We stand gratefully with believers who have gone before us in history, and we identify with those who live faithfully for Jesus in other cultures around the globe as well! We not only align with the gospel in Scripture, the historic orthodox beliefs passed down by the church such as the Apostles’ Creed.

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Just saying we center on Jesus and the gospel doesn’t always communicate to others what we mean by the gospel. There are a variety of images that may come to mind when different people use the term “gospel.”  We believe it is important to explicitly describe the gospel we trust in and proclaim.  The gospel is God’s good news that is both simple and robust. It is simple enough to share with others no matter how new one is to hearing about trusting Jesus. Yet, we believe we never graduate from deepening in the gospel personally and interpersonally as we follow Jesus and plant churches in this world. Here we give an overview of the gospel in it simplicity, as well as some of its depth.

THE GOSPEL IS SIMPLE: THE CROSS + CROWN OF JESUS

“… Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:14-15

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive…at his coming those who belong to Christ…he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”  I Corinthians 15:1-4, 20-28

The gospel is as simple as the CROSS and CROWN of JESUS.  It is the CROSS – Jesus crucified for our sins. And, it is the CROWN - Jesus risen from the dead, reigning now, and coming again. Jesus’ resurrection life brings us new life and an ongoing relationship with him now as reigning King, and the sure hope in his return. Jesus’ perfect life, crucifixion, resurrection, reign, and return is the good news we trust in. Turning to Jesus with living faith brings fullness of life through his cross and crown! What is the gospel? It is the good news of Jesus, the life he lived, the death he died, his resurrection, his present reign and future return. Jesus is the good news.

The gospel is not overly complex, yet it is too unfathomable and too rich to ever be reduced to any one overly simplistic formula or statement. Unfortunately, gospel reductionism happens far too often. If we are to be true to the gospel set forth in Scripture, we will embrace not just a simple gospel but also the robust gospel with all its depth and implications! The gospel is simple, but it may be better to say, the gospel is “simplex.” That is, it is both simple and complex. This good news (gospel) includes the fuller story of Jesus within the complete story of Scripture. The gospel can also be summarized as captured in the ancient creeds such as the Apostles’ Creed. However, the gospel is not just a static statement. It is good news to be dynamically demonstrated and boldly announced with a call to hearers to repent and believe it.  Living faith in Jesus, the Lord who is announced in this gospel, involves holding fast to Scriptures’ objective truths while also subjectively appropriating one’s new standing in this gospel by grace through faith. Fuller expressions of the gospel are introduced below.

THE GOSPEL IS A STORY: THE STORY OF JESUS

The gospel deposited for us in the New Testament sets forth the events that comprise the Story of Jesus [past, present, future events]. These key events are his birth, perfect life, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension to reign at God’s right hand, sending the Holy Spirit, and future return. These events in the Story of Jesus (God’s only Son, the Messiah, God incarnate) were consistently emphasized throughout the New Testament Gospels, Acts, and letters. (Matt. 1:1-4:17; 26-28; Mark 1:1-15; 8:27-38; 9:30-32; 10:32-34, 45; 14-15; Luke 1:1-4:21; 22-24; John 1:1-34; 7:37-39; 18-21; Acts 1:1-11; 2:24-36; 4:8-12; 5:27-32; 10:36-43; 13:26-41; 17:16-18, 19-34; Rom. 1:1-4; 4:24-25; 6:5; 8:11, 18-25; I Cor. 15:1-11, 20-28; Gal. 1:1-5; 4:4; Eph. 1:20; Phil 2:5-11; 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 2:2-10; 3:1; I Thes.1:9-10; 4:13-18; 2 Thes.1:5-12; Titus 2:11-15; Heb. 1:1-3; 12:1-2; I Pet. 1:3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 18-19, 21; 2:21; 3:18, 22; 4:13; 5:4, I John 4:9-10; Rev. 1:7; 5:6-14; 22:20). 

