Things Above

The Gospel Is Bigger

Mar 11, 2026
A wide-ranging defense of a fuller gospel that includes atonement, kingship, sonship, and apprenticeship to Jesus. Conversation on whether discipleship is central or merely a fruit of faith. Warnings about a reduced gospel that offers benefits without following Jesus. Reflections on theology, spiritual formation, and how the proclaimed kingdom shapes Christian life.
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INSIGHT

Critique Of A Reduced Gospel

  • The article in Christianity Today reduces the gospel to only what Jesus has done for us, excluding discipleship and formation.
  • James Bryan Smith argues that treating the gospel as only substitutionary atonement misses its fuller invitation to kingdom living and transformation.
ANECDOTE

Response To Horton Citing Colleagues

  • James Bryan Smith recounts Horton citing John Mark Comer and Scot McKnight as examples who allegedly downplay the core gospel.
  • Smith responds that both Comer and McKnight explicitly teach Christ's incarnation and atonement, and their work needs no defense.
INSIGHT

Yes And Gospel Framework

  • Smith proposes a 'yes and' approach: the gospel includes both what Christ has done and our apprenticeship to him.
  • He lists complementary roles for Jesus (Lamb and Lion, Son and Master Teacher) to show these truths coexist.
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