What is the Gospel?

The basic meaning of the word “gospel” is good news. In a day of depressing headlines and uncertainty good news is very welcome.

We are told that it is “the gospel of God” (Romans c1v1: the Bible). So this good news has God as its source. As God is holy and unchangeable so this good news is good and reliable. The gospel also reveals the heart of God because it comes as a message of love into a world of hate and bitterness. John c3v16a “For God so loved the world, …” which He has demonstrated. We learn from Mark c1v1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” that the gospel is centred on God’s eternal Son, Who came from heaven and became the man Jesus Christ. 1John c4v14 “… the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

But what are we to be saved from? Romans c5v8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s measureless love caused Him to send Jesus Christ to die for our sins. We might not like having to face our wrong thoughts, words and deeds, which God calls sin. However if we are honest with ourselves we know that we do sin. God says “for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory (or standards) of God” (Romans 3v22b-23). He also says in 1Corinthians c15v3b-4 “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” So God points out our sin and the Saviour Who paid the penalty for our sin while He was crucified outside Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, you can come into “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians c3v8). For “through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins” (Acts c13v38). It is not the forgiveness of some sins but “the forgiveness of sins” with no exceptions … which is exceeding good news.

Also “And I (Jesus v25) give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Therefore, through Christ you can receive eternal/everlasting life and never “perish” which means go to hell. Also, Christ’s hand will always be keeping you. Galatians c3v26 adds another spiritual gift, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” You can become a child of
God and so become part of God’s family. There are a number of other unsearchable riches that could be yours.

However, you notice the means of these riches. It is “by faith in Christ Jesus.” He is the only Person Who was able and fit to die for your sins and rise again. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts c20v21). If you will repent, i.e., turn from your sin and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Acts 16:31) that He died for your sins then you shall be saved from God’s judgment of your sins and saved for heaven. This is the best news that sinful people can hear and act upon or obey.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans c6v23).