{"id":3370,"date":"2023-03-10T17:02:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T17:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desiringgodchurch.org\/web\/?p=3370"},"modified":"2023-03-10T17:04:43","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T17:04:43","slug":"a-look-at-the-gospel-how-the-church-portrays-the-beauty-of-christ-by-ray-ortlund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hi10.in\/dgcc\/2023\/03\/10\/a-look-at-the-gospel-how-the-church-portrays-the-beauty-of-christ-by-ray-ortlund\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look at “The Gospel: How The Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ” by Ray Ortlund"},"content":{"rendered":"

How does rich gospel doctrine translate into rich gospel culture within the local church? What<\/em> does<\/em> that<\/em> look<\/em> like<\/em>? In The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ<\/em><\/a>, Ray Ortlund seeks to answer this question. This book is part of the 9Marks series of books that aims to serve the local church by providing \u201ctheological\u201d and \u201cpractical\u201d books on a variety of local church-related topics.[1]<\/a> The hope of the series is to \u201ccombine careful biblical examination, theological reflection, cultural consideration, corporate application, and even a bit of individual exhortation\u201d (11). Ortlund\u2019s contribution delivers on these very hopes. Here I offer a brief overview of (1) the purpose of the book and (2) its first three chapters.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ortlund\u2019s Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ortlund\u2019s purpose for the book is explicit both in the title and the introduction. That is, Ortlund aims \u201cto show how Christ puts his beauty into our churches\u201d (19). He does this by digging deeply into the concept of \u201chow the gospel can shape the life and culture of our churches so that they portray Christ as he really is, according to his gospel\u201d (19). Ortlund\u2019s book is helpful because it addresses a very real issue for local churches \u2014 translating gospel doctrine into gospel culture.<\/p>\n

First, Ortlund orders priorities. That is, before a local church can ever have a rich gospel culture, it must first fully embrace rich gospel doctrine. This is because gospel culture is downstream from gospel doctrine. Gospel culture springs from gospel doctrine. Thus, if rich gospel doctrine is lacking, gospel culture will be lacking as well. Sure, the culture may be welcoming but ultimately, without gospel truth and right understanding, the culture will be, as Ortlund says, \u201csentimental and cowardly\u201d (22). Such a church culture cannot stand against the winds of sinful, worldly culture. Rather, the secular cultural winds of the world will sweep up the gospel-doctrineless church culture so that, in the resulting swirl, church culture and secular culture become virtually indistinguishable. In other words, the church will look like the world. Ortlund sums it up simply: \u201cWithout the doctrine, the culture will be weak\u201d (21). But the gospel is countercultural to our world. This is what makes it salty and illuminating. It is different<\/em>. And as much as the world may tout acceptance and tolerance, it actually does not do \u2018different\u2019 or \u2018countercultural\u2019 very well. Indeed, it can be hard for a church to hold on to rich gospel doctrine in an increasingly hostile worldly culture. But it is vital. Our very faith depends on it. And, as hard as holding fast to gospel doctrine can be, as Ortlund points out, \u201cit\u2019s even harder to create a gospel culture\u201d (22).<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right. It is possible to be a church that embraces orthodox gospel doctrine, but still have a culture that is decidedly gospel lite. In such cases, the culture actually reduces the gospel to merely an impersonal, intellectually stimulating pursuit. Such an approach that embraces only the knowledge of the head transmutes the gospel from the person of Jesus to mere propositions and definitions, effectively bankrupting it. Instead of treasuring the person of the gospel, Jesus Christ, we treasure only the assertions, propositions, concepts, etc. of the gospel. So, while the articulation of gospel doctrine might be on point, a church culture can end up wielding that doctrine like a sledgehammer, which is not ideal for building but excellent at demolition work. But the gospel does both. It tears down to build up. It wounds to heal. It is truth with love. Ortlund notes, \u201cTruth without grace is harsh and ugly\u201d (21). Such a culture is cold, weak, hypocritical and unloving. Therefore, Ortlund notes \u201cWithout the culture, the doctrine will seem pointless\u201d (21). However, when rich gospel doctrine gives rise to rich gospel culture and the two work in concert, the church thrives: \u201cWhen the doctrine is clear and the culture is beautiful that church will be powerful\u201d (21).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Overview of Ortlund\u2019s First Three Chapters<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ortlund unpacks the gospel in three spheres: what the gospel means for you personally (\u201cThe Gospel for You\u201d, Chapter 1), what the gospel means for the Church corporately (\u201cThe Gospel for the Church\u201d, Chapter 2), and what the gospel means for all creation (\u201cThe Gospel for Everything\u201d, Chapter 3). At the end of these first three chapters, Ortlund points out how each of these facets of the gospel informs cultural formation. First, he highlights the personal reality of the gospel.<\/p>\n

