What Gospel is NOT

I t is sometimes more helpful to know what a matter is not before we strain to understand what it is. When I selected an online class in hermeneutics, I was energized and wanted to know everything about it. I came with certain expectations. When my professor kicked off the class by telling us what the class is not about. It disappointed me a little. It turned out that some of my anticipations were incorrect. Knowing what it hasn’t given me a good sense of direction, mind, and attitude.

My understanding of the Gospel was immature. I had imitated the surrounding culture so much that I didn’t examine the scriptures myself and when I did; it opened by the heart of discernment of the Gospel and only freed me even to a greater extent.

 THE GOSPEL IS NOT JUST HOW WE GET SAVED

While the gospel is how we come to know God, it’s not limited to knowing how to get saved. D. A. Carson has noted: For some Christians, “the gospel” is a narrow set of teachings about Jesus and his death and resurrection which, rightly believed, tip people into the kingdom. After that, real discipleship and personal transformation begin, but none of that is integrally related to “the gospel.”

THE GOSPEL IS NOT OBEYING GOD’S WORD

Matthew 22:36-40,36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There is one problem, it’s not the problem with text, it’s a problem how we understand it. These commandments are fundamental to Christ’s life, message, and people, but they are not the gospel. It’s been the summary of the law! To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength summarize the first four commandments, while loving our neighbor as ourselves is the total of the rest of the law (commandments five through ten). We obey the law because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus, not forcing God to love us. Obedience is the response to the gospel, but not the gospel itself.

THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT BEHAVIOR

When I was born again, I decide to live a good life. I want people to see there is a change in my attitude and lifestyle. I chose to live a “good” life.  Scripture demands us to live a life that is a holy and sinless life. All this may be good, but it is not the gospel.

The gospel is not behavior modification, becoming a better person, or learning to become more moral. It is not taking the life of Jesus as a model way to live or transforming/redeeming the secular realm. It is not living highly communal lives with others and sharing generously in communities who practice the way of Jesus in the local culture. These may all be good things, but they are not to be confused with the gospel. They should accompany the gospel, and should not separate from the gospel and while God may use them to authenticate the gospel and make our proclamation of the gospel more fertile in hardened hearts yet they are not to be viewed as replacements for the gospel.

When I was born again, I want people to see a change in my conduct and behavior. I tried to live a “good” life. Scripture requires us to live a sinlessness life. On the whole, this transformation may be sound, but this is not the gospel.
The gospel is not performance modification, developing into a better human or learning to become nobler. It is not living, communal lives with others and sharing in communities who practice the path of Jesus in the local culture. These may all be good things, but they are not to be confused with the gospel. They should accompany the gospel and should not come apart from the gospel. God may use them to authenticate the gospel and make our declaration of the gospel more fertile in hardened hearts, yet they are not to be received in as proxies for the gospel.

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