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Recovering the Gospel in Every Generation
Recovering the gospel remains essential in every generation because people are continually tempted to add to, subtract from, or distort God’s saving truth. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains why the church must continually return to Scripture and the finished work of Jesus Christ.Listen or Watch
Recovering the Gospel Through God’s Word
The Protestant Reformation centered on recovering the good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel had not changed, but teachings and practices had obscured its clarity. The church needed to return to what God had revealed in Scripture.That responsibility continues today. Galatians 1 warns against turning to a different gospel, while Romans 1 declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Sinners are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.The Gospel Is the Foundation of the Christian Life
The gospel is more than the beginning of the Christian life. It is its foundation. Forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and Christian growth flow from the saving work of Jesus Christ. The church must never move beyond the gospel.The Danger of Adding to Christ’s Finished Work
False teaching often adds human effort, religious performance, special knowledge, or personal merit to the gospel. Whenever something is added to Christ as the basis of acceptance before God, the gospel is being distorted.When the church drifts, it must return to biblical truth. Scripture directs us back to Christ, His grace, and His finished work.Passing the Gospel to Future Generations
Defending and proclaiming the gospel did not end with the Reformers. Parents, pastors, church leaders, and ordinary believers all have a responsibility to faithfully pass God’s truth to the next generation.- Keep the gospel central to the Christian life.
- Recognize distortions that add to the grace of God.
- Continually return to Scripture and Christ’s finished work.
- Faithfully preserve and proclaim the gospel.
Scripture References
- Galatians 1:6–9
- Romans 1:16–17
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
