The theme of the conference this year was one of absolute importance and extremely relevant to our day and age... The "Unadjustable" Gospel. While there is far from a shortage of churches in our country, it seems the majority of churches are no longer centered on God, rather they are centered on man. Anytime you take the focus of a church or a ministry off of God and place it on man and his "felt" needs, you are most certainly "adjusting" the Gospel to accomplish the end you seek. A church is to be centered on Christ, preaching the full counsel of God, proclaiming the uncompromisable, "unadjusted" Gospel of Jesus Christ! This is the means by which God has chosen to save all whom He gave His Son.
"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe." (1 Cor 1:21 ESV)
When we attempt to "adjust" God's Gospel by trying to make it more "appealing" or "enticing" to sinful men and women, we in effect have a form of godliness, yet deny the power of God by changing the message.
"...having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim 3:5-7 ESV)We cannot change the message.
Please examine yourself in light of Scripture concerning how you proclaim the Gospel to the lost. Are you "adjusting' the Gospel? Would you present the same Gospel message to your successful neighbor who has "everything going for him" that you would to someone having only 3 minutes live?
If you said "No, I would would present a different message to my successful neighbor", then you're guilty of "adjusting" the Gospel. The Gospel message should NEVER change to accomodate man's circumstances. It's not our Gospel to change, it's God's Gospel and it's only His Gospel that saves fallen man from the justice and wrath of a holy God. It's only God's Gospel where mercy and forgiveness are found by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Below are some great resources from the conference for your growth and edification.
T4G 2010 -- Session 1 -- Mark Dever
The Church is the Gospel Made Visibl
T4G 2010 -- Session 1 -- Mark Dever from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Session 2 -- R.C. Sproul
The Defense and Confirmation of the Gospel — What I Have Learned in 50 years
T4G 2010 -- Session 2 -- R.C. Sproul from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler
How Does it Happen? Trajectories Toward an Adjusted Gospel
T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Session 4 -- Thabiti Anyabwile
'Fine-Sounding Arguments' — How Wrongly ‘Engaging the Culture’ Adjusts the Gospel
T4G 2010 -- Session 4 -- Thabiti Anyabwile from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Session 5 -- John MacArthur
The Theology of Sleep! (Mark 4)
T4G 2010 -- Session 5 -- John MacArthur from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Session 6 -- John Piper
Did Jesus Preach Paul’s Gospel?
T4G 2010 -- Session 6 -- John Piper from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Special Session -- Matt Chandler
Faith
T4G 2010 -- Special Session -- Matt Chandler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
T4G 2010 -- Session 7 -- Ligon Duncan
Did the Fathers Know the Gospel?
T4G 2010 -- Session 7 -- Ligon Duncan from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
In His grip,
Travis
2 Tim 4:5
