what is the gospel

Barely a day goes by but in the course of conversation I'm left feeling there's a lot of confusion in people's thinking about what the gospel actually is.

And if there's a fair degree of confusion with that - which is plainly fairly foundational - then little wonder there's an awful lot more confused thinking in regard to a lot of the issues we're constantly having to face and address.

So let me recommend a short little book by Greg Gilbert, called with simple clarity What is the Gospel?

It's not long (about 120 pages), it's simple to read (without being simplistic), and it sets out in a very straightforward manner the essence of the message we're called to embrace and proclaim.

I notice from the commendations that more than one pastor wishes they could get a boxful of the books and hand them out to every single member of their congregations. It's that good!

Here's how Greg Gilbert begins -

"What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

You'd think that would be an easy question to answer, especially for Christians. In fact, you'd think that writing a book like this one - one asking Christians to think carefully about the question, 'What is the gospel of Jesus?' - would be completely unnecessary. It's like asking carpenters to sit around and ponder the question, 'What is a hammer?'"

You'd have thought.

But, of course, it's not like that. There's a lot of confusion around.

And this little book grabs the question, like some tangled bit of metal, and hammers the answer out. It's not long before the guy has put the thing in a nutshell (well, a paragraph).

"Contexts change, words change, and approaches change, but somehow and in some ways the earliest Christians always seem to get at these four issues: We are accountable to God who created us. We have sinned against that God and will be judged. But God has acted in Jesus Christ to save us, and we take hold of that salvation by repentance from sin and faith in Jesus.

"God. Man. Christ. Response."

Simple without being simplistic.

The rest of the book takes a look at each of these headings in turn. Uncomplicated. Warm-blooded. Sometimes amusing. Sometimes hard-hitting. But always clear and to the point.

And he finishes off by asking the so what question - "... a few things .. about how the good news of Jesus should affect our lives."

First, repent and believe. Like I said, he pulls no punches.

Rest and rejoice. "If you are a Christian, then the cross of Jesus stands like a mountain of granite across your life, immovably testifying to God's love for you and his determination to bring you safely into his presence."

Love Christ's people. It's wonderful knowing that we're included in God's promises solely through what Jesus has done and our being united by faith to him. But, as he quaintly puts it, "here's the kicker. Do you realise that the same thing is true of that brother or sister in your church who annoys you?"

Speak the Gospel to the World. We hold in our hands "the only true message of salvation the world will ever hear." A sobering thought, maybe. But a privileged position, too. "Take a deep breath, pray for God's Spirit to work, and open your mouth and speak."

Long for him. There's a whole new future awaiting us, still to come. If anyone should be forward-looking and future-oriented, then it's certainly the person who's come to embrace this gospel.

D A Carson is no fool. He's a highly-regarded professor whose works are voluminous. He wrote the short preface to this book. And I can think of no better advice than that with which he ends.

"Read it, then buy a box of them for generous distribution."