Jerry Vines Blog
We are hearing a great deal these days about gospel-centered preaching. Just what is meant by the terminology? In some circles it is a code-phrase for a particular systematic theology. Others use it to refer merely to evangelistic preaching.
I have been rather amazed in reading a lot of articles about gospel-centered preaching that the basic essentials of the gospel as spelled out by Paul in I Corinthians 15 are so seldom even mentioned.
In the opening verses of I Corinthians 15 Paul gives us the heart of the gospel message. The passage sets forth 4 statements, each fronted by the conjunction “that.” Those 4 statements are arranged around the twice used phrase “according to the Scriptures.”
The gospel is God’s 2-fold answer to man’s 2 basic problems, sin and death.
God’s answer to the sin problem is the crucifixion of Christ, laid out thusly—“that Christ died for our sins…and that He was buried…” His answer to the death problem is the resurrection of Christ—“and that He rose again…and that He was seen…”
Of course, there are other truths implied by the gospel. And there are manifold follow-ups to the gospel’s message. But, gospel-centered preaching is not preaching some set of man-made propositions. Gospel-centered preaching is declaring the cross and the empty tomb.
If a preacher declares those twin towers of God’s provision for the two mountains of man’s misery, he is a gospel-centered preacher!
