It's more than the cross

I can't find it now, but sometimes in the history of Sandpiper's Thoughts, there was a discussion going in the comments about the importance of the crucifixion. My point as I wrote the post was that we needed to remember the joy of resurrection in our worship, not just the pain of crucifixion. There was a gentleman who disagreed with me -- his point, if I remember it correctly, was that it was Christ's pain and suffering in his death which saved us, and our worship needs to reflect that.

The fifth characteristic of a robust gospel reminded me of that discussion. A robust gospel "includes the life of Jesus as well as his Resurrection and the gift of the Spirit alongside Good Friday."

Read this quote from Christianity Today:

The robust gospel incorporates us into the life of Jesus Christ, into his death with us, for us and instead of us, into the resurrection that justifies and creates new life, and the Pentecostal spirit that empowers us to live together, as image-bearers of God, in such a way that we glow with the glory of the blessd God.

The crucifixion is not the only event in the story of Jesus which has meaning and impact for us. We need the incarnation; we need the resurrection and we need Pentecost. We are recreated; we are sent out to transform the world. How could we do that without a complete, robust gospel?