Gospel Doctrine: \u201cThe Gospel for You\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In Chapter 1, Ortlund details the personal reality of rich gospel doctrine. God in his infinite love saves individuals through his Son Jesus. \u201cFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life\u201d (John 3:16) (21). This is how God saves his people. This is how God saves you. Ortlund notes, \u201cThe massive love of God calls for more and creates more than mild agreement\u2026Real belief takes us into Jesus Christ\u2026we find in him our all\u2026We gladly lose ourselves in who he is for desperate sinners\u201d (33). Therefore, Ortlund writes, \u201cWhen I believe into Christ, I stop hiding and resisting. I surrender my autonomy\u201d (33). This personal reality of the gospel naturally gives rise to a corporate reality of the gospel, and therefore, a cultural reality.<\/p>\n

Gospel Culture<\/em><\/p>\n

The gospel doctrine of our individual salvation creates a gospel culture in the local church of sacrificial love and brotherly affection. Ortlund notes, \u201cNow here is the beautiful church culture called for by that doctrine: \u2018Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another\u2019 (1 John 4:11)\u201d (36). This means a gospel culture in a local church will be marked by the loving pursuit of and care for our brothers and sisters in the body. But it also means a gospel culture will be marked by the willful surrender of ourselves to the pursuit and care of our brothers and sisters in the body. Gospel culture is not one of isolation. God saves individuals for covenant community in the local church. Therefore, we give ourselves to the ministry of loving our brothers and sisters as Christ loved us, and<\/em> we give ourselves to the ministry of our brothers and sisters who seek to love us with the love of Christ. As Ortlund notes, \u201cwe give up our aloofness and come together to care for one another in real ways, even as God wonderfully cares for us\u201d (37).<\/p>\n

Gospel Doctrine: \u201cThe Gospel for the Church\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In Chapter 2, Ortlund highlights the corporate reality of rich gospel doctrine by pointing to two miraculous gospel realities: unity and purity.<\/p>\n

Unity<\/em><\/p>\n

First, through the gospel, Jesus creates a people, the church. By virtue of our individual union with Christ, we are united with all Christians across the centuries. However, we express, participate in, and even build upon that unity by literally gathering as and being members of local churches<\/em>. Ortlund notes, \u201cthe unity of the church becomes our actual experience in the unity of a church\u201d (40), and \u201cIt is only in a church that we are members of Christ and of one another, moving forward together like a well-coordinated body (1 Cor. 12:12\u201327)\u201d (40).<\/p>\n

Gospel Culture<\/em><\/p>\n

A local church\u2019s gospel culture is marked by beautiful unity (I\u2019ve adapted this language of \u201cbeautiful\u201d from Ortlund\u2019s language regarding a church culture marked by holiness quoted below). From the outside looking in, the world hopefully sees in the gathering of the local church diverse peoples that have no earthly reason to be together. But we gather and commit lovingly to one another as the local church in order to participate in, display, and build upon the reality of our union with one another by virtue of our union with Christ. And as this unity endures over time through blessings and trials<\/em> or through joys and suffering<\/em>, it only grows in beauty. This gospel culture of unity, then, becomes a profound gospel witness to the world.<\/p>\n

