Sharing the Gospel Clearly and Completely

I was just thinking about how it's common for people to do either one of two things with the gospel: 1) not share the gospel at all, or 2) if they do share it, there is a tendency to make it as short as possible. Just to be clear, I'm not saying that people only do these two things with the gospel; I'm just focusing on these two tendencies to illustrate my point. I also want to add that I don't necessarily have a problem with being concise when sharing the gospel. But in our efforts to be concise, what are we leaving out? We should strive to share the gospel not only clearly, but also completely.

In terms of Free Grace theology, Zane Hodges is a prime example of what happens when Christians go to extremes in their attempts to minimize the message. Over the years, his "gospel" (or what he called "the saving message") became smaller and smaller until even the central fact that "Christ died for our sins" was removed! This is truly a tragedy. And while many would rightly disagree with Hodges theologically, yet sadly they agree pragmatically! That is to say, in practice they share a message that, when examined closely, is found lacking vital truths "of first importance"! Here are the key facts that the Apostle Paul included in his gospel message: 1) Christ died for our sins, 2) He was buried, 3) He was raised, and 4) He was seen (see 1 Cor. 15:3ff). When was the last time you heard those four facts clearly presented in a gospel presentation? 

What I've found in my research, and also just from listening to Bible teachers in general, is that many today treat the facts of the gospel (listed by Paul in 1 Cor. 15) as "Too Much Information"! Some people may think I'm exaggerating. But if you're skeptical, I encourage you to do a little experiment. To verify it for yourself, just ask ten professing Christians what "the gospel" is by which a person is saved? If I were a betting man, I'd be willing to bet that less than half the respondents will include all the information that the apostle Paul includes in his declaration of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15. Sadly, many well-meaning but misguided Christians today view Paul's gospel as "Too Much Information". The words of A. B. Luter, Jr. are appropriate when he says: "Another significant concern of mission in regard to homiletics [i.e. the principles and methods used to prepare and deliver a sermon or message] has to do with what has been called 'putting the cookies on the lower shelf.' This refers to speaking with simplicity and clarity. Just as it is very common for preachers to add unnecessary complexity to their presentations of the gospel [as do those who preach 'Lordship salvation'], there is the opposite tendency to over-simplify [as do those who preach the 'crossless' and 'groundless' gospels]. It should be remembered, though, that there is a bedrock historical basis for the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-5) that is true (and, hence, must be articulated and believed) or 'our preaching is useless and so is your faith' (v. 14)."¹

Reference:

¹ A. B. Luter, Jr., Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2000), A. Scott Moreau, General Editor, p. 454, brackets added. For more information, see the article by Jonathan Perreault titled "Rick Whitmire on the Free Grace Gospel" (FGFS, October 19, 2024).