It stretches credulity to suggest that anyone would answer this question in the affirmative. We know better than to say such things. It also stretches credulity, however, to deny that we in the church have a terrible time grasping the ongoing significance of the gospel to our lives. We are more than willing to admit that it was how we were saved. We’ll also admit that it is how we will enter into heaven. Between these two events, however, we have a hard time seeing its relevance.
I suspect such is mostly because we have such a narrow view of the impact of the gospel. It is absolutely true, gloriously true, that because Jesus led a perfect life in our place we are declared just. Because He died an atoning death in our place our sins are forgiven. Our debt has been wiped clean, and hell receives notice to cancel our reservation. The gospel solves the one real problem we’ve ever faced. We were under the judgment of the living God.
The gospel, however, does not stop there. It does not merely move us from the guilty to the innocent column. It moves us from the enemy to friend column, from the stranger to child column. It changes us from the evil witch to the beautiful princess. It does those things, but it also reconciles us to each other.
The gospel tells us that we have been forgiven much, empowering us to forgive much in others. The gospel tells us our worth is not in ourselves but in Him, empowering us to let go of our need to protect our worth and value. The gospel tells us we have not just the forgiveness but the love of the One who knows us completely, so there is no reason to cover up our sin. The gospel tells us that we have been given joy, peace, security, provision, treasure, Jesus Himself, and so there is no reason to look for these things from other cracked earthen vessels.
The gospel in turn gives us who have already been saved, our purpose, and our marching orders. We are to pursue the kingdom, disciple the nations, mortify our flesh, tell other beggars where the Bread of Life found us. We are set free from the folly of seeking meaning and purpose in the same empty cupboards that the world looks in. We are set free from chasing after the wind.
Best of all, the gospel leads us all to worship. It is both how and why we praise Him, delight in Him, honor Him. Which is just what we need, all of us. The gospel must be preached every Lord’s Day not because someone there might not be saved, but because no one there doesn’t need to hear it. No one there will be anything but blessed by hearing it. Everyone there needs to go tell it to others.
If we think, consciously or otherwise, that the gospel is the beginning and then we move on, we need to go back to the beginning.