What is missing in our modern gospel? I believe it is the New Testament understanding of a “gospel of the kingdom.” In my last blog I explained that Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the early church all preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
What we preach in America is a gospel of salvation. Over the past two hundred years, American evangelist preachers, and pastors have focused almost exclusively on getting people saved. Great American evangelists like Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham have led the evangelistic movement in the U.S. Over the past forty years, an entire new style of church has arisen with the same emphasis; these churches are called seeker sensitive churches, emphasizing the need to be sensitive to non-Christians in order to win them to Christ.
Evangelism is vital and important. I have given my entire adult life to reaching the lost for Christ. I spent almost ten years in Japan reaching out to Japanese college students with the love and salvation of Christ. I’ve planted two churches with the vision of reaching the unchurched and building disciples.
But the gospel of the kingdom is more than just a gospel of salvation. Salvation certainly gets you into the kingdom, but I’m talking about getting the kingdom into us! To explain the difference, I have developed the following chart:
Gospel of Salvation
About us being Reconciled to God
Emphasis is Conversion
Jesus Saves (Savior)
Goal: Saved & Forgiven
Going to Heaven someday
Identity: Saved
Christ as Lamb of God
Crucified with Christ
Getting us into the Kingdom
Gospel of the Kingdom
About us Ruling with Christ
Emphasis is Becoming a Disciple
Jesus Reigns (King)
Goal: Delivered & Transformed
Made kings and priests today
Identity: Saved & Taking Dominion
Christ as Lamb of God and Lion of Judah
Crucified and Risen with Christ
Getting the Kingdom into us
It is my thesis that the true gospel is the gospel of the kingdom. A gospel of salvation is incomplete. The gospel of the kingdom is what Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the early church preached. It’s not just about praying the salvation prayer (which is not found in the New Testament) but rather, “repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Jesus, Matthew 3:2). And it’s in preaching the gospel of the kingdom that we experience the power of God that leads to true salvation (Romans 1:16). It is in preaching the King and discipling men and women into the reign and rule of the Kingdom of God, that we can turn this world upside down.
Pastor Steve
