The Gospel is a ‘salvation message.’ There is little (rational) debate about that. There is one little caveat to that. Not as much a caveat as a ‘necessary presumption.’
The Gospel assumes you’re dead.
There is NO SUCH THING as a salvation message that is not saving you from something. If it is not saving you from something then it is not a salvation message. Call it anything else- infomercial, birthday card, documentary, summer blockbuster. But not a salvation message.
Many have tried to recast the Gospel message into things like a ‘moral influence’ message or a ‘moral governing’ message. The problem with that is that the earliest Christian gravitated toward a title for Christ that places on the Gospel message certain requirements. The title? Savior. For Jesus to be a Savior then the message of His works must, even if just tangentially, have a salvation aspect. (Note- I think the salvation aspect is central, just making a comment on those that want it totally removed.)
And further along the presupposition trail- if there is a salvation aspect, then there has to be a problem. A problem that will, well- the opposite of ‘save,’ us. Destroy. Kill. Damn. Undo. Whatever. Its something that we have to be ‘saved’ from.
There, in all its glory, is the issue. You have to be dead before the Gospel can save you.
July 17, 2010 at 3:13 pm |
Thank you! I am so tired of watered down truth that denies that Jesus is uniquely our Messiah! Sometimes wonder what world my children will inherit. Praying for the Lord’s mercy in a world that is enamored with “man’s goodness”. God help us all!