *getting it* at the same level we are, so I think we must start with the basic ABCs (the outward call of the Gospel, Christ’s love, yes, but also the bad news that man is a sinner and can not save himself, God is holy and can not tolerate sin etc, etc) BEFORE we move on to the A to Zs, as Keller says, which might be more appropriately applied to believers who are becoming closer in their walk with Christ.
If we are not clear on these basics, man who is full of pride and thinking he is basically good anyway, might get the message that all he has to do to go to Heaven is to serve others sacrificially and live a good life. We may get a lot of members that way, but I am not sure how many converts we will have. I am amazed at seminaries who decide to gloss over doctrine in search of numbers, as if we are going to increase God’s harvest by our new methods. But God can and does use all circumstances to ultimately save those whom He has called, so there are no worries there. But I would not want to mislead someone into a false sense of eternal security.
Blessings
[...] best post I’ve read in the past couple of weeks: Tullian Tchividjian on The Gospel for Everyday Life. Also from Tullian: Gospel Gold From John [...]
Excuse me… But is this not a blog? Why has my comment not been posted? I am sure there was nothing wrong with it. A week is plenty of time to approve of an innocent question. I will forgive because maybe the blogger over looked my comment.
Here it is again:
So I see that some Christians here are debating about the true sense of the gospel, but as I just happened to stumble on this blog and being a “non believer” as some of you put it, can anyone please in simple words tell me what the gospel is? I have heard and read so many different things that I have reached the point that I am interested in this topic, however I cannot really say that I know the true definition(may I express it this way) of the gospel. Sure I know that the gospel is for those who are “non believers” and for Christians themselves, as Rev. Tullian put it, but still the word “gospel” being a noun must have some type of definition. Am I correct?
If anyone, and a true definition from a pastor would be plus for me, could use some space and briefly define or tell me what the gospel is in their own words?
Thank you and I really appreciate your help on behalf of me, a “non believer,” and possibly others.
Dear “non believer”,
We are sorry that your original question was apparently lost. The world of technology can be rather unpredictable. To answer your question, the word gospel literally means “good news” and refers to the great rescue accomplished by Jesus Christ, by which He reconciles sinners to a holy God. For those who place their trust in Christ’s finished work, there is now no condemnation, but only everlasting joy. I’d be very happy to meet with you and talk with you one on one about these things if you wanted to contact the church and come in to see me. I will be praying for you.
[...] Check out Tchividjian’s complete article here. [...]