The Simplicity of the Gospel

[Reformed]

At its core, the Gospel message is very simple. Donald McKim* defines the Gospel as, "The central message of the Christian church to the world, centered on God's provision of salvation for the world in Jesus Christ." We can debate as to whether the Gospel expands beyond God's provision of salvation but we cannot fail to affirm that it is at least that.

This morning, Paul Davis, President of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) delivered this message at my church. While I am not a big fan of stories during the sermon, I liked a brief story Mr. Davis told about, of all things, grilled cheese. He said that he was watching a Food Network program and it was about the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. The television chef said that in order to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich you need artesian-style nine-grain bread. Cut a thick slice of bread diagonally and use Gruyere cheese. A special herb-garlic butter is needed on both sides of the bread. The sandwich is then to be grilled until the cheese melts just enough to ooze out of both sides of the bread. Mr. Davis said that this recipe is way too complicated. He said the best recipe for grilled cheese is to get two slices of Wonder Bread and the cheapest American cheese you can buy. Butter the bread and grill the sandwich until it is golden brown on both sides. It is that simple. No Gruyere cheese or herb-garlic butter needed.

The Gospel message is just as simple. Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is it. The sinner does not need to know a long litany of theological terms. Those things will come in time as the Christian grows in his faith. We need to be careful not to put up theological/doctrinal barricades and obstacles as prerequisites for believing the Gospel message. This does mean we have to abandon our theological/doctrinal distinctives. In fact, we should never do that. But when it comes to proclaiming the good news to sinners, there is no need for Gruyere cheese.

*Donald McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, WJK Press

 

[Van]

Total Spiritual Inability = false doctrine
Limited Spiritual Ability = true doctrine

Unconditional Election = false doctrine
Election for Salvation based on our faith = true doctrine

Limited Atonement = false doctrine
Reconciliation Available for All = true doctrine

Irresistible Grace = false doctrine
Resistible Grace = true doctrine

Possible Loss of Salvation = false doctrine
Once Saved, Always Saved = true doctrine.

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

 

[Reformed1689]

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

The Apostles didn't preach like that.

 

[Reformed]

The Apostles didn't preach like that.

David, when I read the account of the Philippian jailer's conversion I read a very simple answer to his very simple question:

Acts 16:29-32 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

The Apostles taught a lot more than just "Believe in the Lord Jesus". There is plenty of theology in Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, James et. al. I thought carefully before wiring my opening post. I think my body of posts on this board indicates I have a very definite and comprehensive theological bent. I am not repudiating any of my beliefs. But when we share Jesus Christ with a sinner, what are we really sharing with them at the lowest common denominator? Is it not "believe in the Lord Jesus?" Are we arguing with them about their lapsarian position or whether Paul is the author of Hebrews? Depending on how much exposure they have to Christianity they may have been exposed to those things. It is possible for a person to sit in a church pew for years but still have a hardened heart. But if a person like that finally experiences the new birth is it not the power of the gospel (Romans 1:17) that is the agent of change?

 

[Reformed1689]

David, when I read the account of the Philippian jailer's conversion I read a very simple answer to his very simple question:

Acts 16:29-32 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

The Apostles taught a lot more than just "Believe in the Lord Jesus". There is plenty of theology in Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, James et. al. I thought carefully before wiring my opening post. I think my body of posts on this board indicates I have a very definite and comprehensive theological bent. I am not repudiating any of my beliefs. But when we share Jesus Christ with a sinner, what are we really sharing with them at the lowest common denominator? Is it not "believe in the Lord Jesus?" Are we arguing with them about their lapsarian position or whether Paul is the author of Hebrews? Depending on how much exposure they have to Christianity they may have been exposed to those things. It is possible for a person to sit in a church pew for years but still have a hardened heart. But if a person like that finally experiences the new birth is it not the power of the gospel (Romans 1:17) that is the agent of change?

