The gospel is the joyous proclamation of God's redemptive plan through Christ on behalf of sin-enslaved humanity.
The message of the gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes. It is the true story of God sending His Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to bear the wrath of God against sin on the cross and to show His power over sin and death forever by His resurrection from the dead. All who turn from their sin and confess Him as the God of salvation are guaranteed life and are reconciled to God for all eternity.
The Father sent the Son to accomplish salvation; the Spirit was sent to apply the work of the Son to the lives of those who confess the Son.
The gospel is about fellowship. More specifically, the gospel is about our fellowship with God. God created humanity in His image to worship and obey Him. Hearing the gospel requires a response.
The Gospel begins with God
God is the benevolent Creator who created us for Himself. We must realize that all humanity belongs to Him, that all humanity is accountable to Him, and that all humanity was created to glorify Him.
Genesis 1-2; Romans 1:18-20, Romans 2:1-16
Genesis 1-2; Romans 1:18-20, Romans 2:1-16
The Gospel includes us
All of us have been corrupted by sin. We must recognize that we have sinned against God. Thankfully God sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself. The Father made the Son, who knew no sin, to become sin so that we could be restored to God. Only Jesus can save because Jesus is God's only plan. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. His resurrection from the dead, after paying the full penalty of sin on the cross, means that we can have life but we have to turn from our sin and place our faith in His work for us. We turn to Jesus by trusting Him as Lord and living a life of confessing Him as Lord and Savior, turning from a life filled with self-sufficiency and sin.
Romans 3:21-26; Romans 4:25, Romans 5:6-10; Romans 5:18, Romans 8:1-4; John 3:16; John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Revelation 13:8
Romans 3:21-26; Romans 4:25, Romans 5:6-10; Romans 5:18, Romans 8:1-4; John 3:16; John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Revelation 13:8
The Gospel has eternal consequences
Our eternal destiny is dependent upon our response to Jesus. Salvation is for all but only those who repent of their sin and trust Christ will be saved. Those who refuse Christ will live a life of condemnation eternally separated from God in a place of torment called Hell. Those who cry out to God to save them from their sins, and have placed their faith in Jesus Christ and have confessed Him as Lord and Savior can be confident that they are saved and will spend eternity with Him. The confidence of their salvation comes from a desire to live a life fully pleasing to God. One day soon, Jesus will physically return to judge the living and the dead. After that time, God will restore all things to Himself and establish His kingdom forever.
John 10:27-30, John 17:3; 1 Timothy 1:16-17; Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21-22
John 10:27-30, John 17:3; 1 Timothy 1:16-17; Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 21-22