An interesting blog post with a challenging idea: Can you summarize the gospel in 10 words or less?
According to the article, here’s the point of the exercise:
Just like a book title doesn’t explain all 75,000 words in a novel…
Neither does a tiny summary of the gospel explain the complex nature of salvation found in the Bible.
Yet we still have book titles. And we still have short summaries: John 3:16.
Naturally everything needs expansion. The thinking behind the post is essentially this: If you can’t summarize what you believe in ten words, do you truly understand what you believe?
And so, with that in mind, I would love to hear from you. How would you summarize the gospel in 10 words or less?
Sign up for the Mockingbird Newsletter
COMMENTS
22 responses to “The micro-gospel”
Leave a Reply
"Christ, died for your transgressions and raised for your justification." – Steve Paulson
That's ten words on the nose!
That's awesome, Sean!!!!
God. Creation. Sin. Prophecy. Christ. Death. Resurrection.
Yeah, each of those would require further explanation, but we are trying to condense all of history (and future) into ten words.
In hell you burn unless Christ is Savior and Lord
Interesting approach, Momos! Sort of like a "micro-meta-narrative"…The sweep of scipture summarized by seven words. I love it!
christ died to save sinners
Christ died to redeem sinners and all God's good creation.
Christ is Lord. His love and forgiveness are unconditional. Repent.
that was fun!
Oh my goodness, I just realized I didn't even mention the cross or grace! Not cool. I am going to have to revise this…or be allowed more words! The Gospel is indeed "a short word."
We're drowning. God sent Jesus that we might breathe again.
These are all just wonderful. So many different approaches, and all naturally converging at the same point: the Cross!
Jesus lived and died to bring all to the Father.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Jesus Christ, raised from the dead…this is my gospel.
–2Tim 2:7-9
This is great. What a list! I think it's safe to say that you all have put some effort into knowing "what you believe and why you believe it" as they like to say over at the White Horse Inn. Bravo!
I thought I knew, but, after all these years, I have never fully realized the love that Jesus has for me, and I long to fully realize it.
This is wonderful because the original blog-post is filled with awful un-gospel stuff about the Kingdom and our obedience. There is also a lengthy and tragic discussion about how the Gospel can't be articulated in 10 words or less because it is so complex. BARF!
Christ died, risen, and returning for you!
God saves us from death through Jesus' death and resurrection.
BTW… I think the first Christian writer to use a phrase like "the micro-gospel" was Luther.
He called John 3:16 "the Gospel in miniature."
Alleluia! The Lord is risen.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Christ Jesus, friend of sinners.
God Loves.
Man Sins.
Christ died.
Christ rose.
Grace covers.