Yeah. I don't know of anyone, except apparently Van, that goes into systematics when preaching the Gospel to sinners.

 

[Reformed]

Yeah. I don't know of anyone, except apparently Van, that goes into systematics when preaching the Gospel to sinners.

David, that is all I really meant by the opening post.

 

[Reformed1689]

David, that is all I really meant by the opening post.

Oh believe me, I knew exactly what you meant by the opening post.

 

[Reformed]

Another thing, simple does not always mean easy. How simple was it for the rich young ruler to understand Jesus' words, yet he could not make the right choice?

 

[Van]

Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now how would a person with total spiritual inability hear that gospel? They would not.

 

[Yeshua1]

Total Spiritual Inability = false doctrine
Limited Spiritual Ability = true doctrine

Unconditional Election = false doctrine
Election for Salvation based on our faith = true doctrine

Limited Atonement = false doctrine
Reconciliation Available for All = true doctrine

Irresistible Grace = false doctrine
Resistible Grace = true doctrine

Possible Loss of Salvation = false doctrine
Once Saved, Always Saved = true doctrine.

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

Your Gospel is not the good news one of jesus and paul, but the One according to Van!

 

[Van]

Your Gospel is not the good news one of jesus and paul, but the One according to Van!

My view is the biblical view, your view is a relic of the dark ages, obviously false.

Total Spiritual Inability = false doctrine
Limited Spiritual Ability = true doctrine 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Unconditional Election = false doctrine
Election for Salvation based on our faith = true doctrine 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Limited Atonement = false doctrine
Reconciliation Available for All = true doctrine 1 John 2:2

Irresistible Grace = false doctrine
Resistible Grace = true doctrine Matthew 23:13

Possible Loss of Salvation = false doctrine
Once Saved, Always Saved = true doctrine. John 3:13

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

 

[Reformed1689]

Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now how would a person with total spiritual inability hear that gospel? They would not.

That is precisely the Calvinist point.

 

[Van]

Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now how would a person with total spiritual inability hear that gospel? They would not.

QUOTE="davidtaylorjr, post: 2560770, member: 14683"]That is precisely the Calvinist point.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, a Calvinist would not be preaching the gospel because they believe the lost have no ability to repent, or believe. It would be like telling someone to flap their arms and fly like a bird. Asking people to do what you know they cannot do is not preaching, it is an exercise in futility.

 

[Reformed1689]

Agreed, a Calvinist would not be preaching the gospel because they believe the lost have no ability to repent, or believe. It would be like telling someone to flap their arms and fly like a bird. Asking people to do what you know they cannot do is not preaching, it is an exercise in futility.

And again, you prove you do not understand basic doctrinal beliefs. The lost do not have the ability to believe unless God enables them to believe. We do not know who is or is not enabled so we preach to all. It is not an exercise in futility.

 

[Van]

And again, you prove you do not understand basic doctrinal beliefs. The lost do not have the ability to believe unless God enables them to believe. We do not know who is or is not enabled so we preach to all. It is not an exercise in futility.

Yet another you, you, you post.
Preaching, even in a loud voice, is futile if the audience cannot hear. Basically Calvinists believe like Calvinists but preach like they believe people can understand and repent. Fiddlesticks

Total Spiritual Inability = false doctrine
Limited Spiritual Ability = true doctrine

Unconditional Election = false doctrine
Election for Salvation based on our faith = true doctrine

Limited Atonement = false doctrine
Reconciliation Available for All = true doctrine

Irresistible Grace = false doctrine
Resistible Grace = true doctrine

Possible Loss of Salvation = false doctrine
Once Saved, Always Saved = true doctrine.

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

 

[Reformed1689]

Yet another you, you, you post.

No, actually it wasn't. Deal with the whole post Van.

Preaching, even in a loud voice, is futile if the audience cannot hear. Basically Calvinists believe like Calvinists but preach like they believe people can understand and repent. Fiddlesticks

Calvinists preach as if all are elect because we do not know who is elect. The Arminian does the same thing.

