What is the gospel?

The gospel message is God’s story. The gospel message is our hope. The word “gospel” simply means “good news.”[1] The gospel has the strength to further shape our lives to reflect Christ in us. As the gospel reaches beyond the boundaries of Scripture, the gospel message has the power to change lives and the world in which we live. The salvation gospel is defined as “a culture that focuses on and measures people on the basis of whether they can witness to an experience of personal salvation.”[2] The “salvation gospel” presented in today’s culture primarily focuses on the importance of making a “decision” to follow Christ. This does not cultivate an understanding of how Jesus completes the story of Israel and the importance of discipleship and spiritual maturity within the lives of believers (2 Pet. 1:3-11).[3]

In Genesis 1-2, the Bible teaches that God created us to abide with Him. In these two chapters, details are given about how God creates all of the universe and all that is in it (Gen. 1:1), including the first humans, Adam and Eve, with a distinct purpose in mind. In Genesis 1:27, the Bible says that we are made in God’s image and to go forth to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). Man is commanded to care for the earth and Eden (Gen. 2:15). God’s original design was for man to be in complete fellowship with Him and each other, as Adam and Eve’s nakedness represented no sin, shame, or reason to hide from God (Gen. 2:25). His original plan was for mankind to abide in a perfect relationship with Him in unity. But this soon would be disrupted.

Our sin separates us from God (Gen. 3). When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3:6), they sinned and knew their error, as they remembered what God had previously said in Genesis 2:17 (they would surely die). They faced immediate consequences: difficulty in childbirth (Gen. 3:16), banishment from the garden (Gen. 3:23-24), and a transition from love to hate in work (Gen. 3:17-19). The future consequence of this fall is physical death. At the moment of disobedience, they spiritually died and became separated from God. As a result, humanity had fallen from a perfect relationship with God. This leads to their offspring being born into sin, depraved and deprived through Adam’s sin (Rom. 5:12-14). When this occurred, Adam blamed Eve (Gen 3:12) and Eve blamed the snake (Gen. 3:13). Throughout history, mankind has been playing off of this “blame game” because of one disobedient action. This is what happens when we disobey the Lord. The Fall resulted in evil being introduced into the world, as this also leads to all tragedy as well.

From the beginning, man has attempted to remove the stain of sin by the actions of good deeds. The first occurrence of this occurred when Cain offered vegetables to appease his sin but God rejected this offering (Gen. 4:1-4). Out of jealousy for his brother Abel (who offered a lamb), Cain killed Abel and was driven from the land (Gen. 4:8-16). God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Exo. 20:1-17) to show them that they could not live up to His standards on their own (Gal. 3:23-24). In opposition to this, the Jews did not look to God in order to please Him, but they looked to their own strength. Reacting to this, the LORD saw their actions as nothing but rags of filth (Is. 64:6). What seemed to be their most good intentions turned out to be self-centered boasting.

God gave the sacrificial system to the Jewish people to serve as the atonement for their sin. They were to provide a lamb, without blemish, for their sacrifice (Lev. 4:27-31). The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was intended to point inward. First, it pointed inward to convince someone of their sinful state. When one becomes honest with themselves and before God, they can easily reach this conclusion. It is more evidently clear that someone could never produce enough sacrifices to cover their own sins. The sacrificial system pointed upward to show that the people needed to trust in the LORD for their salvation, not just depend on the sacrifice, but to understand the significance of the sacrifice (Ps. 51:16-17). Finally, this sacrificial system pointed to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to pay the price for man’s sin at Calvary (John 1:29). In the remainder of the Old Testament, there is a distinction between the two major different people types. Some of the people realized that they needed to trust in God for salvation (Ps. 51:1-2). Unlike these, most people trusted in their own selves and personal goodness versus the gracious mercy of God (Is. 64:6).

In the Gospels, Jesus paid the price for sin through His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Matt. 5:17) and to pay the ultimate sacrifice for man’s sin (Lk. 24:46). He lived a perfect, sinless life. As He died, be proclaimed that “IT IS FINISHED” (Jn. 19:30) because our sins are paid in full. Jesus was obedient to the Father in fulfilling this task of defeating sin and the grave forever (Jn. 6:38). Humans now have the opportunity to become alive in Christ through a new birth by confessing the Lord Jesus Christ and believing in one’s heart that God rose Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10). Fully God and fully man, He could die for others. His payment for sin was infinite. Three days after being murdered on the cross for our sins, Jesus arose from the grave (Mk. 16:6). Paul records that He was seen by over 500 witnesses after the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6). He was seen over a period of forty days (Acts 1:3).

Salvation is a free gift of God, not a result of works (Eph. 2:8-9). As Jesus paid the penalty for sin, all that one has to do is accept the free gift of salvation and commit to follow Christ. Once one trusts in Him alone, they receive eternal life, passing from death to life (John 5:24). Eternal life is received through faith, as it is a matter of trusting and not trying. Almost the entire New Testament discusses how to faithfully live out the Christian life. The disciples teach Christ followers how to live like Jesus, living a life committed to service and love. This, faith alone, is the heart of the gospel.

