What is the place and function of the gospel in the life of the local church?
The Junction of Unction and Function
Doing things God's way means that the gospel must regulate our methodology.
- There is a vital connection between enjoying the unction of the Spirit and allowing the biblical gospel to function in a regulatory way over our practical methodology. This connection is the junction of unction and function.
- So in order to enjoy the outpouring of God's Spirit on our ministry methodology, we must bring our methods in line both with the content of the gospel and with the function of the gospel in the redemptive methodology of God.
- The gospel is its own power - it is the power of God for salvation (Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:18). It is our power too.
- Therefore, we both squander and dishonor the performative power of God's Word when we water it down to impotence, or espouse methods that pander to cultural preferences, as if the gospel isn't strong enough to conquer its most ardent enemies and convert its weakest believers!
- We must rely on the performative Word of God to do it's own creating, convicting, converting, conforming work as we preach and teach the whole counsel of God in its plain, Christ-centered meaning. As we do this, we walk a path that the Holy Spirit delights to bless - perhaps not immediately, but without a doubt eventually.