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel,

No, they actually don't.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

Agreed.

 

[Van]

No, actually it wasn't. Deal with the whole post Van.
Calvinists preach as if all are elect because we do not know who is elect. The Arminian does the same thing.
No, they actually don't.
Agreed.

Yet another you, you, you post.
Preaching, even in a loud voice, is futile if the audience cannot hear. Basically Calvinists believe like Calvinists but preach like they believe people can understand and repent. Fiddlesticks

Total Spiritual Inability = false doctrine
Limited Spiritual Ability = true doctrine

Unconditional Election = false doctrine
Election for Salvation based on our faith = true doctrine

Limited Atonement = false doctrine
Reconciliation Available for All = true doctrine

Irresistible Grace = false doctrine
Resistible Grace = true doctrine

Possible Loss of Salvation = false doctrine
Once Saved, Always Saved = true doctrine.

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

 

[Reformed1689]

Yet another you, you, you post.
Preaching, even in a loud voice, is futile if the audience cannot hear. Basically Calvinists believe like Calvinists but preach like they believe people can understand and repent. Fiddlesticks

Total Spiritual Inability = false doctrine
Limited Spiritual Ability = true doctrine

Unconditional Election = false doctrine
Election for Salvation based on our faith = true doctrine

Limited Atonement = false doctrine
Reconciliation Available for All = true doctrine

Irresistible Grace = false doctrine
Resistible Grace = true doctrine

Possible Loss of Salvation = false doctrine
Once Saved, Always Saved = true doctrine.

Each of these true doctrines must be included in preaching the gospel, and all these false doctrines must be exposed as false.

Turning over our lives to God (not my way but Your way) and accepting the persecution that comes with proclaiming the name of Jesus is a much higher bar that "believing on Jesus." Sacrificial love and devotion to Christ is much more.

Ok, we know you can copy and paste. How about actually dealing with an argument for a change? Or are you not able to?

 

[Rob_BW]

Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now how would a person with total spiritual inability hear that gospel? They would not.

Jesus replied, " What is impossible with man is possible with God."

 

[Rob_BW]

At its core, the Gospel message is very simple. Donald McKim* defines the Gospel as, "The central message of the Christian church to the world, centered on God's provision of salvation for the world in Jesus Christ." We can debate as to whether the Gospel expands beyond God's provision of salvation but we cannot fail to affirm that it is at least that.

This morning, Paul Davis, President of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) delivered this message at my church. While I am not a big fan of stories during the sermon, I liked a brief story Mr. Davis told about, of all things, grilled cheese. He said that he was watching a Food Network program and it was about the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. The television chef said that in order to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich you need artesian-style nine-grain bread. Cut a thick slice of bread diagonally and use Gruyere cheese. A special herb-garlic butter is needed on both sides of the bread. The sandwich is then to be grilled until the cheese melts just enough to ooze out of both sides of the bread. Mr. Davis said that this recipe is way too complicated. He said the best recipe for grilled cheese is to get two slices of Wonder Bread and the cheapest American cheese you can buy. Butter the bread and grill the sandwich until it is golden brown on both sides. It is that simple. No Gruyere cheese or herb-garlic butter needed.

The Gospel message is just as simple. Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is it. The sinner does not need to know a long litany of theological terms. Those things will come in time as the Christian grows in his faith. We need to be careful not to put up theological/doctrinal barricades and obstacles as prerequisites for believing the Gospel message. This does mean we have to abandon our theological/doctrinal distinctives. In fact, we should never do that. But when it comes to proclaiming the good news to sinners, there is no need for Gruyere cheese.

*Donald McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, WJK Press

I wholly agree with the elegant simplicity of the Gospel. So I hate the nitpick. But would you consider the resurrection an integral part of "believe on Jesus Christ"?