What does it mean to be gospel-centered?

Answer

The term gospel means “good news.” The gospel of Jesus Christ conveys the good news that individuals who have sinned can be reconciled with God by repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord (Acts 2:21;Romans 10:9-10). Therefore, being gospel-centered entails focusing on the transformative good news of God in Christ. We commonly refer to ministries that reach out to the lost as “gospel-centered.” Various resources and initiatives can have a gospel-centered approach; songs can contain gospel-centered lyrics, and individuals can lead gospel-centered lives.

In Corinth, Paul’s ministry was undeniably gospel-centered: “I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”, (1 Corinthians 2:2). His message to the churches in Galatia echoed the same sentiment: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”, (Galatians 6:14). Preaching the gospel was Paul’s foremost priority, and he felt a divine compulsion to proclaim it to all: “When I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”, (1 Corinthians 9:16).

When we refer to aWhen we talk about a person who lives a gospel-centered life, we mean that individual has embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ and has established the death and resurrection of Christ as the very cornerstone of his or her life. A genuine Christian should be a gospel-centered individual (Luke 14:26-27) because Christianity is a way of life, not just an activity. Having knowledge about Christ does not automatically make someone a Christian; truly knowing Christ does.

Every human life has a focal point, which drives all decisions. Essentially, we are either centered on the gospel or centered on ourselves. Even individuals who appear to be kind and virtuous can be self-centered if their main aim is not to honor God “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”, (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). It is helpful to distinguish between a gospel-centered life and any other type of life by examining a comparison chart:

A gospel-centered life is a life centered on Jesus. When we come to Christ by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), we do more than just secure our eternal destiny. Salvation is a divine paradox: a free gift that demands everything we are (see Luke 14:33). Becoming a child of God transforms us from the inside out (1 Corinthians 5:17). When the Holy Spirit takes residence in a repentant heart, He begins to transform our desires, our perspective, our motivations, and our convictions (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Hebrews 12:28–29 states that “our God is a consuming fire.” His presence purges away impurities. It refines and purifies us.

A gospel-centered life is an outward-focused life that is always prepared to share the good news with others. The feet are “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” “and

Your feet should be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; », (Ephesians 6:15). The heart reveres Christ as Lord and is “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” «but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: », (1 Peter 3:15). A gospel-centered ministry is a ministry of reconciliation whose goal is to share the news “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” «to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. », (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Many people have religion-centered lives, benevolence-centered lives, or activity-centered lives. They may even have spiritual lives, but if they have not bowed the knee to the lordship of Jesus, that spirituality will lead them to destruction «Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. », (1 John 4:1). Only a gospel-centered life can please God (Romans 8:8;1 Thessalonians 2:4) because it is only through Jesus Christ and His gospel that we can enter into His presence «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6).