What if the gospel is more vast, beautiful and multidimensional than we could ever imagine? Renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Keener joins Today’s Conversation podcast to deepen our understanding of what Jesus meant by the “good news,” how the early Christians received it, and how it transformed not just individual lives but entire communities. 

While the gospel is often framed primarily in terms of the forgiveness of sins — a foundational and essential truth — it doesn’t stop there. In this theological rich conversation, NAE President Walter Kim and Dr. Craig Keener explore the far-reaching implications of the gospel, including: 

  • Why the gospel is not just about personal transformation, but also community renewal;
  • How followers of Jesus are invited to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world;  
  • A call for today’s Church to reflect more fully the vision and mission of Jesus; and  
  • How a deeper understanding of the gospel inspires us to live with greater purpose and hope. 

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Read a Portion of the Transcript

Walter: You've given us this picture of the good news of Jesus Christ as this entry through our forgiveness, death according to the scriptures. But it's not just we're saved from our sins and saved from hell, saved from separation from God, we're saved into something. We're saved into this resurrection life, we're saved into this kingdom life, we're saved into a mission that entails the transformation of all things. Okay, that's a pretty big deal that you're describing.

If that's the case, it seems to me that the gospel isn't simply then about just personal flourishing. It's about the flourishing that can come through a community into communities and transforming the very world in which we live. And what were the implications for the early Christians as they were grasping that this gospel was magnificent and perhaps a lot bigger than what they wanted or anticipated?

Craig: I don't want to play down the personal dimension at all. I know some people go really far to one end or the other. I mean, we need the personal. That's how we are initiated into this community. But the communal aspect is important. Paul was starting churches, starting communities of believers who would be like the light set on the hill within their communities.

So we want to demonstrate the gospel by how we live. And again, the kind of things that Jesus did in demonstrating the gospel, he would preach and teach, he would heal and drive out demons. He did nature miracles in terms of feeding the hungry and in terms of stilling storms. So he's concerned about safety, he's concerned about health, he's concerned about hunger. And of course, he's concerned about the most fundamental thing: the transformation to eternal life. But here's the good thing about being born again. Our eternal life doesn't start when we die. When we're born again into a new life, our eternal life starts now. And that means that we can live in a new way that reveals God's heart for the world.

Craig Keener

Craig Keener is a renowned New Testament scholar and F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is widely known for his extensive work in New Testament studies, particularly in historical context and biblical exegesis. Keener has authored over 30 books, including major commentaries on Acts, John, Matthew and Romans, and edited the “NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible,” along with John H. Walton. His books have won 13 national and international awards, including six from Christianity Today. His other books include a two-volume work on miracles and works about the Spirit, ethnic reconciliation, women in ministry, divorce and various other topics. He holds a B.A. from Central Bible College, an M.A. and M.Div. from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and Ph.D. from Duke University.

Walter Kim

Walter Kim became the president of the National Association of Evangelicals in January 2020. He previously served as a pastor at Boston’s historic Park Street Church and at churches in Vancouver, Canada and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as a campus chaplain at Yale University. He preaches, writes and engages in collaborative leadership to connect the Bible to the intellectual and cultural issues of the day. He regularly teaches in conferences and classrooms; addresses faith concerns with elected officials and public institutions; and provides theological and cultural commentary to leading news outlets. He serves on the boards of Christianity Today and World Relief and consults with a wide range of organizations. Kim received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, his M.Div. from Regent College in Vancouver, and his B.A. from Northwestern University.