Gospel Centrality

A friend sent me a link to this awesome short read on the centrality of the gospel in our daily lives by Tim Keller.  Maybe you guys will also enjoy it.

http://www.redeemer2.com/resources/papers/centrality.pdf

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation" (Rom.1:16).

A few excerpts...

Tertullian said, "Just as Christ was crucified between two thieves, so this doctrine of justification is ever crucified between two opposite errors."

Tertullian meant that there were two basic false ways of thinking, each of which "steals" the power and the
distinctiveness of the gospel from us by pulling us “off the gospel line” to one side or the other.

These “thieves” can be called moralism or legalism on the one hand, and hedonism or relativism on the other hand. Another
way to put it is: the gospel opposes both religion and irreligion.

On the one hand, "moralism/religion" stresses truth without grace, for it says that we must obey the truth in order to be saved. On the other hand, "relativists/irreligion" stresses grace
without truth, for they say that we are all accepted by God (if there is a God) and we have to decide what is true for us. But "truth" without grace is not really truth, and "grace" without truth is not really grace. Jesus was "full of grace and truth".

Paul shows us, then, that we must not just simply ask in every area of life: “what is the moral way to act?” but “what is the way that is in-line with the gospel?” The gospel must be continually “thought out” to keep us from moving into our habitual moralistic or individualistic directions. We must bring everything into line with the gospel.

We have seen that the gospel is the way that anything is renewed and transformed by Christ--whether a heart, a relationship, a church, or a community. It is the key to all
doctrine and our view of our lives in this world. Therefore, all our problems come from a lack of orientation to the gospel. Put positively, the gospel transforms our hearts and thinking and approaches to absolutely everything.

In practical ways, Keller then talks about how the gospel shapes our approach to:

Discouragement
The Physical World
Love and Relationships
Suffering
Sexuality
One's Family
Self-Control
Other Races and Cultures
Evangelism
Human Authority
Human Dignity
Guilt
Self-Image
Joy and Humor
"Right Living"
Ministry in the World
Worship
The Poor
Doctrinal Distinctives
Holiness
Miracles
Church Health
and
Social Change

All problems, personal or social come from a failure to use the gospel in a radical way, to get "in line with the truth of the gospel" (Gal.2:14). All pathologies in the church and all its ineffectiveness comes from a failure to use the gospel in a radical way. We believe that if the gospel is expounded and applied in its fullness in any church, that church will look very unique. People will find both moral conviction yet compassion and flexibility.