We Preached Christ Crucified by D.A. Carson

Don Carson, preaching 1 Corinthians 15:1-19, gives a really edifying summary of the gospel. He sets out the gospel in "eight words, five sentences, and an eclectic summary." The summary was so helpful that I have created a summary of the talk in hopes of enticing readers to listen to the full sermon here. 

Eight Words 

1. The gospel is christological. The gospel is Christ-centered. The gospel is not bland theism, nor is it impersonal pantheism. "The gospel is not preached if Christ is not preached." The gospel focuses not just on Christ's person, but on his death as well.
2. The gospel is theological. The gospel is God-centered. God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God sent his Son to be the Savior. It is not as though the Father and the Son are at odds. The cross and the resurrection are bound up with Christ and with the Father. It is also theological in the sense that the gospel deals with God's wrath against sin. Sin is against God and as a result the gospel addresses judgment. We require God's forgiveness.
3. The gospel is biblical. Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.
4. The gospel is apostolic. The gospel is relayed to all Christians by the witness and testimony of the apostles.
5. The gospel is historical. The cross and the resurrection are inseparably tied together in history. While the credibility of other religions (i.e. Buddhism) depends on philosophical concepts, the credibility of the Gospel is entirely contingent upon historical facticity of the death and resurrection of Christ. If Jesus lives in your heart but not in history, all is lost. 
6. The gospel is personal. The gospel is not only theological and historical events, but it sets out the way of personal salvation. Any gospel that isn't also personal is nothing more than interesting history.
7. The gospel is universal. The gospel has a comprehensive vision of salvation (this does not mean that everyone will be saved). The gospel offers the hope of redemption to every culture and corner of creation.
8. The gospel is eschatological. The gospel is bound up with the "last things". The gospel saves us now and it also prepares us for the new heaven and the new earth. The gospel is also eschatological in the sense that the verdict we shall receive at the end of time is pronounced on Christians already, "Not guilty."

Five Sentences 

1. The gospel is normally disseminated by proclamation (1 Cor. 15:11). 
2. This gospel is fruitfully received in authentic, persevering faith (1 Cor. 15:11). 
3. The gospel is properly disclosed in personal self-humiliation (1 Cor. 15:8).
4. This gospel is rightly asserted to be the central confession of the whole Church. 
5. This gospel boldly advances under the contested reign and the inevitable victory of King Jesus.

Eclectic Summary: The gospel has an important propositional or cognitive material (the "news" of the Good News has an important cognitive element). Yet, while we are saved by faith alone, genuine faith does not exist alone. It is always accompanied by a changed life.

The preceding chapters of 1 Corinthians 1-14 are a discussion of the transformative power of God, whereby lives are changed, holiness is exemplified, and the gospel is lived out. The gospel is the transformative power of God.