keller on the gospel

In a comment made here, Darryl Dash pointed me to Tim Keller's excellent post about the Gospel in all its forms. Keller opens with the age old yet accurate adage:

The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore.

Keller contends that while there must be one Gospel, there are many forms in which that Gospel can be expressed. He uses Simon Gathercole's formula to provide a three-point outline of the Gospel.

1) Jesus was the promised Messianic King and Son of God come to earth as a servant, in human form (Ro 1.3-4; Phil 2.4ff)
2) By his death and resurrection, Jesus atoned for our sin and secured our justification by grace, not by our works (1 Cor 15.3ff)
3) On the cross Jesus broke the dominion of sin and evil over us (Col 2.13-15) and at his return he will complete what he began by the renewal of the entire material creation and the resurrection of our bodies (Ro 8.18ff)

Keller summarizes as follows:

Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever.

I like how Keller then summarizes how he uses the Gospel.

1. I don't put all the gospel points into any one gospel presentation.
2. I use both a gospel for the "circumcised" and for the "uncircumcised."
3. I use both a "kingdom" and an "eternal life" gospel.
4. I use them all and let each group overhear me preaching to the others.