I have a question that I have been struggling with for a few years now and was hoping you can help, well my question is, “what is the gospel?”
It is sad to see that the real gospel message has often been obscured and deformed by additional and unnecessary luggage from different denominations and churches. Let us discover through the Bible and the Bible alone, what the gospel message contains.
Rom 1:16-17” I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” NIV
The gospel divulges “the power of God” and “salvation” to those who believe. It reveals “God’s righteousness” that is only available by faith.
But what exactly is the gospel message?
1 Cor 15:2-8 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” NIV
The apostle Paul gives us here what the gospel message contains: Jesus died for our sins as predicted by many Old Testament scriptures. He was buried, but on the third day He was raised and appeared to more than five hundred people, most of them still living when the apostle Paul wrote this. Through this gospel we are saved.
In the following text this good news is affirmed again, as it is throughout the New Testament:
Acts 10:36-41 “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.” NIV
Be aware though, that this gospel message soon was perverted by people who pretended to be from God, just as it happens nowadays.
Gal 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” NIV
The difference between the real gospel and the perverted gospel is that the real one is “not something that man made up”.
Gal 1:11-12 “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.” NIV
The real gospel comes “with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”
1 Thess 1:4-5 “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” NIV
That power can even heal people!
Acts 5:14-16 “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.” NIV
What should one do if one believes in the gospel message?
Acts 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” NIV
Jesus came to bring salvation to all of us who had become estranged from God.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” NIV
Notice that this text does not say that God so loved Christians only. God “so loved the world”, which includes you and me, no matter our background, or our religious affiliation or our race or our sinful past. God loves you and wants you to be saved!
Is there any other way one can be saved?
Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” NIV
No, the only way to be saved is through Jesus! Only He could declare:
John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” NIV
Can you be saved if you do a lot of good deeds?
Eph 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” NIV
Salvation through works is another way to pervert the gospel message. None of our works will count towards our salvation. Only Jesus’ blood will!
2 Tim 1:8-9 “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” NIV
The gospel message is simple: Jesus came on our planet and died for our sins. He was buried and rose again three days later, as testified by the many witnesses who saw Him alive. Those who repent and turn towards God, accepting God’s offer of salvation, will be saved.
You may be a good person, you may even be obeying all of the man-made rules at your denomination, but this will not save you! Only Jesus can! Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” NIV It is still not too late to turn your life around. Accept Jesus in your heart. Get to know Him as your friend and experience His power in your life. It is a power that will free you!
John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” NIV
Do so by answering His call at http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html
Rob Chaffart
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GOSPEL GOOD NEWS
No other gospel should be preaches –But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let hem be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:8-9
The comparison between the law and Gospel of the blessed God – But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites or kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. 1 Tim. 1:8-11
Everlasting Gospel – Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-to every nation, tribe tongue, and people. Rev. 14:6
Jesus preached the Gospel – And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds if disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytic; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Gospel is commanded by Jesus to be preached by all men. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. “And these signs will follow those who believe; In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18
Testifying to the grace of God through the preaching of the Gospel. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the holy spirit of promise. Eph.1:13
Debo Adeyemo
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The Gospel is a bad news/good news story. The bad news is that we’re not good. None of us is good. Mother Teresa wasn’t good. I’m not good. You’re not good. We may be, as one local talk radio host says, “better than most; not as good as some,” but we’re not good. I sometimes remind people of the Ivory soap commercials of years past. Even 99 44/100ths % pure is not pure. And God requires us to be pure – 100% pure. Matthew 5:48 tells us, “Be perfect , therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Perfect is the one thing we are not, as we all know. So what’s the solution?
