What is the Gospel?
You’ve probably heard it before, but what is the gospel, and why does it matter? The word gospel is translated to “good news”. To understand the gospel we must know why there is good news and what the good news is.
In the beginning God created everything good. There was no death, pain, or sickness. God created man and woman in His image and told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He gave them the choice and Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and ate from the tree. Because of this willful act of disobedience all of creation was cursed and sin and death entered the world because of it. (Genesis 1-3) Since God is holy and righteous He must punish wickedness and sin. (Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”) Sin is simply missing the mark or disobeying God. Since Adam, all mankind has this fallen sinful nature. (Romans 5:12) Our conscience bears witness to the law that God has established so we know right from wrong. We know the things we do are wrong but we willfully sin anyway. The law is clearly presented in Exodus 20:2-17 as well as clarified in Romans 7:7-12. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. But you may think that you are basically good and you still do good things even tho you aren’t perfect. James 2:10 says “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” For example, if you lie even once you are a transgressor of the law. No matter how much good you do (Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags;”) you’re still a transgressor of the law, it does not change.
This is where the gospel comes in! When we realize and acknowledge our sinfulness and inability to live up to God’s perfect standard we must come to the cross. (2 Corinthians 7:10 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted”) After creation was cursed, God promised to send Jesus to pay for our sins, even though we did not deserve it. Because God so loved the World, so loved you, He sent His only begotten Son to die in your place. (John 3:16) Jesus was born of a virgin, He was the Son of God come in the flesh, He lived a sinless life, and even though He was innocent He willingly died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice once and for all for the remission of sin, He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead. He now is sitting at the right hand of God! Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” If we confess Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead then we will be saved! Salvation is a gift of God and cannot be earned by good works since we are all sinners. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:14 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”)
Do not put off salvation! 2 Corinthians 6:2 “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”!