But we must think again. Much of the preaching and curriculum of today s American evangelical churches is just as Christ less as the teaching of the Enlightenment deists. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A penny saved is a penny earned. But often there is no Christ in evangelical preaching either.
Definitions Let s define some terms.
By Gospel the Reformers meant the news about what Jesus Christ s death and resurrection accomplished for you and me. In other words, the Gospel has to do with what took place 2,000 years ago outside of you and me, outside our hearts. The Gospel is news about a past event, an announcement about Jesus Christ s historical, objective death and resurrection and what it did for us sinners. The Bible uses word in a threefold sense. When the Reformers used this word, they were referring to baptism and the Lord s Supper.