The answers depend on whom you ask, but they boil down to two. Either we count on God to lower his standards while we do the best we can, or we admit that we’ll never be pure and look for someone who is. The verse from Matthew above makes the first course risky at best, and only reasonable if there’s no alternative. The Gospel, however, gives us that alternative when it tells us of someone who not only is pure, but loves us enough to trade places with us. He gives us his perfection and takes on himself our brokenness. He can do this because he’s God the Son. He is willing to do this because He is Love. Many people know this Gospel but prefer to take their changes with more of a do-it-yourself approach. God knows this about his human creatures and puts his finger on our problem in words written in 1 Peter 5:6-7
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
This then is the Gospel: that God has become our Savior in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that believing, we may have life in his name.
Walter Mees, Jr., pastor
Palisades Lutheran Church
Pacific Palisades, CA
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The beginning of the new Testament that spells out the life and word of Christ. Matthew, Mark, Luke And John is where the Gospel (Word) of the Lord is told to us and given to us to follow throughout our lives.
The word gospel derives from the Old English word for ‘Good News.’
The ‘good news’ of God’s everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ’s return and how we may be a part of that kingdom is spelled out in the Lord’s gospel.
DeeDee
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Gospel means good news. The good news is about Jesus Christ and what He has for us.
Tommy Rothrock
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The gospel is the word of God. That is why there is the Gospel according to Mathew, Luke, John and Mark. The Gospel according to Mathew for example is the word of God through Christ as written by Mathew.
Weldon Siongok
Nairobi, Kenya
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“What is the gospel? It is the good news that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, proving His love for us, rose again from the died to prove his authority to forgive our sins, and promised that He would come again to receive us unto Himself, that where He is, we may be also. (that means we are going to live forever in heaven with Him. I Corinthians 151-8
The word “gospel” itself means good news
Audrey in Georgia
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1 Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 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.
Gospel means “good news”. The “good news” is that the Christ (Messiah) has come has foretold by the scriptures, and according to the perfect will of the Father, to deliver mankind from the evil and destructive nature of sin; to destroy the works of the devil; and to give all believers abundant and eternal life. The Gospel is the life, death, burial resurrection, ascension, and glorification of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Willie Bond
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The gospel is a man, a story of love and forgiveness; a life style of giving and redemption. It is God Almighty and wonderful Saviour.
Linda Shepherd
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The gospel is the good news that Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins. He did for us that which we could not do for ourselves.
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Well I believe it to be the teachings of Jesus to man for our redemption of man through Christ; Teachings of Jesus and the apostles.
Pearlie Walker
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Jesus said ” I have come so that you might have life and have it abundantly” that is the ” great news”
fact one ) only those that are dead need life
fact two ) only sinners are dead
fact three ) every one that is made of flesh and bone is born a sinner
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The gospel is our method of being reinstated with the Father and HIS Son. It is the cross, the blood, the water that flowed from our Lord when He was on the cross. It is His love, mercy, and forgiveness to us.
Linda Shepherd
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I believe that the Gospel is a very simple thing that some have allowed to mushroom into something complex and impossible to comply with. The apostle Paul gives us the answer in his first letter to the Corinthian church when he said:
1 Cor 15:1-8
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 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; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (NAS)
Many today would conclude that the NT is the Gospel, or that even the four accounts are each a gospel, since they carry that title. However, Paul says clearly that it is the DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION of Jesus (all according to the scriptures) and that this has been WITNESSED by a large number of people.
Obedience (or hearkening) to the Gospel (2 Thess 1:8) is what many differ on and causes the denominations or divisions that have become so numerous in our time. The bottom line, the beginning point, that which is basic, IS, Jesus died and was buried and on the third day was raised, just like the scriptures said He would. I believe it, and you who read this more than likely believe it. This is of FIRST importance. That would imply there are other things of secondary importance. Could it be the scriptures that teach other things to support Jesus as the Son of God and the authority He has in all that He taught? I think so. These things are all in support of our belief and trust in God and His Son and what they have done for me and all mankind. If we love Christ we will abide in His word (that which He taught) (John 14:21-24)
Thanks be to God for His mercy, His compassion, His forgiveness and His gift of the Gospel, made possible only by His Son, our Savior, Jesus, the Christ!
Nolan P. Rutter
Clinton, Missouri