Know What You Believe with Michael Horton What Is the Gospel, Really? Responding to John Mark Comer and Scot McKnight
Aug 26, 2025
John Mark Comer and Scot McKnight challenge conventional gospel teachings in evangelical circles, arguing for a richer understanding. They debate whether the Gospels collectively represent the gospel and discuss the importance of discipleship as practical following of Jesus. Horton adds depth by examining the necessity of substitutionary atonement and the relationship between Christology and soteriology. The conversation questions popular summaries of the gospel, asserting that forgiveness and justification are essential components of its message.
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Hearing Discipleship Was New To Many
- John Mark Comer reports people telling him they'd followed Jesus for decades without hearing discipleship taught well.
- He emphasizes the basic, transformative power of preaching discipleship to Jesus.
Start Preaching With Jesus' Gospel
- John Mark Comer urges preachers to start with the gospel Jesus preached to avoid misrepresenting it.
- He recommends centering teaching on Jesus' kingdom message and discipleship practices.
Gospel Has Broad And Narrow Senses
- Michael Horton notes the Reformation distinction between a broad and a narrow sense of "gospel."
- Not everything in the four gospels is the good news in the narrower soteriological sense.
