Is the gospel more than "salvation"?  The description of a new book on the reign of Christ has a line in it's description that says, "Contemporary evangelicals have built a 'salvation culture' but not a 'gospel culture.' Evangelicals have reduced the gospel to the message of personal salvation."  That is a sweeping statement but one that has some merit.  We have talked a lot about being saved from sin, about being forgiven and made fit for heaven etc.  I do think it is appropriate to note that this is an important part of the gospel but not the whole message.  King Jesus has come for more than merely giving us a ticket for Heaven!  Part of the problem is too myopic a definition of salvation.  If we define salvation very narrowly...e.g. deliverance from the penalty of sin then we are accused of a so-called "soterian gospel."  But, if we view salvation in in a broader context, that Christ the King came to deliver us from the penalty and power of sin, to redeem and transform people from broken "Adam people" to whole "Jesus people", then our soterian gospel is more in line with the preaching of Jesus Himself and His apostles.   I am willing to identify with a broader soterian definition believing that Jesus came to provide forgiveness and restore the glorious and gracious reign of God among us.  I am praying that this study in Matthew will help all of us think more accurately about salvation, kings and kingdoms.  I believe our understanding of the gospel will be broader and more accurate when we have worked through the passages of this great Kingdom gospel.  I look forward to my study time each week and have eager expectation about what we will learn and apply together.  For the King and His Kingdom!

I think it might be good for us to begin this study of Matthew outside of the regular rhythm of the Christmas season.  We expect to hear about the nativity and the incarnation and the angels etc in the month of December but not in August!  Maybe we'll see some things we haven't seen before.  Maybe we'll learn something from these familiar texts that we did not know before!  Is there anything new?  Well, for some there will be and for others it is just good to hear the gospel again...   Remembering that God the Son was willing to take on human flesh in order to die for us, redeem, restore and allow us to reign with Him is awesome news.  This is a much bigger story than most of us realize.  Let's be praying for open eyes and receptive hearts.