Story Of Scripture

The Story of Jesus is most compelling when set and viewed within the larger narrative arch in all of Scripture.  Jesus and his early gospel messengers proclaimed and explained the events of his Story in continuity with and fulfillment of the story of all Scripture.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he (Jesus) interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”  Luke 24:27

This overarching story of God’s promises, his people (Israel), and pictures (metaphors and foreshadowing) from the Old Testament fire our imagination and point to Jesus (I Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:25-27, 44-49; John 5:39-40; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). This larger narrative in Scripture spans from Genesis (the first book of Scripture) and extends through Revelation (the last book of Scripture).  We see this larger drama of God’s story unfold at a high level throughout Scripture in four acts: CREATION… FALL… REDEMPTION (Israel culminating in Jesus)…RESTORATION…

This narrative is the true story of God making all things good – CREATION. God’s story also tells us that what we intuitively know, that while there is good in the world, something has gone terribly wrong in the world, our hearts, and our relationships. Sin brought a crash and breaking which resulted in relational fallout with God, people, and the world. – FALL. God, the good king, took the initiative by grace to lay down his life for us in Jesus, and he overcame death in his resurrection. Jesus ascended and now reigns as the unseen king and is bringing all things under submission to his good reign - REDEMPTION. One day, he will return to complete the restoration of all things under his good reign. However, those who persist now in choosing to rebel will be permanently banished from his new creation where the good king will dwell with his people forever – RESTORATION.

Summarized In Historic Creeds

The gospel was summarized in transferrable creeds to help the early followers of Jesus distinguish the true gospel from false ones (Romans 1:1-4; I Corinthians 15:1-4; Philippians 2:5-11; I Timothy 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:8; Titus 1:9; 2:1; I John 4:1-6; Jude 3). These summaries of “the faith” or the “good deposit” were often used to ground new converts in the gospel as they were preparing to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They were able to see “at-a-glance” the gospel truths centered on God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and his work for them (past, present, future). Some of these ancient creeds solidified into the widely accepted Apostles’ Creed that we set forth as a helpful summary of the gospel.

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,1

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.  

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy universal2 church,

the communion of believers3,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting4

1 Modern English Version: From the English Language Liturgical Commission, 1988; we have made slight edits to translate language that can be confusing, to simplify, and to highlight gospel truths. 2 universal=catholic or world-wide; translated by us to clarify. 3 believers = set apart ones by faith or saints; edited to simplify and clarify. 4 life everlasting includes life in a “restored / new heaven and earth”; note added by us for clarity about our eternal future (See Rev 21:1-5; Romans 8:20-25; Acts 3:18-21).

THE GOSPEL INCLUDES AN INVITATION:  Repent + Believe

Proclaiming the good news of Jesus includes a call or an invitation to those who hear to repent + believe. It is a summons to personally turn and receive the message about Jesus with living faith in him. Jesus and his early followers consistently proclaimed the gospel and they urged people to respond to what they were seeing and hearing.

“… Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time

is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:38,41

Paul implored people to respond, saying, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

Proclaiming the gospel includes both an initial appeal and an ongoing appeal to turn from our own “self-salvation projects” (both religious and irreligious ones). We turn to trust Jesus instead of our idols (1Thes. 1:9-10). The gospel calls us to keep renouncing functional idols in our heart and to instead loyally follow Jesus alone as our treasured king because of who he is and for all of his gracious work on our behalf! [Matt 13:44; 1 Pet. 1:8-9]

THE GOSPEL OFFERS A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST

Faith in the gospel changes everything! All believers in Jesus have a whole new standing under God’s grace, not by their works. Scripture teaches:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God…and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our New Identity Is True

Every person who repents and is united with Jesus by faith now possesses a radically new identity under grace through the gospel. Their old standing of death, condemnation, enslavement, and estrangement from God and his people is forever changed by the gospel. Each believer’s story is now intricately woven into the Story of Jesus – into his substitutionary atonement for us on the cross as well as his life-giving resurrection and enthronement as King. Our union with Jesus forever connects us relationally with the one triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and provides us with extraordinary benefits by his grace. This fuels our joy and motivates us to express loving worship back to God with our whole lives.  A sampling of our true identity and relational standing under grace is seen in the following: We are…reconciled to God, justified, adopted, chosen by God, indwelt by the empowering Holy Spirit, forgiven, ransomed to freedom, in the kingdom of God’s Son, disciples of the Teacher and Lord, branches in the Vine, in God’s household, part of the one body of Christ, God’s new covenant people, light in the world, sent ones, God’s ambassadors, living with sure hope, and more. (Matt. 5:14-16; 18:21-27; Mark 10:45; Luke 15; John 13:12-16; 15:1-8; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Eph. 1-2; Rom. 3:21-8:39; I Cor. 6:19-20; 12:1-31; 15:1-58; 2 Cor. 5; Col. 1:12-14; I Pet. 1:3-9).

