Gospel and Justification

There are so many good quotes from NT Wright’s book, What Saint Paul Really Said, that I can’t help posting some of my favorite every once in a while. Wright has the ability to clearly and succinctly explain things that I believe are critical for every Christian to understand. On page 151, he gives a summary of Paul’s understanding and teaching of “the gospel” and “justification,” with which I fully agree, and which I also hope you will examine and comment on:

“’The gospel’ itself is neither a system of thought, nor a set of techniques for making people Christians; it is the personal announcement of the person of Jesus. That is why it creates the church, the people who believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. ‘Justification’ is then the doctrine which declares that whoever believes the gospel, and wherever and whenever they believe it, those people are truly members of his family, no matter where they came from, what colour their skin may be, whatever else might distinguish them from each other. The gospel itself creates the church; justification continually reminds the church that it is the people created by the gospel and the gospel alone, and that it must live on that basis” (Italics mine).

I am purposely not expounding on this quote, hoping that it will spark discussion here, which will lead to a clearer understanding of this topic by all contributing parties.