What is the gospel? Part 2

What is the gospel? Part 2

    The elements of the gospel are clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3–6, a key passage concerning the good news of God:

1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (NASB)

3 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.”

    Notice, first, that Paul “received” the gospel and then “delivered to”; this is a divine message, not a man-made invention. Second, the gospel is “of first importance.” Everywhere the apostles went, they preached the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Third, the message of the gospel is accompanied by proofs: Christ died for our sins (proved by His burial), and He rose again the third day (proved by the eyewitnesses). Fourth, all this was done “according to the Scriptures”; the theme of the whole Bible is the salvation of mankind through Christ. The Bible is the gospel.

    “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The gospel is a bold message, and we are not ashamed of proclaiming it. It is a powerful message, because it is God’s good news. It is a saving message, the only thing that can truly reform the human heart. It is a universal message, for Jews and Gentiles both. And the gospel is received by faith; salvation is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

    The gospel is the good news that God loves the world enough to give His only Son to die for our sin (John 3:16).

John 3:16 (NASB)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

    The gospel is good news because our salvation and eternal life and home in heaven are guaranteed through Christ (John 14:1–4).

John 14:1-4 (NASB)

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

4 And you know the way where I am going.”

1 Peter 1:3-4 (NASB)

3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

    The gospel is good news when we understand that we do not (and cannot) earn our salvation; the work of redemption and justification is complete, having been finished on the cross (John 19:30).

John 19:30 (NASB)

30 “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

    Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2).

1 John 2:2 (NASB)

2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

    The gospel is the good news that we, who were once enemies of God, have been reconciled by the blood of Christ and adopted into the family of God (Romans 5:10; John 1:12).

Romans 5:10 (NASB)

10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

John 1:12 (NASB)

12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

    “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

1 John 3:1 (NASB)

1 “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

    The gospel is the good news that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Romans 8:1 (NASB)

1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

    To reject the gospel is to embrace the bad news. Condemnation before God is the result of a lack of faith in the Son of God, God’s only provision for salvation.

John 3:17-18 (NASB)

17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

God has given a doomed world good news: The Gospel of Jesus Christ!