What is the Gospel?

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.

1 Corinthians 15:1–6

The Gospel is the message of forgiveness for sin through the atoning work of Jesus Christ in His life, death, burial and resurrection. Think of it as God's rescue plan that is offered to everyone.

Here is the message of the Gospel in five points:

ONE

The Gospel is the Good News that under God's good and sovereign rule, the world and people, as God originally created them, are as He intended them to be. God created us for fellowship with Him and to bring Him glory.

I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:6-7

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

TWO

But people tried to rule themselves and because of their sinful rebellion, they experience sin and death in their lives and in the world. We all fall short of God's standard for living.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

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

THREE

God came into the world in the Person of Jesus, lived among us, died on our behalf and rose again, breaking the power of sin. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death so that every person would have the chance to be reconciled to God.

Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God. 1 Peter 3:18

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

FOUR

Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, people are reconciled to God and adopted into His family. Faith that leads to salvation requires turning from sin and self-sufficiency. We turn to Jesus and trust in Him as Lord, confess Him as Lord and Savior. Therefore eternal life is a free gift to all who will truly trust in Christ as Lord and Savior.

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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13

FIVE

God desires every person who is reconciled to Him to be a part of His Church, a community of Christ followers, and become partners with God on His mission of reconciliation. Ultimately, Christ will come back and restore all things to the good and sovereign rule of God.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrew 10:23-25

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

What Should I Do?

Now that you have heard the Gospel, the Good News, God wants you to respond to Him in faith. You can talk to Him using words like these:

I am sinful and separated from You by my sin. My life is broken. I need You! I believe that Jesus came to live, die, and was raised from the dead in order to rescue me from my sin. Forgive me God. I turn from my selfish and sinful ways and fully trust in You. I know that Jesus is Lord, and I commit my life to follow Him.

What's Next?

As you begin your new life with Jesus, the Bible teaches us how to grow and pursue God. He has a design for our life and relationships.