Our New Identity Becomes Real In Our Walk

For all believers this new standing under grace is already true: It’s ours! However, the Holy Spirit also makes it increasingly real. That is, our standing in grace also has a dynamic dimension to it that we experience as we continue to walk by faith in Jesus. While our new standing is already true, our gospel identity can be experienced even more deeply within our hearts through the ongoing work of the Spirit. And, the gospel of Jesus can also be integrated even more fully into every aspect of our everyday choices and actions, so that it works its way into our personal and interpersonal, private and public lives (e.g. home, work, play, school, church, world, etc.). (Matt.18:15-35; John 13; John 20:21; Phil. 1:27; Titus 2:11-15; Eph. 4-6; Rom 12-16; I Pet. 1:13-21; I John 4:10-11).

Jesus and his early followers actively prayed that God’s people would go beyond just intellectually grasping the objective truth of their new standing under grace. They prayed that these truths would also become experientially real to them and observable to others through them as well.

“For this reason I (Paul) bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”. Ephesians 3:14-19

"I (Jesus) do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me”. John 17:20-21

Jesus and his followers prayed and asked God to make objective truth experientially real and actually observable in practice in the world. They longed that these gospel truths would become powerfully real to each Christ follower and in the entire church community in a cultural context among those who have yet to become followers of Jesus. They not only prayed, they modeled, taught, patiently corrected, and in some extreme cases they exercised church discipline in Christ’s body when professing believers arrogantly and stubbornly refused to align with the gospel of grace in their observable lives. They were clear that holiness and good works were a fruit of living faith, not something that could earn God’s favor and acceptance. They constantly appealed to God’s grace in Jesus as the compelling heart motivation for practicing unity not divisiveness, purity not immorality, generosity not covetousness, justice not injustice, as well as other ethical practices that are in step with the Spirit and truth of the gospel [Mark 7:1-23; Matt. 18:15-35; Luke 19:1-9; 1 Cor. 5; 6:18-20; 2 Cor. 8:8-15; Gal. 2:14; 5:16-6:2; Phil. 1:27; Col. 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 3:10-11; 1 Pet. 1:13-21]. For example, each believer in Jesus is commanded to practice forgiving his brother when he sins against him [Matt. 18:21-22]. We forgive even as God in Christ has forgiven us [Matt. 18:23-35; Eph. 4:32]. That’s just one example of holy living by grace! We are committed to faithfully follow this example in our lives and churches so that our standing under grace will now work its way into everyday choices, relationships, and our lives together. As Jesus’ early followers did, we commit ourselves to be a “gospel people” for the good of the world and the glory of God!

We grasp the gospel in the events of the Story of Jesus within the larger story of Scripture. The historic Creeds give us a helpful summary, and the good news brings real joy as we comprehend our standing under grace that is eternal life changing to all who repent and trust Jesus. While the gospel is robust and deep, it is also straightforward and simple. The good news for us is Jesus – his cross and crown!

Why all this concern about the gospel and sound doctrine that works its way into our lives? Jesus’ disciples who wrote Scripture exhort us to be faithful to proclaim, practice, and protect sound doctrine with the help of the Holy Spirit (I Timothy 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:14-15; 4:1-4; Titus 1:9; 2:1; I John 4:1-6; Jude 3). Every generation, depending on its culturally unique challenges, needs to faithfully express the gospel and teach sound doctrine. We believe a healthy disciple-making church planting network and movement will keep belief in the gospel as simple as “the cross + crown of Jesus,” but will also seek to contextualize and contend for the robust gospel of Jesus found in Scripture’s grand narrative of God’s story. We commit ourselves to proclaim the gospel and teach healthy biblical doctrine set forth in God’s inspired and authoritative Scripture. We believe it is foolish to do this as an island, however.