Progressive Gospelcentric Theology- The Role of Every Minister

Purpose Media Publications

Progressive Gospelcentric Theology

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. James 3:1

Progressive- Gospelcentric theology leads to Christ centered or Gospel oriented expository preaching, but much more than that it becomes a practice in Bible study, prayer and the application of Biblical truths. Progressive- Gospelcentric theology interprets the Bible in it’s context and exposes it’s message as it reveals Christ and exposes a doctrinal or theological emphasis. It is the only way to expound sound theology to it’s audience. Every exposition must therefore posit the gospel.

Apostle Paul says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It is not a one and for all thing. It means we must continue to hear the gospel continually and consistently. It is our continuous hearing of the Gospel, beholding Christ by the gospel that we become more and more like Christ (Christlike) 2 Cor. 3:18.

The Apostles always use this approach in their exposition and if that was their pattern, we can’t afford to do any differently. In John 1, we see a progressive and Gospelcentric exposition of Genesis 1 & 2 (the creation account) and Proverbs 8. Paul also did a progressive and Gospelcentric exposition of the Fall (Genesis 3). Peter gave a progressive and Gospelcentric (salvific implication) of Noah’s ark of Genesis 6-9 in 1 Peter 3:18-22. Whenever the Apostles referred to any Scripture, it has to be related to Christ. Why? Jesus affirmed that the Scripture points to Him.

It is painful that we hear so many “good” sermons where Christ is lacking. It does not connect with the gospel. It is not to impose just any content of the gospel into the text nor is it calling an altar call after the sermon but exposing the gospel as revealed in the context of the passage examined or studied. This is a very difficult task. It is a ministry task many of us have never been trained to do this, Paul encouraged Timothy to be diligent in study to show himself a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing (interpreting and communicating) the word of Truth in it's context and in the light of the Gospel.

Our task is to preach the gospel, not our own news, sermon, ideas. We must keep at breast with this truth:

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth (gospel) through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because:

All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and it’s flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:22-25

© Purpose Media Publications, 2020