Purity<\/em><\/p>\n

Secondly, through the gospel, Jesus purifies his people, the church. Certainly, as the church we continue to struggle with and fight sin. But the promise of the gospel is that we are and will be holy. Ortlund hits on this by noting several passages. We are at once washed clean, sanctified, and justified before God (1 Corinthians 6:11). Simultaneously we are called to ever-increasing holiness: \u201cbut as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, \u2018You shall be holy, for I am holy\u2019\u201d (1 Peter 1:15\u201316). We are to be more and more fitting to the gospel call on our lives (2 Thessalonians 1:11\u201312). And the gospel promise it that God will sanctify the church, his bride, completely (Ephesians 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23\u201324).<\/p>\n

Gospel Culture<\/em><\/p>\n

A local church shimmers with holiness. That is, gospel culture in the local church should be \u201cmarked,\u201d as Ortlund asserts, \u201cby a beautiful holiness\u201d (48). A rich gospel doctrine fully recognizes and fully embraces our perfectly righteous standing before God because of Jesus. Simultaneously, a rich gospel culture recognizes our perpetual weakness and sinfulness in this life. But rather than permitting us to go on sinning that grace may abound (Romans 6:1), a rich gospel culture, as Ortlund notes, \u201cteaches us to think: \u2018I\u2019m no good at this. I do fail and fail and fail. Therefore, the promise of Christ is what matters, He will make me holy as he is holy, for his own glory. I will believe the gospel and I will put my trust in the mighty love of Christ\u201d (48). And, I would add, we act upon that promise. In other words, a gospel rich culture promotes and cultivates the continual pursuit of greater purity in our lives through confessing and repenting of sin in light of Christ. We \u201clay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely\u201d and we \u201crun with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith\u201d (Hebrews 12:1).<\/p>\n

It is in this type of honest, transparent, Christ-clinging culture, beautiful unity and beautiful purity, shine forth through present and former weaknesses. And the world takes notice (49).<\/p>\n

Gospel Doctrine: The Gospel for Everything<\/em><\/p>\n

In Chapter 3, Ortlund describes the full scope of a rich gospel doctrine as it relates to all creation. He reminds us that creation as we know it has a trajectory \u2014 \u201cThe Bible\u2019s story starts here: \u2018In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth\u2019 (Gen 1:1). It ends here: \u2018Then I saw a new heave and a new earth’ (Rev. 21:1)\u201d (51). Through the gospel, God is making and will make all things new. That is, as Ortlund points out, \u201cthis universe, this present heaven and earth, will be renewed. God will restore this creation that he made, owns, and loves\u2014this creation where we ourselves feel at home\u201d (56). Therefore, God will fix all broken things and right all wrongs\u2014\u201cWho will put an end to war? Who will defeat Satan? Who will bring justice to the nations? Who will repair the damage and wreckage from all our sins? He will\u2014our King, who reigns even now from his throne of grace, to whom be glory forever\u201d (61\u201362).<\/p>\n

Gospel Culture<\/em><\/p>\n

This rich gospel doctrine gives rise to a gospel culture in the local church of resilient sturdiness amidst the trials and tribulations of life. This type of gospel culture recognizes that we are but exiles on this earth who are looking for a heavenly country, a city whose designer and builder is God, the city that is to come (Hebrews 11:10, 13, 16; 13:14). Therefore, gospel culture is marked by robust hope in future, real, tangible promises even in the midst of suffering now. As Ortlund says, \u201cIt creates churches of bright, resilient, rugged hope. It creates churches that face life as it is and are not defeated\u201d (62). A gospel culture can truly rejoice always with prayerful, thankful hearts in all circumstances<\/em> (1 Thessalonians 5:16\u201318).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Parting Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m thankful for Ortlund\u2019s labors here and the wisdom he offers in this book. Let us be exhorted to this end\u2014DGCC, let us be a local church that ever finds our footing on and clings lovingly to rich gospel doctrine, and let us be a local church that shines and shimmers with beautiful gospel culture.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Ray Ortlund, The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ<\/em> (Crossway, 2014).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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