Because of the cross and resurrection, we are guaranteed a place in heaven. Trusting in Jesus alone for salvation leads to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is permanent. One cannot lose their salvation, as it is “eternal life” (Jn. 10:28-29; Rom. 8:38-39; Eph. 4:30; Jude 24). Eternal life begins at the moment of salvation, not at the moment of death (Jn. 10:10). The life that one has in Jesus Christ is the product of real joy, an exciting relationship. This relationship is with Jesus each day, as one devotes time to prayer, worship, and living in the strength that the Holy Spirit provides for believers each day (Eph. 5:18). Believers will live in heaven forever – a billion years and it will just be the beginning! Finally, believers will reign forever with the Lord (Rev. 22:5). “…whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” invites each person to accept this gift of salvation in order to receive the blessing that comes with eternal life. In the end, the Lord reigns in victory, as He invites us to reign with Him. In the church today, we need to be consistently reminded of what is most important: the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel is to be understood within the context of mission. The concept of a holy, just Father is marginally present within the Old Testament, is further developed within the life of Christ, and is alluded to throughout the remaining construct of the New Testament. The story of God and humanity, detailed throughout the Old Testament, is fundamental to understanding the concept of the new covenant found in Christ. The continual acts of God throughout both Testaments helps the Bible student to understand the gospel as Christocentric throughout history.[1] The person and work of Jesus Christ within this context is to at least be viewed as God’s appointed agent by which His plan would be achieved. The saving event, the death, burial, and resurrection, is made evidently known through the gospel presentation.[2] The only thing that is emphasized within the context of the New Testament is the means of taking the whole Word to the whole world (Matt. 28:16-20).

The gospel is focused on divine initiative.[3] But it must be understood that this calls for a human response, a response that emphasizes what Christ has already done at the cross. The distinction between other religions and Christianity is the issue of saving faith. The place of the Holy Spirit within salvation “is most fully developed in the Pauline corpus and in John and 1 John.”[4] Within the context of the Pauline writings, it is important to note that the power that transforms believers is also the power that helps them in the resistance of the evil one, Satan.

It was intended that the redeemed come into community as the church. The new life, brought about through redemption, is characterized in pursuit of love and righteousness. This is only achievable through the practicing of these disciplines within the Christian community. It is important to remember the mutual love commandment given in John 13:34-35. With the love commandment, “the concept of leadership” is able to be viewed as humble servant-leadership established by Christ Himself.[5] A love for the God of the Bible is only cultivated through a love deepened through experiencing the love of God. Making the commitment of our lives to the foundations of His Word, spiritual fruit (Gal. 5) will begin to grow within our lives. In order to see this fruit prosper in your life, the emphasis of acquiring the fruits does not compare to necessity of focusing on Christ alone. It is only through a genuine love for God that the gospel begins to produce true love within the heart. The new kind of obedience produced through new desires of obedience to God and a delight within the individual’s heart as well. On the cross, Jesus had to endure the pain (Heb. 12:2). Growing in a relationship is to be going deeper into the gospel itself. The object desire of one’s heart is to crave Jesus far above everything else.

Finally, it is important to understand that the kingdom is here now and is to come. The Messiah (Christ) has come and He will come again (1 Thess. 4). His resurrection vetoed the power of the opposition and sealed the fate of Satan. His ascension confirmed His return. In consideration of this, “Jesus Himself said, ‘Nobody knows the time of my coming.’ … The point is that nobody knows the time, so don’t waste your time trying to guess the time, be ready all the time because Jesus can come anytime.”[6] It is to be understood, however, that the earthly life that we experience will one day pass away. As Paul writes in Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

The most basic presentation for personal evangelism is to use the “Romans Road” approach. This collection of verses offers a clear, structured to leading into a life with Jesus Christ. By understanding that no one can live up to God’s righteous standard, one is to rely on the gift of God’s saving grace in leading to new life in Christ.

The Romans Road provides a map in which one can follow to lead to a salvation experience. The first step in this is to see God as our Creator and accept our position of humbling ourselves to His righteous position. This is found in Romans 1:20-21, which partly reads “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…when they knew God, they glorified him not as…vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” None are innocent, as we are all guilty of sinning against a holy, just God, noting “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Rom. 3:23). Romans 3:10-18 provides an exhaustive view of sin’s impact on our lives.

Next, the consequences of sin is to be understood in that the punishment that is deserved is eternal death, the second death. This is a total separation from God for all of eternity. Eternity means forever. Romans 6:23a says, “For the wages of sin is death…” The earned payment, yes earned, is death. However, this is picked up in “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23b).

This free gift was paid once and for all at Calvary by the perfect, blames Son of God, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He came down from heaven in order to pay the sin debt of all humanity (John 1:1, 14). The resurrection proves that the sin debt had been paid. It is through a professing faith that we can accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 and 13 state, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” These verses tell how simple it is. We ask for salvation and truly believe in the resurrection, we will be saved. But, it must be by faith alone through His grace alone.

The wonderful message of Romans 5:1 reads, “…justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This adds on to the promise from Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Security in Christ is eternal, as no one can pull you from His hand (John 10:28-30).

To accept Christ, one must believe on His name and pray a simple prayer like this: “Lord, I know that I am a sinner that deserves death. But I believe that Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died for my sins. I believe that He rose from the dead. Please forgive me of my sins. I now accept Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

As you have been saved by God through faith in Christ, one is to be obedient and follow Him in baptism (Matt. 3). Getting connected with a local church will cultivate discipleship as one grows in their relationship with Christ.

[1] Harvey Hartman, “BIBL 480 Class Room Lecture” 2018.

[2] Scot McKnight, The King Jesus Gospel (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 30.

[3] Ibid.

[1] I. Howard. Marshall, New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014), 719.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid., 720.

[4] Ibid., 723.

[5] Ibid, 725.

[6] Ed Hindson, Professor, “BIBL 105 Class Room Lecture,” (2016).