J.I. Packer
The Content of the Gospel
Introduction
In the Bible, the gospel is the entire saving plan of God, all revolving
around the person, the place and power of our Savior Jesus Christ, the
incarnate, crucified, risen, reigning, returning Lord.
Preaching the gospel requires us to show how Jesus Christ relates to
every part of God's plan, and how every part of it relates to us who are
savingly related to the living Christ through faith.
Evangelism involves explaining life in Christ as well as
inviting sinners to Him. This means dealing with six
main topics, as follows:
1. The Truth about God.
The one God who made and rules everything is revealed as three persons through His plan of
salvation. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit love us, and work together to save us from sin
and make us holy. Jesus Christ, God the Son incarnate, is Lord over all the powers of evil. Any
other view of God is idolatry.
2. The Truth about Ourselves.
We were made for God, to bear His image and be like Him in moral character, but sin controls and
spoils us so that we need to be brought back to God to be forgiven and remade. Jesus Christ, who
brings us back, is Himself the model of true godliness. Any other view is deception.
3. The Story of God's Kingdom.
Step by step, as Scripture tells, God has been working to establish His kingdom in this fallen
world. Jesus Christ is the King, and our lives are to be His kingdom. King Jesus is also the Judge,
and those who have not bowed to His kingship here will not share His joy hereafter. Trusting, loving
and honoring Jesus, and serving others for His sake, is true godliness at its heart. Any other form
of religion is error.
4. The Way of Salvation.
Jesus Christ, our sinbearer on the cross, now from His throne reaches out to rescue us who are
lost in the guilt and shame of sin. He calls for faith (trust in Him as Savior) and repentance (turn to
Him as Master). He sends His Holy Spirit to change us inwardly so that we hear His call as
addressed to us personally and respond wholeheartedly to it. Whereupon we are forgiven and
accepted (justified); received as God's children (adopted); made to rejoice at our peace with Him
(assurance); and made to realize that now we are living a new life in Christ (regeneration). Any
other view of salvation is deficient.
5. The Life of Fellowship.
Christians belong in the church, the family of God, sharing its worship, work, witness and warfare,
and enjoying its worldwide brotherhood in Christ. Any other view of the Christian is sectarian.
6. Walking Home to Heaven.
Helped by the ministry in the church of word and sacrament, prayer and pastoral care, spiritual
gifts and loving support, Christians live in our constantly hostile world as travelers, heading for a
glorious destination. Led and inspired by their Savior through the Holy Spirit, they seek to do all
the good they can as they go, and to battle all forms of evil that they meet. Any lesser view of the
Christian life is wordly.
All this is permanently and universally true, transcending all differences of color, race, culture, age,
gender, health, economic standing, social position and political background. As the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit sustain us all, so the gospel levels us all, teaching us to know ourselves
as great sinners saved by God's greater grace, and to see all nonChristians as needing that same
grace themselves.
For reflection and Consideration:
1. How completely am I preaching the Gospel?
2. Which of these six Gospel topics do I need to preach more fully than I have been preaching?
3. Am I including the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in my preaching?
4. Am I properly explaining the saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?
