What Is the Gospel?

The word gospel simply means "good news."

The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me" (1 Corinthians 15:1-8, ESV).

The Problem: Sin

The Bible teaches that every person has sinned against God.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, ESV).

Sin separates us from God and leaves us unable to save ourselves. In fact, sin, against the Holy and pure God, is punishable by eternal death. God is perfectly holy, righteous, and just. Because of His holiness, sin cannot be ignored or excused. Every person stands accountable before God.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, ESV).

Since all have sinned against God, we are all deserving of eternal death. The Bible calls this judgment "death," referring not merely to physical death but to eternal separation from God under His righteous judgment.

God's Solution

Because of God's great love for us, He sent His willing Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place as our substitute. Jesus chose to die and pay for our sins, so that we could have eternal life through Him. Through Christ, sinners can be forgiven, reconciled to God, and restored to the relationship for which they were created.

Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead. His resurrection demonstrated His victory over sin, death, and the grave and confirmed that His sacrifice was accepted by God.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, ESV).

Jesus Christ accepted, on our behalf, the death penalty we were due. On the cross, He took our place, bearing the judgment our sins deserved so that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. This had to occur because God is so pure and Holy that perfect Justice must be upheld. There must be a consequence for sin. The consequence is eternal death, but Christ suffered and paid our debt.

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV).

Salvation Is a Gift

The Bible teaches that salvation cannot be earned through good works, religious rituals, or personal effort. It is a gift of God's grace received through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV).

We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Repentance and a willingness to follow Christ are not works that earn salvation but the proper response of a heart that truly believes.

How Should We Respond?

The Bible calls us to:

1. Repent of our sins. Repent does not simply mean to ask for forgiveness. To repent means to turn away from sin and turn toward God in faith. It involves a change of heart and mind regarding our sin, resulting in a desire to obey God and follow His Word.

"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19, ESV).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn 1:9, ESV).

1. Trust in Jesus Christ. We are called to trust in Jesus Christ as God's provision for our sin and restoration back to Him. This is often termed our faith, that we trust God that Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin and has saved us from eternal death.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

1. Follow Him as Lord. Saving faith results in a life of following and obeying Jesus Christ as Lord. Believers are called to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, to love others as themselves, and to participate in Christ’s mission of making disciples of all nations (Matthew 22:37–39; John 14:15; Matthew 28:18–20, ESV).

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV).

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:37, ESV).

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you” (John 13:34, ESV).

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV).

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV).

Questions

Q: "How do I know God will receive me?"

A: Everyone who genuinely comes to Christ in repentance and faith will be received and forgiven. God does not turn away those who come to Him through His Son.

“Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37, ESV).

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13, ESV).

Prayer

If you desire to trust Christ today, you may speak honestly to God in prayer, confessing and repenting of your sin, placing your faith in Jesus Christ, and asking Him to save you. God hears those who come to Him through His Son.

Next Steps

If you have trusted Christ today, consider visiting:

• New Believer Resources
• How to Read the Bible
• How to Pray
• Find a Local Church
• Learn about baptism